Xi Jinping's early career was overshadowed by his celebrity wife, Peng Liyuan, who was more successful at the time.
Xi's experience as a mutual in the military allowed him to gain military rank and establish legitimacy with the People's Liberation Army.
Deep dives
Xi Jinping's Background and Early Career
Xi Jinping, now the leader of China, had a humble start that didn't immediately set him apart. Despite being a princeling, his wife, Peng Liyuan, was the more famous and successful one in their household at the time. Xi began his career as a private secretary to a military boss named Gong Bao, where he learned valuable management skills and formed relationships with senior PLA officers. Although he left the job after three years, his experience as a mutual allowed him to gain military rank and establish legitimacy with the People's Liberation Army.
Xi's Rise in the Communist Party
After working as a private secretary, Xi Jinping moved on to positions of power in the Communist Party. He became the deputy party secretary of a rural county before being promoted to party secretary of Fujian province. During this time, China experienced significant economic growth and political reforms, with Xi navigating the corruption and changes within the party. Xi demonstrated his commitment to fighting corruption and gaining the party's trust, especially when a major corruption scandal involving a smuggling ring broke out in Fujian.
Xi Jinping's Ambitions and Vision for China
Xi Jinping's ascension to power during the 17th Party Congress marked him as the heir apparent to the leadership of China. Observers saw him as a successor who would bring more assertiveness and take on ambitious goals for the nation's rejuvenation. Xi saw himself as a man of history with a mission to save the Communist Party. He had plans to address the problems he had witnessed throughout his career, including corruption, economic development, and strengthening the party's rule. Xi aimed to pursue his vision of a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
As a modest provincial official in Fujian, Xi Jinping is outshone by his celebrity wife, while colleagues are caught up in a lurid corruption scandal. How does Xi survive?
