There Xi Goes: China's Leader Locks in His Power

China’s leader Xi Jinping is poised to smash precedent and take on a third term. But how has he consolidated his power? And what role have stringent regional Covid lockdowns played in him tightening his grip? Alex Andreou discusses this with Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute and regular contributor to the China in Context podcast.

• “China’s lockdown policy has increased the ability of the communist party to gain control.”
• “Xi likes the narrative that China is the only country to win the fight against Covid.”
• “The Chinese government can’t accept that its vaccines are less effective.”
• “China has a sort of health nationalism.”

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Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. 

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