Lowy Institute His Father’s Son: The Xi family and the Future of China.
Oct 24, 2025
Joseph Torigian, a prominent China scholar and author, discusses the significant influence of Xi Jinping’s father, Xi Zhongxun, on his son’s political ideology. Torigian illuminates how Xi Senior's experiences shaped Xi Junior's approach to leadership and the Communist Party's core values. The conversation dives into the moral dilemmas faced by Xi Zhongxun, the complexities of political purges, and the careful handling of legacy by Xi Jinping. Insights into the balance between tradition and innovation provide a fascinating look at contemporary Chinese politics.
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Party As Identity
- Xi Zhongxun's loyalty shows the party became a source of meaning and identity for revolutionaries.
- Joseph Torigian argues rejecting the party equaled rejecting oneself for first-generation communists.
Meaning Through Suffering
- Torigian compares communism's role to religion: it supplied purpose and meaning to members.
- Xi Zhongxun took pride in surviving repeated persecutions as proof of loyalty and resilience.
Rapid Rise And Long Exile
- Xi Zhongxun rose rapidly, becoming the youngest Central Committee candidate in 1945 and later youngest vice premier in 1959.
- He spent 16 years in exile after a 1962 purge before returning to lead Guangdong and engage with the outside world.
