讀後心得

The article describes the similarities in political models between China and the United States, comparing Xi Jinping with Bo Xilai, arguing that both exhibit authoritarian characteristics. The author notes that in terms of purging dissenters, abusing power, and suppressing political opponents, both Xi Jinping and Donald Trump display similar behaviors. Although Trump faces restrictions from the system of checks and balances in the United States, he also shows intentions to undermine this system and promote his strategy of power centralization. Furthermore, both leaders demonstrate characteristics of power politics when confronted with internal and external challenges. The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining a system of checks and balances and expresses concern about the development of authoritarian politics.

After taking office, he immediately began to install his own trusted allies and expel dissidents. Although he did not have any real enemies, he showed no mercy to anyone who challenged his authority, determined to eliminate them. As the supreme leader, he was ultimately deified, becoming a national hero and savior of the nation. Once he secured his throne, he abused his power, acted as he wished, ignored legal processes, and disregarded the rights of the people. This place is called Chongqing, and it is also part of China.

In October 2012, I mentioned these ideas at the end of my article "Every Official's Surname is Bo." Perhaps today I should add one more sentence: Oh, it is still America! Democratic countries each have their own characteristics, while the behavior patterns of authoritarian or dictatorial governments tend to be similar. After Bo Xilai's downfall, Xi Jinping was regarded as a rising star in promoting political reform in China by global public opinion. There are many reasons for this, partly due to his background (his family suffered political persecution within the Chinese Communist Party), which fueled his dissatisfaction with the "Cultural Revolution" and authoritarian regime; moreover, there is his personality, which seems capable of planning change. A renowned columnist from The New York Times predicted that significant political changes would occur during Xi Jinping’s tenure.

However, I hold a different view. I believe the fundamental issue is the institutional arrangement. There is no insurmountable gap between the Chongqing model and the Chinese model. Under the overarching Chinese model, every region has the potential to become the next Chongqing, and every official may repeat Bo Xilai's mistakes. Within the same governance model, Xi Jinping is merely another version of Bo Xilai.

In terms of institutional arrangements, the differences between China and the U.S. are enormous. Although Trump has repeatedly expressed goodwill towards Xi Jinping and Putin, he finds it difficult to emulate them within the tripartite separation of powers system in the United States. The problem is that Trump may be undermining this system, becoming a catalyst for the destruction of American democracy.

When it comes to Xi Jinping attempting to implement a lifelong system, it sounds like a political rumor. The stability of the U.S. Constitution is beyond doubt. Thus, discussions of Trump seeking a third term also sound like a political joke. Recently, during a media interview, Trump stated that he "is not joking," but is seriously considering this matter and hinted that there are "ways" to circumvent the constitutional term limits.

On the road of dictatorship and authoritarianism, Trump is undoubtedly a novice, and he has not even begun, therefore he is overly modest. If he were to do such a thing, he could potentially imitate the propaganda methods of the Xi Jinping regime, reinforcing his position as the core figure.

Similarly, Xi Jinping has also adopted a practice of appointing loyalists, emphasizing loyalty, while Trump placed family members in the White House during his first term but may have discovered limited effectiveness, thus he put more emphasis on loyalty and appointed many inexperienced officials. Both are experiencing power struggles and facing similar challenges.

Ultimately, the reason why Xi Jinping has been able to lead the country towards so-called strongman politics is that there are also voices among Trump's supporters willing to let him bypass the Constitution. This undoubtedly reflects the current struggle between power and institutions. Respect and adherence to institutions are fundamental.