SECTION C—International Issues STUDY THEME 3B: THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 1_Introduction

Key Figures President - Xi JinpingPremier - Li Keqiang China's Leaders Who is Xi Jinping?

What similarities can you see between Xi Jinping’s predecessors?

CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY Communist Party Membership At a membership of 80m, it is the largest political party in the world. The party oversees and influences many aspects of people's lives - what they learn at school and watch on TV, even the number of children they are allowed. It is made up largely of government officials, army officers, farmers, model workers and employees of state-owned companies. It is unrepresentative of China as a whole. Only a quarter of its members are women, for example. Joining the party brings significant privileges. Members get access to better information, and many jobs are only open to members. Pyramid structure To join, applicants need the backing of existing members and to undergo exhaustive checks and examination by their local party branch. The party has a pyramid structure resting on millions of local-level party organisations across the country and reaching all the way up to the highest decision-making bodies in Beijing. In theory, the top of the pyramid is the National Party Congress, which is convened once every five years and brings together more than 2,000 delegates from party organisations across the country. The congress' main function is to "elect" a central committee of about 200 full members and 150 lower-ranking or "alternate" members", though in fact almost all of these people are approved in advance. In turn, the central committee's main job is to elect a new politburo and its smaller, standing committee, where real decision-making powers lie.

Use your Tarsia template to create question and answers about the CCP.

POLITBURO Every significant decision affecting China's 1.3bn people is first discussed and approved by a handful of people - almost all men - on the party's political bureau (politburo). The 24- member Politburo is elected by the party's central committee. But real power lies with its smaller standing committee, which works as a kind of inner cabinet and groups together the country's most influential leaders. How the standing committee operates is secret. But its meetings are thought to be regular and frequent, often characterised by blunt speaking and disagreement. Senior leaders speak first and then sum up, giving their views extra weight. The emphasis is always on reaching a consensus, but if no consensus is reached, the majority holds sway. Once a decision has been made, all members are bound by it. Although policy disagreements are believed to take place in private, it is extremely rare for these to become public. When they do - as happened in 1989 when the leadership battled over how to deal with the Tiananmen protests - it is a sign of an all-out power struggle. Members of the standing committee also share out the posts of party general-secretary, premier, chairman of the National People's Congress, and head of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission. The full politburo also tends to include party secretaries from big municipalities like Beijing and Shanghai, and from important provinces like Guangdong.

Review – Summary notes in blue. 1.What is the role of the standing committee within the politburo? 2.Who sits on the standing committee? 3.How does it function and how do we know? 4.How does the Party keep control of decision making in China?

Mr Xi’s Chinese Dream He made his first reference to it in November 2012, when he was promoted to the top Communist Party post. – We must make persistent efforts, press ahead with indomitable will, continue to push forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strive to achieve the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation He wants to make China the world's dominant power stronger nation with a strong military In 2013, China launched its first aircraft carrier - a symbol of its intent. But the country's growing military might is making its neighbours nervous. China is also currently embroiled in several territorial disputes in the region.

Future Concerns The economy is slowing and more university graduates are now struggling to find jobs. There is also growing anger over official corruption and pollution. The Communist Party is aware that its image and authority have been eroded as people have seen corruption and inequality soar along with China's growing wealth. The party risks becoming viewed as the defender of privilege. So Mr Xi is promising more action to tackle corruption, to spread China's wealth, to create a fairer society. First there's the fact that China must reform the way its economy is developing to make growth more sustainable, more equitable, less damaging to the environment. Then there is the "wealth gap" that has opened up in China. Create a spider diagram showing future concerns

Review and Reflect : Summarise key points from the lesson in blue. At least 3 key points.