By Kevin RuddNo matter how bad the coronavirus epidemic gets, the crisis will not change how China is governed under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). The coronavirus crisis represents the single biggest challenge for Xi since he became CCP general secretary in 2012. To understand why, one must consider the underlying worldview that guides Xi as he seeks to realize his dream of making China the global great power of the future. Second, Xi believes that he must always maintain national unity, because that is central to the CCP’s internal legitimacy. Xi understands that the economy’s size, strength and technological sophistication are central to all dimensions of national power, including military capacity.

Source: Taipei Times February 13, 2020 15:56 UTC