The relentless rise of Xi Jinping

In 2012 Xi Jinping, the privileged son of a top party official was elevated to become General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Some outside observers were unimpressed at a man known for his earnestness and ideological purity rather than vaulting ambition or command presence.

Since then Xi has made himself the most powerful man in the world’s most populous region, if not in the world.

This week he will secure a third term as secretary, at China’s National Party Congress, an event that would have been anointing his successor if Xi had not successfully scrapped term limits for his role. 

Today on Please Explain, North Asia correspondent Eryk Bagshaw joins Nick O'Malley to discuss what the future of China, and the world, will look like under Xi's unfettered power.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.