World News Insights
1-3 Minute Gist

All Topics Article

Heartland Return for Chinese Leader

Wall Street Journal Original article ›

Keywords:

LyrArc Article Gist
An intimate biographical account of new Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his connections with Muscatine Iowa, where he visited as a head of a Chinese farm delegation in 1985. Xi Jinping remembers the trip vivdly and plans to spend time with friends from that visit during a visit to the U.S. in 2012. He spent two nights during that visit in the bedroom of two college age boys of the Dvorchak family. This revealing account of Jinping's life shows that the actual story of his life is quite different from the title of "princelings" or privileged sons of former communist leaders that is suggested by this reference in the media. Because of the volatile nature of Chinese politics, his father Xi Zhongxun, who led communist partisans in the struggle of the pre World War II years, was rehabilitated twice after falling out of favor. The first period was in 1962 and it was not till 1979 when he was fully rehabilitated. During this period which coincides with the growing up period of Xi from 9-26 years of age, Xi experienced many hardships. During the years of the Cultural revoultion Xi was sent at age 15 to Shanxi province where his father had led partisans. He lived there for 7 years in a traditional cave dwelling in the village of Liangjahe doing farm work. He was denied admission to Tsinghua University twice before being accepted in 1974. There he graduated with a degree in organic chemistry. This was followed by three years working as an assistant to Geng Biao, defense minister and a partisan who was a colleague of his father. The next job was deputy Communist party chief of Zhengding county in Hebei province. Iowa Governor Branstad visited Hebei in 1984, and Branstad played host to a animal-feed delegation led by Jinping in 1985- the visit to Muscatine was part of this trip and which Jinping has told others he enjoyed more than his visits to Oregon or California that year. The second time Xinping's father went out of favor was after his criticism of the crackdown of protests at Tienanmen Square. These experiences have given Xinping a confidence and experience in different situations that other Chinese leaders including the current leaders lacked. If Jinping has inherited some characteristics from his father he may also have the courage to take China in a new direction, and make the kind of changes China needs as it shifts away from an export based economy. At the same time rule in China is by consensus of leaders on the communist party's standing committee. His father helped initiate the special economic zone in Guangdong province in 1978, and Xi Xinping held senior posts in the provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang and in Shanghai, giving him close ties with industry and local government in areas that led the export based economy. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore puts Jinping in the" class of Nelson Mandela type leaders, who has great emotional stability to not let his personal misfortunes and sufferings cloud his personal judgement." Of political positions Jinping has a certain wariness. He once responded to mention of him as the potential leader with the words: "Are you trying to give me a fright."

China- Communist party leadership in 2010-2012

01/06/2008

The transition in 2012 to the new leadership of Xi Jinping Li Keqiang.

Grouped Articles

China Previews Rising Leadership

Wall Street Journal 08/22/2011

Xi Comes Out on Top After Bo Verdict

Wall Street Journal 09/22/2013

China's next leader: Xi who must be obeyed

Economist 10/23/2010

The Wonk With the Ear of Chinese President Xi Jinping

Wall Street Journal 06/04/2013

China Waits for an Apology

New York Times 04/09/2014

China Promotes a Top Party Official

New York Times 10/18/2010

China's Leadership and Its Thinking about Global Affairs

04/21/2006

Grouped Articles

The Wonk With the Ear of Chinese President Xi Jinping

Wall Street Journal 06/04/2013

China's President Ends U.S. Visit With Yale Speech

New York Times 04/21/2006

China Fund Chief Highlights Caution on Global Economy

Wall Street Journal 04/17/2011

New Leaders, Last Chance, for China

Wall Street Journal 12/28/2011

China's New Leaders Get in Line

Wall Street Journal 01/03/2012

Heartland Return for Chinese Leader

Wall Street Journal 01/31/2012

Global leaders discuss climate change at UN in September 2009, ahead of Copenhagen talks.

05/10/2006

US expects China, India, Brazil to take up task of curbing emissions. China says its committed to the task and sees itself as a leader in "green technologies", but it sees reduction in terms of each dollar of GNP, so that as GNP grows the total emissions would rise.

Grouped Articles

China: Building Blocks for Climate Pact

New York Times 10/01/2010

Smog Clears on China Energy Reform

Wall Street Journal 03/08/2013

China’s Climate Change Plan Raises Questions

New York Times 11/12/2014

Climate Accord Relies on Environmental Policies Now in Place

New York Times 11/12/2014

G-8 Climate-Change Agreement Falls Short

Wall Street Journal 07/09/2009

U.S. and China Vow Action on Climate but Cite Needs

New York Times 09/23/2009

China-Japan Economic and Political Relations

09/02/2010

Increasing strains in the econmic and political relations in 2010.

Grouped Articles

Territorial Dispute Continues to Affect Japanese Car Sales in China

Wall Street Journal 09/11/2013

China Raises Stakes in Air Standoff

Wall Street Journal 12/01/2013

Tensions With China Shoring Up Japanese Prime Minister's Push to Build Up Military Capability

Wall Street Journal 12/01/2013

Japan, U.S. at Odds Over China's Air Zone

Wall Street Journal 12/02/2013

Interview With Japan Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada

Wall Street Journal 09/02/2010

Firms Face 'Unthinkable' in China, Tokyo Official Says

Wall Street Journal 09/03/2010

China's second and third generation Communist party elite in economic and political positions

11/26/2011

Grouped Articles

The Deeply Odd Lives of Chinese Bureaucrats

Wall Street Journal 03/14/2013

Children of the Revolution

Wall Street Journal 11/26/2011

A Home Fit for a Princeling

Wall Street Journal 11/26/2011

China Turns Predominantly Urban

Wall Street Journal 01/18/2012

Power-Struggle Speculation Grows in China

Wall Street Journal 02/09/2012

China's Biggest Problems Are Political, Not Economic

Wall Street Journal 08/02/2012

U.S. and China- Annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue

09/22/2010

Grouped Articles

China’s Economy, Back on Track

New York Times 10/04/2013

China Pumps Up the Volume Against Japan

Wall Street Journal 02/08/2014

U.S. Seeks to Salvage Dialogue With China at Beijing Summit

Wall Street Journal 07/08/2014

U.S., China try to emphasize potential for cooperation - The Washington Post

Washington Post 07/09/2014

China's Xi Calls for Improved Ties With U.S.

Wall Street Journal 07/10/2014

Chinese Leader Wen Jiabao Talks to Executives in New York

New York Times 09/22/2010

The U.S. Business Community and America's China Policy: 2010-2012

01/18/2011

The consensus in the US business community about the need for fair market access to the Chinese market for American companies and the negative impact of "indigenous innovation" policies pursued by the Chinese government. Changes in the US government's policy on China issues.

Grouped Articles

Western Business Stands Up to China

New York Times 06/18/2015

U.S. Shifts Focus to Press China for Access to Markets

New York Times 01/18/2011

U.S. Shifts Focus to Press China for Access to Markets

New York Times 01/18/2011

Rivals Seek New Balance

Wall Street Journal 01/20/2011

China Speeds Economic 'Transformation'

Wall Street Journal 03/06/2012

Heartland Return for Chinese Leader

Wall Street Journal 01/31/2012


Support LyrArc

We took a different way to help millions around the world build educated informed mindsets that affects and shapes their lives. For a future that is open, global and digital, with everyone having access to high quality information. We believe in the renewal of America, renewal of Europe, the renewal of India, the rest of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The renewal of our supply chains, health, education, infrastructure, as we rebuild our countries after the pandemic. Literacy and knowledge we believe cannot thrive and grow in a world of web bots, web crawlers, or AI. This requires human curiosity, human learning, and human imagination. We take as inspiration the saying- “One has to be free, and as broad as sky. One has to have a mind that is crystal clear, only then can truth shine in it.” Every contribution whether big or small is precious- in this crisis and ahead.

Support Lyrarc from as small as $1


Copyright © 2006 - 2026 Intelilinks LLC
Terms and Conditions | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Contact Us