China – repeating the same old mistake

Absolute power has been claimed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as his rulership has been extended for a third five year term. It breaks the precedent set after Mao’s demise to limit the power of any one individual leader.  Despite being the son of a relatively liberal father and having seen his family punished through the insanities of the 1960s/1970s Cultural Revolution, he has steadily built himself up as a Stalinist strongman, shored up the authority of the Communist party and cul