China’s Communist Party amends its charter, strengthens Xi’s power

Xi also amended the constitution in 2017, when he incorporated an ideology with his name – Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era – into the constitution, putting him on par with leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

Xi, 69, is widely expected to be confirmed on Sunday to a third five-year leadership term as party general secretary.

Saturday’s revisions incorporate priorities and policy directions that Xi had outlined in the past, including: “Two Establishes”, which defines Xi as the “core” leader of the party and cements his ideas as the guiding principles of China’s future development; “Two Safeguards”, which assures Xi’s “core” status within the party and the party’s centralized authority over China; developing “fighting spirit”, strengthening fighting ability; promoting “Chinese-style modernization”; gradually achieving “common prosperity”; developing a broader, fuller and more robust “whole-process people’s democracy”; requiring political loyalty in the military; opposing and deterring separatists seeking Taiwan independence; recognizing the party as the “supreme political leadership force”; obliging all party members to learn the party’s history.