Key Fact

“We have seen significant shifts in China, and all of these when taken together have then triggered a shift in US policy.

“The first big shift under Xi Jinping is a move away from collective and consensus-based decision-making processes back toward a one-man authoritarian form of rule. The second big shift in China is the reassertion of the Chinese Communist Party back into everyday lives. The third shift under Xi Jinping is the creation of a virtual wall of regulation and restrictions. That helps Xi Jinping control what goes in and what comes out of the country. And then, finally, the fourth big shift under Xi Jinping has been the move away from a low-profile foreign policy to a much more ambitious and expansive Chinese foreign policy. 

"All these shifts together point to a China that is both more repressive and authoritarian at home and more ambitious and expansive abroad. And this really has contributed to this rethink and reset of US policy.”