"Mr Xi's two predecessors have followed the orderly pattern of succession. But since he came to power in 2012 he has shown a readiness to write his own rules. .

"Mr Xi's two predecessors have followed the orderly pattern of succession. But since he came to power in 2012 he has shown a readiness to write his own rules. ... His photo is plastered on billboards across the country and his authorised nickname, "Papa Xi", appears in official songs." All the usual ingredients of a dictatorship are in place.