> Unfortunately for everyone, over the past few years it's become more clear that Xi is not as smart as the leader of a gigantic autocracy really needs to be.

> Unfortunately for everyone, over the past few years it's become more clear that Xi is not as smart as the leader of a gigantic autocracy really needs to be. baseless rhetoric > If he'd been patient about Hong Kong's transition and "one country two systems" he'd be most of the way to reeling in Taiwan by now, instead of prepping for war and cosying up to Putin. The CPC were reacting in part to outside meddling and interference into the affairs of HK. > Sticking with that policy all the way through into late 2022 with no sign of an exit strategy was pure stupidity though. damned if you do > Then there's the breathtaking petulance of dropping all the Covid restrictions suddenly with absolutely no mitigation, as collective punishment to the whole population in retaliation to widespread protests. damned if you don't https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ deaths per 1 million: … 015 USA 3,451 024 UK 3,057 220 China 0,004 > Xi really does not like to look like an idiot, but everyone there must now surely have suspicions that he may be one. baseless rhetoric > Total control of the media and the Great Firewall have allowed the Party to manipulate public opinion pretty effectively, but I'm not entirely convinced support for the government could be maintained if Xi starts a war. Hopefully Xi feels the same way. because the mass media in the West is a bastion of diverse opinion & thriving political dissent and not at all a coterie of subservient drooling establishment-worshiping lapdogs