China sets stage for Xi to stay in office indefinitely

Way to shoot for the "Dictator" title. A giant leap backwards for the Chinese people. The two-term maximum was cemented during the Cultural Revolution to avoid this kind of thing.

Yeah surprise, surprise. This is what happens when you live in a Communist hellhole, and this isn't even North Korea.. Although this was always going to happen judging by Xi's shocking and despotic consolidation of power in recent years

This is definitely concerning.

The unelected dictator is yours for life. Wouldn't it be great if the constitutional amendment was rejected? Alas, the Chinese people have no say in the matter. How many millions will die under this tyrannical despot is the question they will asking themselves. Will he beat Mass Murderer Mao's record of 50 million+?

He is a good strong leader who will make China surpass USA in a year or two.

Always a concern when populist leaders of non-democracies (Putin, possibly Xi) and even democracies (Shinzo Abe) have constitutional rules changed (either nationally or within their own party) to allow them to extend the limit of their rule. Why are they afraid of stepping down and letting successors with their own ideas come up? Is it just pure ego - or something more sinister?

He is a good strong leader who will make China surpass USA in a year or two.

Hahahahahahahaha!

Always a concern when populist leaders of non-democracies (Putin, possibly Xi) and even democracies (Shinzo Abe) have constitutional rules changed (either nationally or within their own party) to allow them to extend the limit of their rule.

Big big difference. PM Abe had his LDP Presidency extended so he can continue on as PM until at least 2021. Very popular decision, and a very popular PM. If Japanese people dont like it, they will vote him out directly. Democracy in action. If people dont like Trump, they will vote him out directly, after 4 years. Again, democracy. In China and Russia, people are UNABLE to vote their Presidents out. They are Communist Totalitarian dictatorships and Oligarchies. Same as NK.

What is happening here, is more reason USA and Japan MUST stand up to these nations, military and otherwise, to protect freedom of the people in China and Russia, the rule of law, and bring democracy one day.

Democracy ? Which Country these days can one point to as being Properly Democratic ?

I heard an interesting take on this from a Chinese coworker. He sees this as weakness rather than strength in the sense that China’s brightest do not generally want to become bureaucrats as in the past - there is more money and less danger to be found elsewhere. Xi is seen as a clever and competent man and their best asset.

Looks like the CCP bench isn’t strong and young talent isn’t coming through...

Democracy ? Which Country these days can one point to as being Properly Democratic ?

I suppose democracies with things like large turnout rates would come closest. Large turnout rates don’t always equate to a functioning democracy but are often a sign of good health.

I know what you are saying, but the health analogy is a good one. It’s pretty hard to define what ‘heathy’ means, but being able to walk to the restaurant unassisted is certainly healthier than being bed-ridden and being fed through a tube.

I suppose it’s a matter of trying to get closer to an ideal in some ways.

@Jimizo - totally agree, though I wonder what gives us the right to demand democracy within China if it doesn't really function that well within our own Countries.

I think China needs stability first, iron out some of the bad issues, before it embarks upon its own form of Democracy, otherwise we could see a similar situation to the that experienced by the Soviet Union, and perhaps something even worse.

There are many bad issues in China....so I doubt anything will change soon.

@zichi - yes, there was a lot of social media comments upon the change, however those have been deleted and blocks put in place on searches. If you're an A.A. Milne fan, then you may be disappointed too....

Wonder if JT is banned in China too nowadays.

See Section 2 - Article 79:

http://en.people.cn/constitution/constitution.html

I guess, this may need updating soon....

Also, his actions were predicated last year:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3730755/Xis-stay-China-leader-tipped-outstay-term.html

Unlimited terms of Presidency are not just isolated to China:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_term_limits

Lol, they're not even pretending anymore

That it's despotism

Not a system of laws but a system of men - what happens when "the man" is no longer there

(A system of laws would stand the test of time no matter who the current "the man" is)

Abe, your turn! Lol

Who knows, under Xi, it may actually turn out to be a good thing. He still needs to be reelected into power every 5 years, so what matters is how that reelection is controlled. Hopefully, it will not be a forced one-sided election, in which case, I would have to agree with those other posters here.

No term limits isn't really a good thing though, I could understand extending how many terms, but not making it unlimited... China's people really need a voice as to who they choose to lead them, instead of a small group of people making that choice for them without their input.

I personally believe my country has been giving doing a poor job at representing a healthy democracy, and the CCP (and Russian government) picked up on that so they believe that in "democracy" that money is the only power that makes it tick, when it's supposed to be the power of choice (and majority) of the average every day citizen of a country that makes a democracy effective.

Democracy is about the government serving the people. The CCP has always been about the people serving the government, which is a pretty effective way to make your country have a terrible future for the people.

Now that Xi has built up China's military force, built a military base in the South China Seas, expanding its geopolitical influences with the "One Belt One Road" program, and now with unlimited terms, Xi is showing his true ambitious colours. He wants to be the next Mao Zedong.

It will be interesting to see with the next few years how he intends to deal with the Taiwan issue.

Dictator. Nice. Over 1 beeeeeellion people.