The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has published a revised version of its discipline regulations, enshrining ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ as a fundamental guideline for political cadres’ conduct. The move further consolidates Xi Jinping’s personality cult and his role as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.
During the 13th National People’s Congress held in March China’s rubber stamp legislature adopted constitutional amendments to include ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’ in the Constitution. ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ was announced at the 19th CCP National Congress in October 2017 and written into the Party’s Constitution.
On August 26 Chinese state media announced that the CCP Central Committee published a revised 142-clause set of discipline regulations to ensure intra-Party discipline and strict self-governance of the Party.
The new regulations aim at “fully implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the great spirit of the 19th Party Congress” (全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和党的十九大精神).
The regulations also stress that the Party must “resolutely safeguard the core status of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the CCP Central Committee and the entire Party, and uphold the authority of the CCP Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership” (坚决维护习近平总书记党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导).
Since taking office in 2012, Xi Jinping has massed a degree of personal power and authority not seen since the Mao years. The 13th National People’s Congress removed presidential limits designed to ensure collective leadership and prevent Mao-style personality cult.
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