Unyielding Unity: Why Xi Jinping is Banking on Culture Over Reform
China’s leadership just released another grand statement on cultural values, as Xi Jinping delivers a speech asserting the need for a “socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. Earlier this week, the Communist Party’s top officials gathered for their 17th group study session, with Xi Jinping presiding over discussions focused on building a “strong culture” for China. This isn’t just an abstract vision or patriotic fervour; it’s a directive. China is cornered economically, with growth flagging, a population on a decline, and mounting pressure on state-run industries. Now Xi is trying to channel frustration into a belief that China’s destiny will be realised not through market liberalisation or economic reform but through the ideological solidarity of its people. It’s an attempt to turn economic pain into ideological vigour, hoping that a fortified “cultural strength” will act as a shield.
Xi’s words are heavy with subtext. He knows China is on rocky ground, and yet he refuses to yield any ground to ideas or influences outside his own. This is about control-not just of narrative but of hearts and minds. His references to “Chinese values,” “Chinese spirit,” and “Chinese strength” are code for a top-down vision of unity that brooks no deviation, one that stamps out any subversive influence that threatens to seep in through social media, foreign media, or dissent. It’s an ideology-first approach, recalling Mao’s call for cultural unity during the Cultural Revolution, but with a digital twist.
Xi also targets foreign powers, subtly reminding them that China will maintain its own ideological path-one that he believes won’t crumble under Western scrutiny. He’s hedging against American pressure by doubling down on the notion of Chinese ideological sovereignty. China won’t just follow the West; it will, Xi claims, offer something unique and resolute: an alternative civilisation not beholden to outside forces. To many Chinese citizens who might be frustrated with economic stagnation, Xi’s message is clear-embrace Chinese culture, which, by implication, means accepting the Chinese Communist Party’s narrative on what China is and should be.
The most glaring undertone in this speech, however, is the not-so-veiled message to Taiwan. Taiwan’s increasingly independent identity and its open admiration for democracy don’t sit well with Xi’s vision. With this cultural doctrine, Xi is laying a foundation for claiming Taiwan not just as a political or territorial right but as a cultural imperative. He’s telling the mainland population that Chinese identity requires Taiwan’s integration, positioning the issue as more than political-it’s a moral stance that all Chinese should instinctively support. This isn’t just rhetoric; it’s an effort to pre-emptively rationalise actions that may seem radical or aggressive by appealing to a unified sense of identity.
In this speech, Xi channels his inner Mao and, simultaneously, a modern nationalist. But while Mao had a nascent nation and a generation conditioned for sacrifice, Xi is dealing with an economy tangled in debt, a disgruntled middle class, and youth disillusioned by their shrinking prospects. And yet, Xi insists that a culture fortified by socialism with Chinese characteristics will somehow overcome these troubles. It’s an old playbook. Convince people that the lack of material gain is compensated by ideological and cultural richness. It’s a classic political move, but in today’s interconnected, information-saturated world, it’s an uphill battle.
The real question is: Does Xi believe his own rhetoric, or is this just for show? Either way, it’s a gamble. If China’s economic conditions worsen, Xi’s cultural message may ring hollow, leaving people who are just as concerned about their pocketbooks as their patriotism. There’s a lesson here from history: the more leaders demand that people sacrifice material well-being for a greater ideological vision, the more they flirt with discontent. For all Xi’s talk of culture and spirit, people will ultimately seek tangible benefits in their lives. And when the promised greatness doesn’t pay the bills, unity built on ideology alone won’t hold.
Xi’s speech may serve to embolden his supporters and provide a temporary rallying cry. But without addressing China’s structural economic issues, this cultural push risks becoming just another slogan.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
