The only claim to legitimacy the Chinese government has is an ideology no one believes in. The country is ruled by a narrow, corrupt clique whose predecessors shot their way to power and who maintain power by terror and violence. They are obsessed with the downfall of the Soviet Union and live in fear that it will happen to them. They fear their own people, who are more and more plugged in to the rest of the world and know that in other countries people actually choose their leaders. I see China as weak, not strong.
Good point.
Whatever legitimacy the government has is in delivering a better life for the people and in making China a strong and respected country.
The problem is corruption, abuse of power and the lack of freedom threaten the country’s long term future.
Xi’s problem is the party’s absolute rule can only be ensured if the party is led by principled and decent people. But he won’t be around forever to keep it in place. If only because of human nature.
And the demands for freedom can’t be deferred indefinitely. Its not a question of if but when China will ultimately undergo democratization.