'Two-term limit' censored in China as Xi to stay in power indefinitely
Is China going back to the Emperor concept? Or..did they ever really leave it?
"China's plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely saw censors block satirical commentary and online searches for "two-term limit," also triggering comparisons to North Korea's ruling dynasty.
Criticism on social media platforms sparked a concerted propaganda push by Monday.
The ruling Communist Party's Central Committee proposed to remove from the constitution the expression that China's president and vice president "shall serve no more than two consecutive terms," the Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
That means the 64-year-old Xi, who also heads the party and the military, might never have to retire.
Term limits on officeholders have been in place since they were included in the 1982 constitution, when lifetime tenure was abolished.
The proposal will be passed by delegates loyal to the party at next month's annual meeting of China's largely rubber-stamp parliament. It is part of a package of amendments to the country's constitution.
But it seems the party will have its work cut out trying to convince some in China that the move will not end up giving Xi too much power.
"Argh, we're going to become North Korea," wrote one Weibo user, where the Kim dynasty has ruled since the late 1940s. Kim Il Sung founded North Korea in 1948 and his family has ruled it ever since.
"We're following the example of our neighbor," wrote another user.
The comments were removed late on Sunday after Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, began blocking the search term "two-term limit.""
Is China going back to the Emperor concept? Or..did they ever really leave it?
"China's plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely saw censors block satirical commentary and online searches for "two-term limit," also triggering comparisons to North Korea's ruling dynasty.
Criticism on social media platforms sparked a concerted propaganda push by Monday.
The ruling Communist Party's Central Committee proposed to remove from the constitution the expression that China's president and vice president "shall serve no more than two consecutive terms," the Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
That means the 64-year-old Xi, who also heads the party and the military, might never have to retire.
Term limits on officeholders have been in place since they were included in the 1982 constitution, when lifetime tenure was abolished.
The proposal will be passed by delegates loyal to the party at next month's annual meeting of China's largely rubber-stamp parliament. It is part of a package of amendments to the country's constitution.
But it seems the party will have its work cut out trying to convince some in China that the move will not end up giving Xi too much power.
"Argh, we're going to become North Korea," wrote one Weibo user, where the Kim dynasty has ruled since the late 1940s. Kim Il Sung founded North Korea in 1948 and his family has ruled it ever since.
"We're following the example of our neighbor," wrote another user.
The comments were removed late on Sunday after Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, began blocking the search term "two-term limit.""
