LEMAITRE Frédéric, CINQ ANS DANS LA CHINE DE XI JINPING, Editeur TALLANDIER,2024, 283 pages.

The author, a connoisseur of China, takes us on a fascinating journey into China through the profound changes he has witnessed under the leadership of the new Master, XI JINPING.

Until he came of age, XI suffered the bullying that followed the fall of his father, Vice Premier and close associate of President MAO, and then the humiliations of the Cultural Revolution. It was during this time that his political commitment was born.

Since Mao, China has experienced a moderate but steady improvement in its economy and the living conditions of its population, but it is since Xi Jinping’s presidency that this has accelerated. A change of pace, driven by an ambition to economically surpass its great rival, the United States of America, and to propose a new model of world order.

The concept of a “Global Approach” best describes the strategy adopted by China under Xi Jinping, which has been successfully translated into many sectors: Research, Trade, International Relations, Education, Military, Nuclear, Space Conquest, Environment… This remarkable expansion is facilitated externally by the growing dependence and increasing weakness of the West, and internally by the proverbial passivity of the Chinese people.

The Chinese population appreciates the improved living conditions, reduced corruption, and improved security. The authorities tolerate a certain freedom of criticism about decisions deemed unnecessary or too restrictive. Apart from a few closely monitored and imprisoned dissidents, the population shares the official historical narrative but ignores, or pretends to ignore, the persecution of minorities: Tibetans, Uyghurs and the restrictions on religious practices.

As a counterpoint to this optimistic picture for China, the author evokes some future clouds: aging population and low birth rate, more educated youth therefore a priori more sensitive to the values ​​of the West…

Frédéric LEMAITRE, “Le Monde” correspondent in China

Hubert Acaraz