Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Xi Jinping

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Xi Jinping.

Xi Jinping is the paramount leader of China, holding the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) since 2012, and President of China since 2013. He is a member of the fifth generation of Chinese leadership and the first CCP General Secretary born after the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1989: Tiananmen Square Protests and Massacre

Xi Jinping's visit to Guangdong in December 2012 was described as following in the footsteps of Deng Xiaoping's own southern trip in 1992, which provided the impetus for further economic reforms in China after conservative party leaders stalled many of Deng's reforms in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.

September 2006: Dismissal of Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu

In September 2006, Shanghai Party secretary Chen Liangyu was dismissed due to a social security fund scandal.

February 2009: Latin America Tour and Controversial Remarks in Mexico

In February 2009, Xi Jinping embarked on a tour of Latin America and on 11 February 2009, while visiting Mexico, Xi made controversial remarks about "bored foreigners" criticizing China.

June 2012: Bloomberg News report on family business interests

In June 2012, Bloomberg News reported on the business interests of Xi Jinping's extended family.

November 2012: Brother-in-law had shell companies

By November 2012, Deng Jiagui, Xi Jinping's brother-in-law, had two shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, which became dormant by the time Xi became general secretary of the CCP.

2012: Beginning of Offensive on Human Rights

According to Human Rights Watch, Xi Jinping "started a broad and sustained offensive on human rights" since he became leader in 2012.

2013: Enactment of restrictive law and blogger censorship

In 2013, a law was enacted authorizing a three-year prison term for bloggers who shared content considered "defamatory" more than 500 times. The State Internet Information Department also summoned influential bloggers to a seminar, instructing them to avoid writing about politics, the CCP, or statements contradicting official narratives. This led to many bloggers ceasing to write about controversial topics and a decline in Weibo's popularity.

2013: Included among the list of press freedom predators by Reporters Without Borders

Since 2013, Reporters Without Borders included Xi Jinping among the list of press freedom predators.

August 2014: NPCSC Decision on Hong Kong Chief Executive Election

In August 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) decided to allow universal suffrage for the 2017 election of Hong Kong's chief executive, with requirements for candidates to "love the country, and love Hong Kong," leading to protests and the eventual rejection of the reform bill.

2014: Integration of Hong Kong to Mainland China

In 2014, Xi Jinping supported a greater integration of Hong Kong into mainland China through projects like the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge and the Greater Bay Area project. A white paper by the State Council in 2014 outlined that the China's central government has "comprehensive jurisdiction" over Hong Kong.

2014: Launch of Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism

In 2014, following terrorist attacks in Xinjiang in 2013 and 2014, Xi Jinping launched the Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism, involving mass detention and surveillance of ethnic Uyghurs.

July 2015: 709 Crackdown

On 9 July 2015, Xi Jinping presided over the 709 crackdown, which led to the detention of more than 200 lawyers, legal assistants, and human rights activists.

2017: Replacement of Jesus Pictures with Xi Jinping

In 2017, the local government of the Jiangxi province told Christians to replace their pictures of Jesus with Xi Jinping as part of a campaign on unofficial churches.

2018: China Cyberspace Governance Conference and Media Visit

In 2018, Xi Jinping chaired the 2018 China Cyberspace Governance Conference and during a visit to Chinese state media, Xi stated that "party and government-owned media must hold the family name of the party".

2018: Removal of Term Limits for Presidency

In 2018, term limits for the presidency were removed during Xi Jinping's tenure.

January 2019: Xi's Call to Taiwan on Rejecting Independence

In January 2019, Xi Jinping called on Taiwan to reject formal independence from China, reserving the option of using force and rejecting any form of separatist activities. President Tsai responded by saying Taiwan would not accept a "one country, two systems" arrangement.

April 2019: Wikipedia Blocked in China

In April 2019, during Xi Jinping's administration, all versions of Wikipedia were blocked in China.

November 2019: Leaked Documents Show Xi Ordered Xinjiang Crackdown

In November 2019, internal Chinese government documents leaked to the press showed that Xi Jinping personally ordered a security crackdown in Xinjiang, advocating for "absolutely no mercy" and using "weapons of the people's democratic dictatorship."

December 2019: Xi's Warning Against Foreign Interference in Hong Kong and Macau

In December 2019, while visiting Macau for the 20th anniversary of its return to China, Xi Jinping warned against foreign forces interfering in Hong Kong and Macau, hinting that Macau could be a model for Hong Kong to follow.

2019: Scaling Back Affirmative Action

By 2019, the CCP scaled back affirmative action in the country toward ethnic minorities.

2019: Drop in Uyghur Birth Rate

By 2019, the Strike Hard Campaign included a birth suppression campaign that led to a large drop in the Uyghur birth rate.

January 2020: Xi's Initial Comments on COVID-19 Pandemic

On 20 January 2020, Xi Jinping commented for the first time on the emerging COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan and ordered "efforts to curb the spread" of the virus. On 28 January, he met with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

2020: Detainment of 1.8 Million People in Internment Camps

By 2020, the Strike Hard Campaign included the detainment of 1.8 million people in internment camps, mostly Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities.

2020: Appointment of Chen Xiaojiang

In 2020, Chen Xiaojiang was appointed as head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, the first Han Chinese head of the body since 1954.

2020: Halt to Ant Group's IPO

In 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi Jinping ordered a halt to Ant Group's initial public offering (IPO), in reaction to its founder Jack Ma criticizing government regulation in finance.

2020: Oversee Passage of National Security Law in Hong Kong

In 2020, Xi Jinping oversaw the passage of a national security law in Hong Kong, which clamped down on political opposition, especially pro-democracy activists.

2020: Support for Hong Kong Police Against Protesters

In 2020, Xi Jinping supported the Hong Kong government and police against protesters, defending the use of force and calling for punishment for those committing violent crimes.

2020: National Security Law Passed in Hong Kong

In 2020, the NPCSC passed a national security law in Hong Kong, which significantly restricted political opposition and established a central government office to oversee enforcement.

October 2021: Changes to Minority Education Rights

In October 2021, a wording was scrapped guaranteeing the rights of minority children to be educated in their native language, replaced with one emphasizing the national language.

2021: Promotion of "common prosperity"

Since 2021, Xi Jinping has promoted the term "common prosperity," defining it as an "essential requirement of socialism" and using it to justify crackdowns on the tech and tutoring industries.

June 2022: Appointment of Pan Yue

On June 24, 2022, Pan Yue, another Han Chinese, became the head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, with him reportedly holding assimilationist policies toward ethnic minorities.

November 2022: Protests Against China's COVID-19 Policies

In November 2022, protests broke out against China's COVID-19 policies, triggered by a fire in Ürümqi. Some protesters demanded the end of Xi's and the CCP's rule.