SHENZHEN, November 15, 2026 — President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and China’s President Xi Jinping will hold an unprecedented three-way meeting next week, focusing on nuclear arms reduction and the Iran war.
Xi Jinping’s Leadership and China’s Foreign Policy
Xi Jinping’s leadership style, marked by his emphasis on party governance and consolidation of power, significantly influences China’s foreign policy decisions. Since becoming the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2012, Xi has pursued an assertive foreign policy, including in relations with the United States, the South China Sea, and along the Sino-Indian border dispute, according to his biography on Wikipedia.
Xi’s recent domestic political consolidation, characterized by unprecedented purges within the CCP, reflects his commitment to “self-revolution” and the institutionalization of continuous political rectification, as discussed in an article by The Diplomat. This approach, rooted in Mao Zedong’s Yan’an rectification movement, aims to forge ideological conformity and organizational discipline, ultimately consolidating Xi’s undisputed leadership.
The level of purges inside the CCP today is unprecedented in the post-Mao era, instilling fear among party cadres, according to a Brookings Institution podcast. Xi’s focus on party governance and his belief in the CCP as the only means to achieve China’s rejuvenation have led to a more centralized decision-making process, with Xi’s personal authority at its core.
In the context of foreign policy, Xi’s leadership style has resulted in a more assertive China, willing to challenge established norms and institutions. His pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative, for example, has expanded China’s economic and diplomatic presence in Africa and Eurasia, as mentioned in his Wikipedia biography.
Xi’s recent comments on Taiwan’s “complete reunification” with China, as reported by Al Jazeera, further demonstrate his assertive approach to foreign policy. China views Taiwan as its own territory, and Xi has urged peaceful reunification while not renouncing the use of force. This stance has significant implications for regional stability and China’s relations with the United States and other countries.
As Xi prepares to host Trump and Putin in Shenzhen, his leadership style will likely shape China’s approach to the discussions on nuclear arms reduction and the Iran war. With Xi’s focus on party governance and consolidation of power, China’s foreign policy decisions are increasingly driven by domestic political considerations, making it essential to understand the interplay between Xi’s leadership and China’s global role.
As the leaders gather in Shenzhen, the international community will be watching closely to see how Xi’s assertive foreign policy and domestic political consolidation influence China’s approach to these critical global issues.
Sources
- Xi Jinping
- Why is Xi Jinping purging leaders of his own party? | Brookings
- Xi Jinping says Taiwan’s ‘complete reunification’ with China will happen
- Xi Jinping’s Paradox of Political Control
- Trump, Putin and Xi Jinping expected to meet in first-ever trilateral of its kind, officials say
- Trump, Xi And Putin Plan Unprecedented Joint Meeting On APEC Sidelines, White House And Kremlin Say
Photo: Michael Fousert / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
