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The Print
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Harvard had decade-long formal ties with CCP-linked bodies, US congressional probe reveals
Of particular concern is the Harvard Kennedy School's long-standing cooperation with the Chinese Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, an institution controlled by the CCP. Whistleblower testimony indicates that cadres from China's party and government institutions were sent to Harvard as part of their official training, raising alarms about foreign influence on American soil. According to a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) accused Harvard of actively collaborating with organisations under the control of the CCP's Central Organisation Department. This department is responsible for indoctrinating officials with 'Xi Jinping Thought' and selecting leaders for key positions within China's authoritarian regime. Washington DC: Harvard University, once revered as a bastion of academic excellence and intellectual freedom, is now facing a growing scandal that threatens its reputation and integrity. A congressional investigation has revealed that the Ivy League institution maintained formal partnerships with Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled entities for over a decade, relationships that critics say directly assisted in the training of future CCP leadership. 'Harvard's formal partnership with a CCP-controlled school to train their future leaders raises serious concerns about the CCP's influence in American institutions,' said Rep. Moolenaar. 'We are committed to uncovering the full extent of these relationships to ensure transparency and protect national interests.' The revelations come at a time when Harvard is already under scrutiny. The university is reportedly considering a USD 500 million payout to resolve a standoff with the Biden administration over campus anti-Semitism complaints and controversial DEI policies. But lawmakers argue that financial settlements cannot undo the damage caused by Harvard's entanglement with entities implicated in human rights abuses. In April, The Free Beacon exposed Harvard's past training of members from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a CCP paramilitary group sanctioned by the U.S. for its role in the genocide of Uyghur Muslims. That report prompted congressional leaders to threaten Harvard's tax-exempt status. Now, Harvard faces a deadline of August 7 to provide Congress with all records relating to its interactions with CCP-affiliated bodies, including any financial or material exchanges. As pressure mounts, the question isn't just whether Harvard broke federal laws or ethical boundaries, but whether one of America's most prestigious universities has willingly served the interests of a foreign authoritarian power. (ANI)
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Harvard University under fire as US Congressional probe exposes deep ties to Chinese Communist Party
Harvard University, once revered as a bastion of academic excellence and intellectual freedom, is now facing a growing scandal that threatens its reputation and integrity. A congressional investigation has revealed that the Ivy League institution maintained formal partnerships with Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled entities for over a decade, relationships that critics say directly assisted in the training of future CCP leadership. According to a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) accused Harvard of actively collaborating with organisations under the control of the CCP's Central Organisation Department. This department is responsible for indoctrinating officials with "Xi Jinping Thought" and selecting leaders for key positions within China's authoritarian regime. Of particular concern is the Harvard Kennedy School's long-standing cooperation with the Chinese Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, an institution controlled by the CCP. Whistleblower testimony indicates that cadres from China's party and government institutions were sent to Harvard as part of their official training, raising alarms about foreign influence on American soil. "Harvard's formal partnership with a CCP-controlled school to train their future leaders raises serious concerns about the CCP's influence in American institutions," said Rep. Moolenaar. "We are committed to uncovering the full extent of these relationships to ensure transparency and protect national interests." The revelations come at a time when Harvard is already under scrutiny. The university is reportedly considering a USD 500 million payout to resolve a standoff with the Biden administration over campus anti-Semitism complaints and controversial DEI policies. But lawmakers argue that financial settlements cannot undo the damage caused by Harvard's entanglement with entities implicated in human rights abuses. In April, The Free Beacon exposed Harvard's past training of members from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a CCP paramilitary group sanctioned by the U.S. for its role in the genocide of Uyghur Muslims. That report prompted congressional leaders to threaten Harvard's tax-exempt Harvard faces a deadline of August 7 to provide Congress with all records relating to its interactions with CCP-affiliated bodies, including any financial or material pressure mounts, the question isn't just whether Harvard broke federal laws or ethical boundaries, but whether one of America's most prestigious universities has willingly served the interests of a foreign authoritarian power.
News18
17-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Fragility Of Centralised Power: Lessons For Democracies From China's Political Mayhem
China's last decade under Xi Jinping has been a textbook case of building a throne on quicksand Xi Jinping's slow-motion nosedive from China's throne is less a political drama than a masterclass in how to botch a nation. Beijing's strongman, once hailed as the eternal helmsman, is now steering a ship that's springing leaks faster than his censors can plug them. Economic wobbles, public grumbling, and a leadership drunk on its own myth expose the rot of hyper-centralised rule. But this isn't just China's circus—democracies, with their messy debates and fragile guardrails, can stumble into the same traps if they're not vigilant. Picture a cautionary tale, served with a smirk and a shiver, as we unpack why China's mess is a 900-word warning for every democracy to keep its house in order. Buckle up; the lessons are sharper than the Beijing's People's Liberation Army. China's last decade under Xi has been a textbook case of building a throne on quicksand. He didn't just seize power; he vacuumed it up, scrapping term limits, turning anti-corruption drives into rival purges, and cloaking himself in a personality cult so palpable it makes North Korea's propaganda look like a shy adolescent. Xi didn't stop at rewriting the constitution—he mandated a university course on 'Xi Jinping Thought', a self-aggrandising syllabus that's less education and more hagiography. Imagine the gall: a leader so enamored with himself he demands a nation study his brilliance, as if wisdom begins and ends with his name. The economy, meanwhile, is a shimmering mirage—state-fuelled projects and a property bubble ready to pop. Now, the cracks are glaring: youth unemployment's through the stratosphere, exports are wheezing, and the property sector's less a market than a graveyard of bad loans. Xi's zero-Covid obsession, once paraded as genius, turned into a bureaucratic fever dream—lockdowns so suffocating they sparked protests in a country where dissent is a one-way ticket to nowhere. When citizens took to the streets, it wasn't just about masks; it was a primal roar against a system that forgot how to listen. Democracies, perk up: centralizing power is a one-way ticket to a cliff. China's one-man show thrives on silence—nobody dares call out the emperor when he's stark naked. When Xi clung to zero-Covid, then flipped to reopening without a playbook, the lack of pushback turned a misstep into a catastrophe. Democracies have guardrails—judges who aren't yes-men, reporters who snoop, opposition parties that squawk. But those aren't bulletproof. Leaders who chip away at them—bullying courts, smearing journalists, or branding critics as traitors—are playing Xi's game, just with better branding. The fix? Keep the messy machinery of checks and balances humming, or watch your system wobble like China's. The personality cult around Xi is a screaming red flag, and democracies should take note before they start penning their own love letters to leaders. Mandating a course on 'Xi Jinping Thought' isn't just ego on steroids—it's a deliberate erasure of debate. It's as if a leader decided to award themselves a medal for greatness, after consulting their own mirror. Picture a democracy where a prime minister nominates themselves for the highest honour, debates it with their own ego, and then pins the medal on their own chest—laughable, yet chillingly possible if institutions erode. Such self-worship is antithetical to democracy's core: the idea that no one is above scrutiny, and power is a lease, not a crown. When leaders start craving adulation over accountability, they're not just flirting with authoritarianism; they're swiping right on it. Democracies must keep their leaders human-sized—celebrated, sure, but never canonised. Anything else risks a slide into the cultish swamp where dissent is heresy and loyalty is the only curriculum. Economic mismanagement is China's next gift to the 'how to botch up a country' handbook. Youth unemployment at record highs, a property sector imploding, exports on life support—Xi's bet on state control over innovation turned a juggernaut into a jalopy. His 'common prosperity' mantra spooked entrepreneurs, while tech crackdowns sent moguls and their money bolting for the exits. Democracies aren't immune to this brand of stupidity. Populist promises—tax cuts with no math, subsidies for dying industries—can hollow out economies faster than you can say 'recession'. The difference? Democracies have tools to catch the slide: elections to oust duds, press to call out nonsense, debates to hash out fixes. But those only work if leaders don't dodge accountability like it's a tax audit. Ignore structural reforms for quick applause, and you're one bad policy away from a China-style economic faceplant. The lesson? Keep markets dynamic, not dogmatic, and don't let ideology choke innovation. Dissent, that pesky thing China can't stomach, is another wake-up call. Protests over zero-Covid weren't just about policy; they were a middle finger to a regime that thought it could muzzle a billion voices. Even in a surveillance dystopia, people found ways to vent—cryptic online posts, street chants, sheer defiance. Democracies have a head start: protests, free speech, and pesky NGOs are baked into the system. But when governments tighten the screws—censoring social media, banning rallies, or harassing activists—they're not just borrowing China's playbook; they're inviting its chaos. Dissent isn't a glitch; it's the safety valve that keeps societies from exploding. Clamp it shut, and you're brewing a rebellion in slow motion. Democracies must keep those valves open, letting voices roar, even when they sting. Ideology over pragmatism is China's next blunder. Xi's fixation on state dominance and ideological purity kneecapped innovation, chased away capital, and turned tech giants into cautionary tales. His 'Xi Jinping Thought' isn't just a course—it's a mindset that prioritises loyalty over logic. Democracies, you're not off the hook. When partisan holy wars—over climate, welfare, or culture—override evidence, you get policies that sparkle in speeches but flop in reality. China's tech purge showed what happens when dogma drives the bus: markets tank, talent flees, and you're left preaching to bureaucrats. Democracies need to keep their heads screwed on, balancing principles with policies that don't collapse under scrutiny. China's global swagger, now stumbling, is the final lesson. The Belt and Road Initiative, once Xi's ticket to world domination, is choking on debt defaults and geopolitical pushback. Democracies, don't get cocky. Overextending abroad—reckless wars, blank-check aid—can bleed you dry at home. Global clout starts with a strong foundation: fix your economy, listen to your people, don't bet the farm on foreign applause. China's mess isn't just Xi's funeral; it's a mirror for democracies. One-man rule, personality cults, economic denialism, silenced voices, ideological blind spots, reckless ambition—these aren't just authoritarian oopsies; they're temptations any system can fall for. Democracies have the edge: institutions that check power, economies that reward risk, societies that let voices roar. But those edges dull without care. Leaders who mistake criticism for betrayal, citizens who shrug at eroded freedoms, systems that resist change—they're all one step from China's quicksand. So, keep your institutions feisty, your economies honest, your voices loud. Because if China's titan can tumble, nobody's too big to fail. Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : China President Xi Jinping Xi Jinping view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 14, 2025, 19:56 IST News opinion Write Mind | Fragility Of Centralised Power: Lessons For Democracies From China's Political Mayhem Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
End of 'Emperor Xi'? Chinese president's disappearance raises questions about who holds reins
The absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping for two weeks is raising questions about who is really in control in China. Xi's absence between May 21 and June 5 set tongues wagging about whether there is a possible realignment of power within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Xi is also slated to miss the upcoming Brics summit in Brazil, which is taking place on July 6 and 7 read more Is it the end of 'Emperor Xi', as US President Donald Trump called him, in China? Is a power shift imminent? The absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping for two weeks is raising questions about who really holds the reins in China. Xi is also slated to miss the upcoming Brics summit in Brazil, which is taking place on July 6 and 7. This is the first time Xi would be missing the summit since taking power. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what happened? What do we know? Let's take a closer look: What happened? Xi was out of public view for two weeks. His absence between May 21 and June 5 set tongues wagging about whether there is a possible realignment of power within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Xi is General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). According to reports, General Zhang Youxia, the First Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), may currently hold power in China. Zhang, who is part of the powerful 24-member Politburo, is reportedly backed by senior CCP members who are loyal to ex-Chinese president Hu Jintao. These members are said to be far less ideologically rigid than Xi, who has tried to codify his views in – which is in textbooks and being taught in schools. Though Xi continues to hold his many titles, his influence is said to be waning in key sectors such as the military and the economy. The silence of state media on Xi's absence is also telling. He Weidong (L) and Zhang Youxia, vice chairmen of Chinese Communist Party Central Military Commission (CMC). Reuters All these developments come in the backdrop of Wang Yang is reportedly being groomed as Xi's successor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wang, a technocrat himself, in 2022 was considered to be a likely contender for the top job in China. The removal of generals close to Xi, the slow doing away of 'Xi Jinping Thought' from the narrative and the return of technocrats like Wang are indications that Xi may slowly being shown the door. This isn't the first time China had sidelined its high profile leaders. Interestingly, this happened most recently and publicly with Xi's predecessor Hu. Hu in 2022 was dragged out of the Chinese Communist Party's 20th ceremony. This occurred as Xi, who was sitting next to Hu, remained unmoving. Hu was even seen trying to talk to Xi but was publicly rebuffed. Chinese President Xi Jinping and former President Hu Jintao attend the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2017. Reuters Xi at Brics will be replaced by Chinese Premier Premier Li Qiang. Li previously filled in for Xi at the G20 in India in 2023. China blamed Xi's absence at Brics on a 'scheduling conflict'. Does India need to worry? Experts say India need to be on alert. They say China often uses external affairs as a way of relieving the pressure from internal disputes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They point out that turbulence within the political system in China is often a precursor to conflict on the border – like in 2012 and 2020. They say China could increase cyberattacks, step up disinformation efforts to try to create problems in India. China could also take to the United Nations to try to hurt India's international reputation and stymie India's efforts when it comes to reform and counter-terrorism.
News18
30-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Xi Jinping's Public Absence Fuels Speculation Amid Power Shake-Up In China
Xi's absence from official engagements, state media coverage, and high-profile diplomatic meetings coincided with a wave of top-level purges in PLA and mounting economic challenges Chinese President Xi Jinping's unusual disappearance from public view between May 21 and June 5 this year has sparked intense speculation about internal political adjustments at the highest levels of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), CNN-News18 has learnt. According to multiple media reports, Xi's sudden absence from official engagements, state media coverage, and high-profile diplomatic meetings coincided with a wave of top-level purges in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and mounting economic challenges in core sectors of China's economy. Observers suggest that behind closed doors, Beijing is undergoing a quiet yet significant recalibration of power. Notably, Xi was absent from the front pages of People's Daily and Xinhua—the CCP's primary propaganda outlets—from June 2 to 5, a rare break from his consistent daily coverage since 2017. During this period, high-stakes diplomatic meetings with foreign delegations were instead handled by Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng, suggesting a temporary shift in the presentation of state leadership. In his absence, public appearances by second-tier party officials and respected party elders have added to speculation that the internal command structure of the CCP is being reworked, possibly to stabilise growing dissent or manage factional tensions. The People's Liberation Army has also seen sweeping changes. Since early 2023, key figures such as General He Weidong (Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission), General Miao Hua (Chief of Political Work), and General Lin Xiangyang (Commander of the Eastern Theater Command) have been removed. The PLA's powerful Rocket Force and Western Theater Command have also undergone major leadership reshuffles, hinting at systemic unease within China's military hierarchy. On June 6, a constitutional loyalty ceremony organised by China's State Council—attended by over 50 ministers and top department heads—was conspicuously held without Xi's presence. Meanwhile, at international forums, delegates were seen reciting 'Xi Jinping Thought" in the President's absence—a symbolic move that drew attention to his physical nonappearance even as his ideological presence was reinforced. Analysts are divided over the implications: some view this as a calculated pause by Xi to recalibrate political structures amid crisis, while others suggest potential internal challenges to his authority, following a year of economic setbacks and increased scrutiny of his centralisation of power. While the Chinese government has offered no explanation for Xi's reduced public visibility, the convergence of diplomatic stand-ins, military purges, and symbolic omissions has led many to believe that China's political landscape may be entering a sensitive transitional phase. About the Author Manoj Gupta Location : Beijing, China First Published: June 30, 2025, 09:07 IST
