[For years, Xi Jinping has encouraged the usage of many Maoist-era slogans. One such slogan, "Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman," was a Cultural Revolution staple, used in song, speeches, and on posters praising the chairman. The slogan's reemergence highlights a connection in how the state viewed itself then and now.
The slogan also reflects Xi's view of himself. As his years in office have gone on, this self-portrait has also been imposed on the party itself. Xi is presented as singular and irreplaceable. And yet, inevitably, he will need one day to be replaced.
Already seventy-two years old, Xi likely will secure another five-year term in 2027. But time is an enemy not so easily purged. As the years go on, the passage of time will silently erode Xi's authority and reshape the behavior of other Chinese elites, loosening his hold over them, whether or not the aging leader is ready for it.
Xi's China pretends succession is a solved problem. It is not. The CCP chooses to ignore the question publicly, but behind closed doors, the party cadres know the clock is ticking....]
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/life-after-xi/