New Zealand PM disagrees with Biden, says Xi not a ‘dictator’
New Zealand PM disagrees with Biden, says Xi not a ‘dictator’
Hipkins, who is heading to Beijing this week, said he doesn’t believe the Chinese leader was a dictator.
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There's already some downvotes on comments criticizing this statement.
Can someone with an opinion that Xi Jinping is NOT a dictator please weigh in on what that's about?
Please, also argue with the following definition in mind or supplement your own so that I know what exactly we're all defining that as
From Dictionary.com
noun a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession
From Merriam Webster
dictator noun dic·ta·tor ˈdik-ˌtā-tər dik-ˈtā- Synonyms of dictator 1 a : a person granted absolute emergency power especially, history : one appointed by the senate (see SENATE sense 1b) of ancient Rome b : one holding complete autocratic control : a person with unlimited governmental power c : one ruling in an absolute (see ABSOLUTE sense 2) and often oppressive way (fascist dictators)
From my understanding, after the events of 1980s in China (see Tiananmen Square, fall of Mao, communist party appointment, market reform) that there would be an election instead and each president would serve 5 years with the option to renew once to serve a total of 10 years. In 2013 they allowed that rule to be lifted to allow Xi Jinping to 'rule for life'. Isn't that absolute power held at the top of a government body being never-ending pretty much exactly what a dictator would be?
I'm pretty sure it just doesn't suit New Zealand right now to call him a dictator, especially with a visit coming up in a week. Australia and New Zealand have to occupy a precarious position because they are European/Western in nature but obviously closest to the Asian powers. Therefore they have to try and be besties with the US whilst staying ok with China.
Mao didn't fall, he died.