Campaigning in China
Even if most people in China don't remember Mao Zedong, President Xi does and wants to invoke the populist image of Mao. For Xi Jinping, Being a Man of the People Means Looking the Part He held up stalks of wheat and made small talk with farmers. He stood side by side with workers at an oil plant and spoke of building an “invincible” China. He called for China to become more “self-reliant” in the face of a trade dispute with the United States… It was a chance for Mr. Xi to put himself on a pedestal with Mao Zedong, to rekindle a populist image and to fire back at President Trump and “protectionist” policies. Xi in Heilongjiang Mr. Xi, who has been criticized for inspiring a personality cult with parallels to the Mao era, has taken note. In one image from his tour of a farm in Heilongjiang Province, Mr. Xi is shown under an idyllic blue sky, confidently stepping forward while an adoring crowd of farmers looks on. Famous 1950's poster of Mao and peasants The image is familiar. I...