Xi Jinping meets Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam in imperial-themed setting

Earlier last week, Hong Kong''s chief executive Carrie Lam went to Beijing to meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping at his behest. Instead of looking at what went on in the meeting, the general public focused on the wooden armchair with a dragon motif that Xi was seated in. A political science scholar said the spectacle was likely a reflection of Xi''s insecurity about his power, and that the setup was to shore up his image as the ruler of China ahead of the CCP''s 20th National Congress.

On Dec. 22, Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam met with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing to deliver an annual report. Instead of the content of their dialogue, the public’s focus was more on Xi’s wooden armchair with a dragon motif and imperial yellow tea cups on the table. Experts believed this actually reflected Xi’s insecurity about his authority.

Chen Shih-min
NTU political science professor
If his power is really solid, and if he really wants to be emperor, he could do so a year from now, right before the 20th National Congress. To sit on the dragon throne now, and have pictures of that distributed, to me that just feels like he’s worried about how solid his power is.

Since taking office as the CCP general secretary in 2012, Xi Jinping has ousted political rivals one after another. In 2018, Xi removed the two-term presidency limit enshrined in the Chinese constitution. As his second term as president comes to an end in 2022, many are speculating whether Xi will be voted to stay in power at the 20th National Congress, to be convened in the fall of 2022. The latest pictures of him in a dragon-themed armchair have only stoked further speculation.

Chen Shih-min
NTU political science professor
The story in People’s Daily overlooked Xi Jinping’s reforms over the years. Whether China’s internal power is operating stably is something worth observing. Even though Xi Jinping praised Lam, we don’t see anywhere in the report mentioning whether Lam will stay on. I think Xi is probably hoping to find someone new to replace her.

Experts also said all the signs, from the state media’s coverage to Carrie Lam’s own words, pointed to Lam’s likely departure from the seat of Hong Kong’s chief executive. Her meeting with Xi was both a nod of approval from the central government, and a wave goodbye.

[robbrown]

A mafia boss meets with one of his underlings...

[bmanchenahalli]

Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.

[truenorthstrongandfree]

Of course they met in an imperial themed setting. He considers himself to be the emperor of China. Would you expect any less from an emperor?

[williamchi]

Quite sceptical about the news here since everyone in that room is also sitting on their own dragon-themed amrchair. In that regards, his position is on par with other people in that room.