Xi Jinping Is Shaping China into a Machine for U.S. Confrontation

Apr 24, 2025

According to the Wall Street Journal, Xi Jinping is shaping China into a machine specifically designed for confrontation with the United States, preparing for a long and painful struggle. In response to Trump reigniting the tariff war, Beijing has reacted strongly, reviving the spirit of the Korean War and emphasizing, “We will not back down.” The CCP believes that its system is stable and its regime solid—its greatest advantage over the United States, whose government is constrained by elections and politically divided.

Since the last trade war, Xi has further centralized power, strengthening propaganda, surveillance, and security systems. He has removed term limits, purged political rivals, and promoted “extreme scenario thinking,” requiring top officials to prepare for the worst. Emphasizing “stability above all else,” he has expanded social control, deepened the “Fengqiao Experience,” promoted nationwide surveillance, and deployed AI technologies to predict discontent and the risk of collective actions.

Although the new U.S. tariffs could seriously damage China’s exports, Xi clearly intends to bolster society’s capacity to endure “political pain.” Even in the face of job losses, worker dissatisfaction, and economic slowdown, the CCP maintains control through $209 billion in annual stability maintenance spending, $110 billion for national security construction, and a stability-maintenance system that proved its resilience during the pandemic.

Although the 2022 White Paper Movement exposed vulnerabilities in the system, it did not shake the foundation of CCP rule. After the pandemic, the Party further strengthened monitoring and response mechanisms to prevent protests from spreading. In Xi Jinping’s view, fully mobilizing the state apparatus and reinforcing regime resilience are key strategic preparations for a prolonged confrontation with the United States.

(Source: WSJ)