Charles Parton

The fourth weapon

Any tool that helps to maintain social stability is welcomed by the Communist party

issue 17 November 2018

Chairman Mao talked of ‘three magic weapons’ for seizing power: the united front, the armed struggle and construction of the Communist party itself. Now the priority for China’s government is to remain in power. To ensure that, President Xi Jinping’s party is developing a fourth ‘magic weapon’.

The social credit system is a part of this, but the ‘weapon’ also extends far beyond it.

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Written by
Charles Parton
Charles Parton is a former UK diplomat who spent 22 years working in China. He is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and the Council on Geostrategy.

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