Since coming to power, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption drives, which critics say have also been used as a tool to purge political rivals.

if the rivals are actually corrupt, does it matter? Am I not allowed to prosecute/punish you for your corruptions because you are my rival, political or otherwise?

[–] dazaroo@lemmygrad.ml 37 points 2 days ago

They always refer to these mystical unnamed "critics", but genuinely who are they even talking about? The Burger Freedom Society for Democracy and Human Rights House Foundation? Because it seems anyone can just say any bullshit and be a "critic"

[–] purpleworm@hexbear.net 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It can be an issue if you're letting Your Guys do corruption while just purging opposition, but imo the more salient point here is that political enemies often can and should be purged (typically not via death penalty, but China typically doesn't actually kill them) and there's a conflation in western media between purging enemies to your political project versus purging political rivals who are obstacles in your personal political career.

[–] WhatDoYouMeanPodcast@hexbear.net 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Does Xi have political rivals? Like in the entire world? Who's stopping China from doing whatever the fr*ck the people's will is? Does Xi have checks and balances?

[–] purpleworm@hexbear.net 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

By its basic nature, China's system constantly produces enemies to socialism. No one but the most fanciful sinophiles [which I'm not saying you are, you're just asking a question] deny that, including China itself not denying that, the only disagreements are the extent to which it does that and how much power those enemies have, ranging from "they are totally contained and usually not that extensive" to "they functionally control the country but need to put on these shows to rein in their more unruly elements and preserve public confidence."

[–] Damarcusart@hexbear.net 13 points 1 day ago

The purpose of a system isn't what it does, it's what western news media talking heads say it does. Sure, it looks like he's just getting rid of corruption, but he's actually just getting rid of his political rivals like a bad guy in gambo thrones!