China's Sixth Plenum puts Xi on par with Mao

Significance

This delivers the Party's definitive appraisal of its own performance over the past century.

Impacts

• The Resolution is an authoritative statement of the Party's official justification of its ruling status and of Xi's power and policies.
• 'Political principles' set out vaguely in the Resolution will be elaborated and used to justify decisions and policies in the coming years.
• The Plenum Communique closes any space for dissent vis-a-vis the government's tough and interventionist approach to Hong Kong.