China’s Xi Amassing Most Power Since Deng Raises Reform Risk

Xi Jinping today completes his first year as China’s leader with the greatest individual sway over his nation since Deng Xiaoping, a feat that raises the stakes on delivering on pledges for economic and social change.

Unlike his predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, the ruling Communist Party let Xi, 60, assume the roles of general secretary, president of the country and head of the military within four months, in the aftermath of rising public discontent at corruption, inequality and damage to the environment from a debt-fueled economic model.