Since taking power in 2012, Xi Jinping has led China with strong leadership and strategic insight. The heavy pressure and bold strokes in his signature can be linked to his emphasis on a strong image and authoritative leadership style. Early in his tenure, he launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign to consolidate his power within the party, restructuring the party’s internal dynamics through the “Tigers and Flies” campaign in 2013, which targeted both high-ranking officials and lower-level bureaucrats.
The way some strokes in Xi’s signature are connected reflects his strategic thinking and long-term vision. This aligns with his economic and diplomatic strategies. Initiated in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to expand China’s economic and geopolitical influence, while his Common Prosperity policy seeks to redefine the economic model by emphasizing socialist distribution structures.
An upward-slanting signature suggests an aggressive and proactive approach. In practice, he has maintained a hardline foreign policy through “Wolf Warrior Diplomacy” and adopted a strong stance in the U.S.-China trade war. His enforcement of the Hong Kong National Security Law and promotion of economic self-sufficiency also mirror this leadership style. However, it is notable that his signature does not always slant upward but often remains balanced. This indicates that his policies are not purely emotional or impulsive but rather meticulously planned and carefully executed.
The intricate structure and overlapping strokes in his signature reflect his tendency to prioritize long-term perspectives and detailed planning. He has laid the foundation for long-term rule through constitutional amendments and is advancing financial reform with the introduction of the digital yuan.
His fluid handwriting suggests high-level political acumen, while the moderately long vertical strokes indicate a cautious approach. Although he does not entirely rule out military responses to international developments, he is expected to apply pressure on Taiwan not through immediate military conflict but via economic and diplomatic means, international isolation, military tension, leveraging pro-China factions, and implementing a long-term “gray-zone strategy.” Ultimately, while Xi Jinping considers Taiwan’s reunification a long-term goal, the likelihood of launching a full-scale war in the short term remains low.
March 18, 2025
Chosun Ilbo