Donald Trump has praised Xi Jinping's bid to abolish presidential term limits in China, calling the Chinese leader 'great' and suggesting the United States might one day 'give that a shot'. The US president made the remarks during a fundraising event at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he hosted Xi last April.
China's parliament is expected to approve a constitutional amendment removing presidential term limits, paving the way for Xi to rule indefinitely. Critics have condemned the move as a power grab, but Trump offered a positive assessment, saying: 'He's now president for life. President for life. And he's great.'
Chinese activists and dissidents have voiced disappointment over the lack of criticism from Western governments. Zhou Fengsuo, a democracy activist in exile, warned that 'this kind of permanent leadership never ends well' and would lead to uncertainty and conflict.
Western experts believe Xi's plan is to rule for many years to come. Harvard's Roderick MacFarquhar noted that Xi, aged 64, could remain in power for at least 20 years, taking China almost to its centenary in 2049.
