The War for China’s Wallet

Chapter 9 Conclusion

October, 2017

I received a call from Alyssa Abkowitz, a journalist with the Wall Street Journal. She wanted to ask me about the Xi Clapping game (measuring how fast and how many times people clap for Xi)launched by the internet giant Tencent that had debuted during the opening day of the 19th National People’s Congress. To kick off the Congress which ultimately would choose who would be China’s leaders for the next 5 years, President Xi heralded in an “Era of National Rejuvenation.”

Most of the western press like the Guardian reportedi that President Xi’s speech went on for three and a half hours or that former President Jiang Zemin looked at his watch numerous times and had to use a handheld magnifying glass to read Xi’s ...