Joseph Torigian sought to shine light on a figure both historically important and elusive in “The Party’s Interests Come First,” the first English-language biography of Xi Zhongxun. Torigian traces the political journey of Zhongxun, through all its contradictions and challenges. Ultimately, the life story of Xi Jinping’s father reveals the CCP’s capacity for cruelty and coercion, but also the immense loyalty and attraction it inspired in adherents like Zhongxun.
søndag 29. juni 2025
The ‘Central Contradiction’ That Plagued Xi Jinping’s Father
As China’s top leader, biographical details of Xi Jinping are tightly controlled. Official biographies are scripted and arranged around key messaging approved by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). That historical flattening applies to Xi Zhongxun, Jinping’s father as well. Though less known outside of China than his peers like Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai, Xi Zhongxun too was one of the elder giants of the CCP, and his story provides a revealing glimpse of the upper echelons of power in the PRC – once pried away from the tight grip of party-sanctioned historiography.
Joseph Torigian sought to shine light on a figure both historically important and elusive in “The Party’s Interests Come First,” the first English-language biography of Xi Zhongxun. Torigian traces the political journey of Zhongxun, through all its contradictions and challenges. Ultimately, the life story of Xi Jinping’s father reveals the CCP’s capacity for cruelty and coercion, but also the immense loyalty and attraction it inspired in adherents like Zhongxun.
Joseph Torigian sought to shine light on a figure both historically important and elusive in “The Party’s Interests Come First,” the first English-language biography of Xi Zhongxun. Torigian traces the political journey of Zhongxun, through all its contradictions and challenges. Ultimately, the life story of Xi Jinping’s father reveals the CCP’s capacity for cruelty and coercion, but also the immense loyalty and attraction it inspired in adherents like Zhongxun.
