There is growing concern for democracy in China. A new article on Newsweek by East Asia Research Assistant Kristian McGuire, Xi Is Leading China Away From Democracy, is reflective of a growing consensus of a regression in the already lacking basic freedoms of the Chinese people (1/6th of humanity):

Two years into Xi Jinping’s presidency, all hope that China’s new leader could morph into a liberal reformer seems to have vanished. Yet many China watchers remain optimistic that Xi might at least prove to be an effective authoritarian reformer in the style of Deng Xiaoping, or Taiwan’s Chiang Ching-kuo.

The article explains Xi’s accomplishments but includes some very serious and important trouble signs:

Under Xi’s leadership the CCP has imposed greater restrictions on academic freedom, tightened media controls, and launched a campaign against “Western values” and “Western ideas” such as “Western Constitutional Democracy,” freedom of the press, and universal human rights. If anything, China has moved further away from liberal democracy during Xi’s first two years in office.

Here is a brief biography of Xi Jinping by China Vitae:

Xi Jinping, male, Han nationality, is a native of Fuping County, Shaanxi Province. He was born in 1953, entered the work force in 1969, joined the CYLC in 1971 and joined the CPC in 1974. Xi has served in four provinces during his government and Party career: Shaanxi, Hebei, Fujian and Zhejiang. He has held Party positions in the CPC Fuzhou City Committee, and in 1990 he became president of the Party school in Fuzhou City. In 1999 he was elected vice-governor of Fujian province, then governor a year later. In 2002 he took up senior government and Party positions in Zhejiang Province.

Xi Jinping was an alternate member of the 15th CPC Central Committee and was a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee. In 2007 he became a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo Bureau of the 17th CPC Central Committee and Chairman of 17th CPC Central Committee Party Building Leading Small Group. He is also the President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

In 2008, he became Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China. In 2010 he became Vice-Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and Vice-Chairman, Central Military Commission of the PRC.

In 2012 he became General Secretary of the 18th CPC Central Committee a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the 18th CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. In 2013 Xi was elected Chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission and President of China. In 2014 Xi became head of China’s new national security commission.