The suppression of the pro-democracy movement meant that there was no toleration of an opposition, no toleration of checks and balances.

Joseph Cheng

We certainly see an attempt to cultivate a personality cult, and this is only natural because he wants to concentrate power in his hands, to have the momentum and the political force in order to promote his program.

Diminishing control over people's lives is an inevitable trend, but Xi is still making tremendous efforts to remain relevant by building his image.