How the Chinese Communist Party’s ‘Performance Legitimacy’ Has Fallen

Beijing is the biggest loser in Trump’s presidency and hopes to avoid a second term as it scrambles to hold onto legitimacy

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and President Donald Trump display the signed trade agreement between the United States and China in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 15, 2020. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

A confluence of major events and poor decisions over the past several years have put the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership in the crosshairs of the Chinese people’s blame and distrust. In the minds of many, including, perhaps, Party members themselves, the CCP is in danger of losing its claim to legitimacy.