Commentary During China’s top political annual meetings, the weeklong “Two Sessions” that concluded on March 11, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made new moves to centralize power, sparking widespread concern at home and abroad. Why does Xi continue to centralize power and how does he do it? What will be the result? Let’s explore this issue. Xi’s Centralization of Power Since Xi became head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November 2012, he has taken at least nine major steps to control the party and military. First, Xi simultaneously holds the three highest positions—General Secretary of the CCP Central Committee, Chairman of the state, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Second, Xi is the head of a dozen committees and commissions. Some of these titles include chairman of the National Security Council, director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, director of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, …