Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 26, 2018

Tom Phillips, The Guardian: 'Dictator for life': Xi Jinping's power grab condemned as step towards tyranny

Experts and activists react to ‘bombshell’ decision to scrap two-term limit that was designed to guard against Mao-style personality cult in China

The news broke at three minutes to four on a chilly winter’s afternoon in a two-sentence bulletin.

“The Communist party of China central committee proposed to remove the expression that the president and vice-president of the People’s Republic of China ‘shall serve no more than two consecutive terms’ from the country’s constitution,” Xinhua, China’s official news wire, reported. “The proposal was made public Sunday.”

It was a typically dreary communique from the party-controlled propaganda agency. But to those who have spent their lives battling to decrypt the enigma that is elite Chinese politics, the text’s historic significance was unmissable.

“A bombshell,” said Susan Shirk, one of the United States’ foremost China specialists.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 26, 2018

Echoes of Mao as Xi Jinping Ends Term Limits -- Richard McGregor, RCW/Lowy Institute

Xi Jinping strengthened his hold on China. It's the leadership change that means the most today -- Stan Grant, ABC News Online

Chinese-Australian council worried foreign interference laws will lead to 'scapegoating' -- Xiaoning Mo, ABC News Online

South and North Korea agree: Washington should talk to Pyongyang -- Andrew Salmon, Asia Times

North Korea takes gold for Olympic diplomacy: analysts -- AFP

Should the US enforce a naval blockade against North Korea? -- Todd South, Military Times

UN and Myanmar on a collision course -- David Scott Mathieson, Asia Times

So-called ceasefire in Syria has barely led to a lull -- Martin Chulov, The Guardian

How Will Iraq Contain Iran's Proxies? -- Ranj Alaaldin, The Atlantic

How Iran’s rise is remaking the Middle East -- Michael Axworthy, New statesman

Iran Among the Ruins: Tehran’s Advantage in a Turbulent Middle East -- Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs

Brussels now flanked by mortal enemies on four sides -- The Commentator

Much ‘Political Warfare’ In Our Future -- Seth Jones, Breaking Defense

Europe is sitting on a mountain of secret debt -- RT

Venezuela's Neighbors Can't Wait for Uncle Sam -- Shannon O'Neil, Bloomberg