At a critical moment when Xi Jinping seeks to promote cross-strait reunification, when he first met with former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in Beijing, a bookish official appeared particularly calm, and it was this official who attracted attention from the outside world. He is Wang Huning, one of the most influential ideological advisers in the Communist Party of China.

Qiu Kunxuan, a member of Ma Ying-jeou's accompanying delegation, recalled that when other officials seemed reserved in front of Xi Jinping, Wang Huning was confident and calm, and talked freely beside Xi Jinping. This scene gave the outside world a glimpse into the important relationship between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his "national teacher" Wang Huning. These two key figures, one is China's most powerful leader in decades, and the other is the behind-the-scenes driving force behind China's ideological direction.

Although Wang Huning is little known to the outside world, his influence has permeated all levels of the Communist Party's governance. Since the 1990s, he has provided advice to three Communist Party leaders, demonstrating his extraordinary adaptability and survival ability. His academic background and theoretical ability have enabled him to occupy a place in the core of the Communist Party's power.

Wang Huning’s connection with the Taiwan issue

In recent years, Xi Jinping has handed the heavy responsibility of handling Taiwan affairs to Wang Huning, a target that China has always longed to unify with. As cross-strait relations have become increasingly tense, Wang Huning has taken on the responsibility of deepening China’s influence on Taiwan at the ideological level. He has tried to expand China’s influence inside Taiwan by showing goodwill and conducting covert operations.

Zhao Chunshan, an honorary professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan, said that Wang Huning has used both soft and hard tactics in promoting the Taiwan issue, trying to reverse the hostile attitude of the Taiwanese people towards the mainland. He not only deals with members of the Kuomintang in Taiwan, but also pays close attention to their backgrounds and concerns, seeks to strengthen cross-strait ties through the Kuomintang, and even intends to use it as a bridge for future cross-strait dialogue.

Behind the scenes, Wang Huning also oversees China’s online propaganda work on Taiwan, trying to influence public opinion in Taiwan through online information warfare. Although this strategy has not yet achieved significant results in the short term, it has gradually produced a chilling effect in Taiwanese society.

At the same time, China’s tough military actions against Taiwan are also increasing. The recent military exercises around Taiwan and the related legal threats, especially the death penalty threats against those who support Taiwan independence, all demonstrate Beijing's tough stance on cross-strait reunification.

The complexity of the Taiwan issue and Wang Huning's challenge

The Taiwan issue has always been one of Beijing's most sensitive political issues. Xi Jinping has repeatedly mentioned that Taiwan must accept the "one country, two systems" model, but this proposal has been widely opposed in Taiwan. Today, Wang Huning is facing the arduous task of how to adjust its Taiwan policy. Beijing now prefers to use vague terms such as "overall strategy" to try to formulate a more flexible strategy for reunification.

Wang Huning will undoubtedly play a central role in China's future reunification plan. As Xi Jinping's most trusted ideological adviser, he must not only formulate a unified ideological framework, but also find an effective way to achieve his goals in a complex international environment.

From reform and opening up to new authoritarianism: Wang Huning's ideological transformation

Born into a family of CCP officials, Wang Huning, like Xi Jinping, experienced the turmoil of the "Cultural Revolution". When he entered Fudan University as a graduate student in 1978, Wang Huning developed a strong interest in the study of Western democracy. He had actively explored the relationship between democracy and modernization, believed that democracy was the goal of political development, and hoped that China could learn from Western democratic systems.

However, as China's democratic movement was suppressed in the late 1980s, Wang Huning's thinking gradually changed. He began to question the applicability of Western democracy, especially the chaos and instability it might bring to a country like China. After the Tiananmen Incident in 1989, Wang Huning's position became more resolute. He advocated centralization and authoritarianism, believing that this was the best way to ensure China's economic development.

This idea enabled him to be appointed as a senior adviser to the Communist Party of China by Jiang Zemin in 1995, and gradually became the helmsman of the Communist Party's ideology. His theory of "new authoritarianism" emphasized maintaining economic growth and political stability through strong central government leadership, and this concept was widely recognized by subsequent Chinese Communist Party leaders.

Wang Huning's American experience and the warning of the Communist Party of China

In 1988, Wang Huning visited the United States for the first time, and this experience had an important impact on his thinking. He had studied American democratic politics in depth, but after returning to China, he became more determined to doubt Western democracy. He believes that although the United States has strong economic and technological power, its social division and the spread of liberalism are its fatal weaknesses.

In his book America Against America, Wang Huning criticized the lack of social discipline and cohesion in the United States, believing that these problems weakened the United States' global leadership. After returning to China, Wang Huning's thoughts turned to a more conservative direction. He called on the Communist Party of China to strengthen its control over society and re-establish the country's ideological dominance.

From Jiang Zemin to Xi Jinping: Wang Huning's career and influence

In 1995, Wang Huning was promoted by Jiang Zemin to join the Policy Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and became an important think tank for the development of the Communist Party of China's theory. He not only helped Jiang Zemin formulate the "Three Represents" theory, but also continued to exert influence in the Hu Jintao era. After Xi Jinping came to power, Wang Huning remained in Xi Jinping's core circle and participated in the formulation of "Xi Jinping Thought", which emphasized China's great power rejuvenation and the absolute rule of the Communist Party of China.

Under Xi Jinping's leadership, Wang Huning's influence has grown day by day. Not only is he an ideological maker, he also participated in the design and implementation of major policies and became Xi Jinping's right-hand man in governing. In 2017, Wang Huning was promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee, a recognition of his years of work. Today, as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, he continues to influence China's future development.

Wang Huning's close cooperation with Xi Jinping

Wang Huning's cooperation with Xi Jinping has become particularly close over the past decade. As Xi Jinping's chief ideological adviser, Wang Huning has not only helped Xi formulate policies that reflect his vision of great power rejuvenation, but also become an indispensable role in China's power system. Whether it is domestic policy making or foreign diplomatic layout, Wang Huning's theoretical and strategic thinking have played an important role in it.

Domestically, Wang Huning has promoted Xi Jinping's state-led growth model and defended China's strict Internet regulatory system. On the international stage, he has accompanied Xi Jinping to attend many important international summits and played an important role in them.

Conclusion: Wang Huning's future tasks and challenges

Wang Huning is a key figure in China's ideological field. Under his influence, the CCP's ruling strategy has gradually shifted from openness to more centralized authoritarianism. Today, he is applying his political wisdom to the Taiwan issue, trying to find the best path for China to unify in a complex international situation.

Wang will continue to exert influence at the highest levels of the Communist Party of China in the future. His ideas have not only shaped Xi Jinping’s ideas on governance, but are also profoundly influencing the future direction of China’s development. As cross-strait tensions continue, Wang’s task will undoubtedly become more difficult, but his adaptability and strategic wisdom make him an important person for Xi Jinping to rely on to realize his vision of cross-strait reunification.