Xi's New Year Inspection Tour To Sichuan; Sun Zhengcai Going To Trial, Charge Sheet May Go Back Decades; Building China Into A Maritime Superpower; The Maldives And Sino-Indian Competition

The Chinese government is sticking to the script as the country heads into the Lunar New Year holiday. Xi Jinping made a pre-New Year inspection tour to an impoverished area and condemned, corrupt cadres are heading to trial.

In case you missed my Sunday newsletter, leading Party media have given Xi a new title-“人民领袖” The People's "Leader" Xi Jinping.

Please note that the newsletter will not be daily next week as Monday is a US holiday and China is on vacation for the entire week. I anticipate writing 1-2 issues, depending on what is going on, but I know many of you will be on vacation as well. 

I will be at the PRC embassy New Year's Party in DC tonight, so if you are there please say hello.

Thanks for reading.

The Essential Eight

1. Xi's New Year Inspection Tour To Sichuan

Xi visits BeiDou-3 launch site, extends festival greetings to all servicemen:

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a satellite launch site in southwest China's Sichuan Province Saturday, ahead of the launch of BeiDou-3 sa…