China ends presidential term limits in constitutional amendment

March 13, 2018 On Sunday, China's (NPC) voted to amend the  in several ways, including eliminating term limits for the offices of President and Vice President. The changes mean Xi Jinping may be President for life if he so chooses.

The vote in the legislature was nearly unanimous. 2958 votes were cast in favor, two opposed, three abstained. Without this change, Xi would be required to leave office in 2023. In another change, was written into the constitution. "Xi Jinping thought", as the theory is also known, was approved by the in the autumn of 2017.

Shen Chunyao, the chairperson for the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC, told, "As an important content of the amendment, the inclusion of Xi's thought into the country's fundamental law reflects the common aspiration of the entire Communist Party of China and all Chinese people of various ethnic groups".

News media reported a backlash to the news on the Internet. In response, state censors were blocking images of and words like "I disagree" and "Emperor". Reuters reported difficulties in getting reactions to the lifting of term limits from members of the congress, one woman choosing to remain anonymous and remarking, "You can't ask me that".

Under, the is a largely ceremonial office with limited powers. However, since 1993, as a matter of convention, the presidency has been held simultaneously by the, the top leader in the one-party. Xi Jinping's powerful positions as General Secretary and do not have any term limit.