David I fully agree with you. My assessment is that on an individual level, Xi is as you say: 'a dyed in the wool Marxist believer who is not foolish about his enemies, but just sincerely/ideologically believes Marxism is correct and that the capitalist powers will eventually fall and that everything the CCP does is by definition correct as it is leading towards the scientific truth of communism so maximizing its power and control is automatically the right policy.'... I would add that that there is also the need to add a healthy dose of (1) 'With Chinese Characteristics' - in the sense that there is a parallel intense aspiration to return China to its rightful dominant position in the world, and; (2) the absolute need for the party to stay in control and maintain the related domestic narratives and nationalistic posturing