The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is due to celebrate its centenary this July. The party has lived through different periods and was led by numerous leaders, who led with different levels of severity. However, since 2012, its current leader Xi Jinping, has imposed a greater level of control over the CCP. Xi is taking over the party and its government which in turn signals a decisive break from its past.

The Council on Geostrategy is delighted to invite you to a timely discussion with Dr John Hemmings, Charles Parton OBE, The Lord Ricketts and Tom Tugendhat MP about the future of the CCP and the risks it poses to the stability of the geopolitical order of the future.

PANELLISTS

Dr John Hemmings
Associate Professor, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies
James Cook Associate Fellow in Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, Council on Geostrategy

Dr John Hemmings is an Associate Professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, a regional centre for the United States Department of Defence and Mission Partner to INDOPACOM. Previously, Dr Hemmings was worked for several think tanks and held a number of visiting fellowships. He has briefed several parliamentary committees and offices and ministries of Her Majesty’s Government, including the Ministry of Defence, Department for International Trade, and the Cabinet Office. Dr Hemmings holds a PhD In International Relations from the London School of Economics and a Masters degree in International Peace and Security from King’s College, London.

Charles Parton OBE
James Cook Associate Fellow in Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, Council on Geostrategy

Charlie Parton spent 22 years of his 37-year diplomatic career working in or on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In his final posting he was seconded to the European Union (EU) Delegation in Beijing, where, as First Counsellor until late 2016, he focussed on Chinese politics and internal developments, and advised the EU and member states on how the People’s Republic of China’s politics might affect their interests. In 2017 was chosen as the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Select Committee’s Special Adviser on China; he returned to Beijing for 4 months as Adviser to the British Embassy to cover the Communist Party’s 19th Congress.

The Lord Ricketts
National Security Adviser (2010-2012)

The Lord Ricketts has had an illustrious career as a British civil servant and diplomat. He served for four years as Permanent Secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he was then appointed the first ever National Security Adviser. He served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to France from 2012-2016, before being appointed a member of the House of Lords as Baron Ricketts of Shortlands.

Tom Tugendhat MP
Chair, Foreign Affairs Select Committee, House of Commons

Tom Tugendhat is Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling. Before entering politics, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army. After leaving the British Army, he worked on the Army Strategy Team helping prepare for the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review and also served as military assistant and Principal Adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff. In 2017, he was elected as a Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons. In 2020, he co-founded the China Research Group.

Chair
Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė
Co-founder and Director of Strategy, Council on Geostrategy

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