3. Xi Jinping
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping has been called the most powerful Chinese ruler since Deng Xiaoping.
He has been known to be tough on the country’s endemic corruption and he also talks tough on his own people.
For that practice he has been often criticized for a ruthless crackdown on dissidents, artists, and religious minorities including Christians.
Because he is not a fan of free speech, he has shut down Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and frequently shuts down social media sites.
For a top Communist, he seems awfully fond of capitalism, an enthusiastic proponent of more privatization.
Last year, China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in 24 years and 2015 opened with weak manufacturing sector numbers.
