Top 20 most powerful people in the world for 2015 – See who’s number 1! (With Pictures)

5. Xi Jinping 

Xi Jinping is the current General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. Forbes has referred to Jinping as “what some have called the most powerful Chinese ruler since Mao Zedong.” Forbes is not the only entity to appreciate the power had by Jinping. Sholto Byrnes of The National wondered in November 2015 if a power shift was on the horizon:

Most of the time, Mr Xi gets what he wants. And when he can’t – for now – he doesn’t give an inch.

It is hard not to judge that we are seeing an inexorable drift of power and influence away from the US and towards China. These circumstances also weaken the authority of the Oval Office. President Obama seems temperamentally reluctant to intervene abroad. In the light of recent American misadventures, that is mostly to his credit. But it also diminishes his sway internationally.