The leader was comfortable talking about, and actually using, military force abroad. At home, he was a revolutionary. He initiated a war on corruption, even at the highest levels, which was popular with the public and put his adversaries on the back foot. He announced an ambitious plan to reshape the country’s economy. He even changed the rules of succession.
Is it Xi or MBS? You decide.
You wouldn’t think that a communist state and a divine right monarchy would have much in common, but the facts don’t lie.