Chairperson Xi Jinping gave a wide-ranging speech on Sunday laying out the Communist Party’s agenda for China for the next five years, covering everything from Taiwan to technology policy.
Here are the main takeaways:
Foreign Policy
In the face of drastic changes in the international landscape, we have maintained firm strategic resolve and displayed a fighting spirit. Throughout these efforts, we have defended China’s core dignity and interests, and kept ourselves well-positioned to pursue development and ensure security.”
Background: Mr. Xi declared that China “stands tall and firm in the East” at the last congress in 2017, starting from former leader Deng Xiaoping’s strategy of “evading”. That shift coupled with Beijing’s moves to crush dissent in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, a lack of transparency about the origins of Covid, a partnership with Russia, and a more aggressive posture. over Taiwan and the South China Sea, has put China in a collision situation with the West.
Common prosperity
Xi: “We will improve the income distribution system. We will make sure to pay more for more work and encourage people to achieve prosperity through hard work. We will promote promote equality of opportunity, increase the incomes of low-income earners and expand the size of the middle-income group We will keep income distribution and means of wealth well regulated .”
Background: Mr. Xi raised the commonwealth slogan last year amid crackdowns on the big tech and real estate sectors, irking investors, who have seen heavy damage from Beijing’s sudden policy change. China’s campaign to close the gap between rich and poor initially saw calls for a revival of tax reform and the country’s rich jostling to protect their wealth, but went unnoticed. Notice when the Covid lockdowns have affected the economy.
Covid Zero
Xi: “In response to the sudden attack of Covid-19, we put people and their lives first and persistently pursue the dynamic Zero Covid policy. We have protected the health and safety of our people to the highest degree possible and have made encouraging achievements in both epidemic response and economic and social development.”
Background: China’s Covid Zero strategy has kept the virus death toll in China low but at a growing social and economic cost. Mr. Xi has made it the cornerstone of his leadership, lifting it above economic growth, even as public tolerance for it appears to be fracturing.
Mr. Xi: “High-quality development is the top priority of building a modern socialist country in all aspects. Development is the party’s top priority in operating. It is impossible to build a modern socialist country that is strong in all respects without a solid material and technological foundation. ”
Background: Despite some analysts suggesting there might be a slight twist in Mr. Xi’s speech aimed at enhancing national security at the expense of economic growth, Mr. Xi repeated the slogan from the speeches. told the party congress that development was the party’s “top priority”. Some China watchers had expected. Mr. Xi values security and development equally, a signal that Beijing may accept slower economic growth to meet other policy goals.
Taiwan
“We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with sincerity and best efforts, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we have a realistic plan,” Xi said. take all necessary measures. The wheels of history are continuing towards the unification of China and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The complete unification of our country must be achieved and it can be done with certainty. ”
Background: Beijing considers the self-governing island part of its territory and has increased military pressure on the island, increasing tensions with the US. Chairperson Joe Biden has repeatedly said that the United States will support democracy if attacked, marking a shift in the policy of “strategic ambiguity” that has guided US-China relations for decades – even if The White House assert that nothing has changed.
Hong Kong
Mr. Xi: “In light of the chaotic developments in Hong Kong, the central government has exercised its overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region in accordance with the provisions of the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong itself. It has been ensured that Hong Kong is governed by patriots. Order has been restored in Hong Kong, marking a major turning point for the better in the region. ”
Background: Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong banning terrorism, secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces in June 2020 to quell anti-government dissent, after protests City-wide protests had broken out a year earlier. That far-reaching act has been condemned by the United States and other Western democracies for diminishing liberties in the former British colony.
Tech Crackdown
In order to enhance its innovation capacity, China will move faster to launch a number of major national projects of strategic importance, grand vision and long-term significance, Xi said. Efforts will be made to improve the new system to mobilize resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs, and to promote China’s strength in the field of strategic science and technology. comb “.
Background: China’s crackdown on its once illustrious tech industry has wiped more than $1 trillion in aggregate market value from the sector and affected major players like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. in recent months, including the conclusion of a data security investigation into Didi and the green-lighting of new series of video games.
Army
“We will intensify military training in large-scale combat conditions to see that our armed forces can fight,” Xi said. We will innovate new ways of directing military strategy and develop people’s war strategies and tactics, establish a strong strategic deterrence system, and increase the proportion of new regional forces with new combat capabilities. , enhanced military training in combat conditions.
Background: Mr. Xi has vowed to modernize the army once dominated by infantry by 2027. To achieve that goal, the People’s Liberation Army has undergone tremendous organizational changes and upgraded parts. hard. Ground forces have been reduced, while other services including the navy and missile force have become prominent.
Green goal
“We will work diligently and prudently towards the goals of achieving maximum carbon emissions and carbon neutrality,” Xi said. Based on China’s resources and energy, we will promote initiatives to achieve peak carbon emissions in a planned and phased manner, in line with the principle of taking the new. before removing the old one. ”
Background: More than any other leader of Communist Party of ChinaMr. Xi has sought to make the environment part of his enduring legacy. He has dramatically cut down on air pollution that afflicts urban dwellers and has set ambitious goals for China, including a goal of net-zero emissions within four decades. However, nationwide power shortages and global energy turmoil following Russia’s war in Ukraine have shifted the focus back to energy security, with climate goals coming in a distant second. .
Here are the main takeaways:
Foreign Policy
In the face of drastic changes in the international landscape, we have maintained firm strategic resolve and displayed a fighting spirit. Throughout these efforts, we have defended China’s core dignity and interests, and kept ourselves well-positioned to pursue development and ensure security.”
Background: Mr. Xi declared that China “stands tall and firm in the East” at the last congress in 2017, starting from former leader Deng Xiaoping’s strategy of “evading”. That shift coupled with Beijing’s moves to crush dissent in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, a lack of transparency about the origins of Covid, a partnership with Russia, and a more aggressive posture. over Taiwan and the South China Sea, has put China in a collision situation with the West.
Common prosperity
Xi: “We will improve the income distribution system. We will make sure to pay more for more work and encourage people to achieve prosperity through hard work. We will promote promote equality of opportunity, increase the incomes of low-income earners and expand the size of the middle-income group We will keep income distribution and means of wealth well regulated .”
Background: Mr. Xi raised the commonwealth slogan last year amid crackdowns on the big tech and real estate sectors, irking investors, who have seen heavy damage from Beijing’s sudden policy change. China’s campaign to close the gap between rich and poor initially saw calls for a revival of tax reform and the country’s rich jostling to protect their wealth, but went unnoticed. Notice when the Covid lockdowns have affected the economy.
Covid Zero
Xi: “In response to the sudden attack of Covid-19, we put people and their lives first and persistently pursue the dynamic Zero Covid policy. We have protected the health and safety of our people to the highest degree possible and have made encouraging achievements in both epidemic response and economic and social development.”
Background: China’s Covid Zero strategy has kept the virus death toll in China low but at a growing social and economic cost. Mr. Xi has made it the cornerstone of his leadership, lifting it above economic growth, even as public tolerance for it appears to be fracturing.
Mr. Xi: “High-quality development is the top priority of building a modern socialist country in all aspects. Development is the party’s top priority in operating. It is impossible to build a modern socialist country that is strong in all respects without a solid material and technological foundation. ”
Background: Despite some analysts suggesting there might be a slight twist in Mr. Xi’s speech aimed at enhancing national security at the expense of economic growth, Mr. Xi repeated the slogan from the speeches. told the party congress that development was the party’s “top priority”. Some China watchers had expected. Mr. Xi values security and development equally, a signal that Beijing may accept slower economic growth to meet other policy goals.
Taiwan
“We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with sincerity and best efforts, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we have a realistic plan,” Xi said. take all necessary measures. The wheels of history are continuing towards the unification of China and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The complete unification of our country must be achieved and it can be done with certainty. ”
Background: Beijing considers the self-governing island part of its territory and has increased military pressure on the island, increasing tensions with the US. Chairperson Joe Biden has repeatedly said that the United States will support democracy if attacked, marking a shift in the policy of “strategic ambiguity” that has guided US-China relations for decades – even if The White House assert that nothing has changed.
Hong Kong
Mr. Xi: “In light of the chaotic developments in Hong Kong, the central government has exercised its overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region in accordance with the provisions of the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong itself. It has been ensured that Hong Kong is governed by patriots. Order has been restored in Hong Kong, marking a major turning point for the better in the region. ”
Background: Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong banning terrorism, secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces in June 2020 to quell anti-government dissent, after protests City-wide protests had broken out a year earlier. That far-reaching act has been condemned by the United States and other Western democracies for diminishing liberties in the former British colony.
Tech Crackdown
In order to enhance its innovation capacity, China will move faster to launch a number of major national projects of strategic importance, grand vision and long-term significance, Xi said. Efforts will be made to improve the new system to mobilize resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs, and to promote China’s strength in the field of strategic science and technology. comb “.
Background: China’s crackdown on its once illustrious tech industry has wiped more than $1 trillion in aggregate market value from the sector and affected major players like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. in recent months, including the conclusion of a data security investigation into Didi and the green-lighting of new series of video games.
Army
“We will intensify military training in large-scale combat conditions to see that our armed forces can fight,” Xi said. We will innovate new ways of directing military strategy and develop people’s war strategies and tactics, establish a strong strategic deterrence system, and increase the proportion of new regional forces with new combat capabilities. , enhanced military training in combat conditions.
Background: Mr. Xi has vowed to modernize the army once dominated by infantry by 2027. To achieve that goal, the People’s Liberation Army has undergone tremendous organizational changes and upgraded parts. hard. Ground forces have been reduced, while other services including the navy and missile force have become prominent.
Green goal
“We will work diligently and prudently towards the goals of achieving maximum carbon emissions and carbon neutrality,” Xi said. Based on China’s resources and energy, we will promote initiatives to achieve peak carbon emissions in a planned and phased manner, in line with the principle of taking the new. before removing the old one. ”
Background: More than any other leader of Communist Party of ChinaMr. Xi has sought to make the environment part of his enduring legacy. He has dramatically cut down on air pollution that afflicts urban dwellers and has set ambitious goals for China, including a goal of net-zero emissions within four decades. However, nationwide power shortages and global energy turmoil following Russia’s war in Ukraine have shifted the focus back to energy security, with climate goals coming in a distant second. .
