He paid little attention to domestic problems, such as the economic consequences of his zero-covid policy. Xi set out his views in the “Work Report,” one of the main policy documents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The document, which has been in the works for months, sets out China’s political course for the next five years. Unusually, Xi read a summary that lasted less than two hours. The full work report, which is at least twice as long, was not published on Sunday; an even further contraction of Beijing’s already limited transparency.
The Twentieth Party Congress, to which the new leadership of the CCP will be appointed, is seen as historic because Xi is almost certain to receive a third term in office. This is contrary to Chinese political norms, and shows that Xi has usurped all power in China. The work report confirms this picture: it reinforces Xi’s course of assertive foreign policy, meddling in the economy and flexing its muscles towards Taiwan. His zero-covid policy will also be continued.
It was especially striking that in Xi’s vision for the future, safety received more attention than economics. Because of the abstract language of the work report, analysts count how often certain themes appear to weigh their importance. The term ‘safety’ was used 73 times, compared to 55 times in the twice as long work report from five years ago. The term ‘reform’ appeared only 16 times, much less than the 70 times in 2017. An entire chapter was even added on ‘security’.
High wind test
In Xi’s eyes, China is on the rise, a historic mission to achieve the ‘great resurrection of the Chinese nation’, but there are all kinds of threats lurking. “Building a modern socialist country is a great and arduous undertaking (…). We must always be prepared for danger in times of peace, and ready to stand the test of high winds, turbulent waters and even dangerous storms.”
Xi did not mention the United States by name, but referred to the US as “external forces” that “interfere in internal affairs” and commit “hegemonism and power politics,” “Cold War mentality” and “double standards.” He painted a picture of increasing rivalry against which China would have to protect itself in many ways. For example, China should guard its economic, technological, cultural and ideological security.
The US is increasingly imposing economic and technological sanctions on China out of dissatisfaction with unfair competition, which Xi presents as an attempt to stem China’s advance. Also the US support for Taiwan, a de facto independent island that China sees as a renegade province, arouses great resentment in China. A visit by US Senator Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan this summer led to large-scale military exercises.
Use of force
Xi reiterated his brawny statement that “China will continue to strive for peaceful reunification but will never promise to refrain from the use of force” and that the country will keep open the option “to use all necessary means”. The statement that ‘the reunification of the motherland will certainly be achieved’ led to a big round of applause in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, clearly part of an agreed choreography.
Xi’s heavy emphasis on all kinds of threats may also be a way to divert attention from domestic problems. With the Chinese economy in a slump and the CCP no longer able to use economic growth as a source of legitimacy, the party is trying to create an external enemy against which it can set itself up as a savior.
Remarkably little was said about these domestic problems in the work report. The zero-covid policy, which is leading to increasingly large-scale lockdowns and deeper damage to the economy, was briefly praised. No indication was given as to how long the policy will continue. “We have achieved tremendously positive results in aligning epidemic control with socio-economic development,” Xi said, in a review that seemed to ignore reality.
On the economic front, Xi reiterated his plans for a new growth model for China, but did not mention the current real estate crisis or the turmoil among private companies caused by increasing government interference in the economy. Here too, many passages seemed disconnected from reality. For example, Xi wants to make China an ‘international hub for talent and innovation’, while the Chinese borders are closed due to the zero-covid policy.
ballot box results
The Party Congress lasts until Saturday, October 22. A day later, the new party leadership is ‘elected’ in a ballot box, the result of which is predetermined. Xi is expected to receive a third term as party leader, and will recruit as many loyal supporters as possible to the Central Committee (376 members), Politburo (25 members) and Politburo Standing Committee (7 members), the top organs of the CCP.
Xi’s most important sayings
About zero covid policy:
Faced with the sudden covid epidemic, we stick to ‘people first, lives first’, we continue the dynamic zero-covid policy unabated, we wage a people’s war against the epidemic, an all-out war, a blockade, to protect human lives and health as much as possible. to protect. We have achieved many positive results in aligning epidemic control and socio-economic development.
On the greatness of China:
The Communist Party, which has endured a century of struggle, has grown stronger. The driving force of the Chinese people is stronger, their militancy is stronger, and their belief in victory is stronger. The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people are confident about continuing the Chinese nation’s giant leap from rising to getting rich to getting strong. Reform and opening and socialist modernization are well advanced, and the achievement of the greatest resurrection of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process.
About Taiwan:
Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter for the Chinese to resolve. We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and utmost effort, but we will never promise to refrain from the use of force, and we reserve the option to use all necessary means. (…) The wheels of the history of national reunification and national resurrection are rolling forward, and the complete reunification of the motherland must and can certainly be achieved!
About safety:
We must consider protecting the security of our people as our mission, and ensuring political security as our basic duty, based on economic security, military, scientific, cultural and social security as a guarantee, and based on the promotion of international security; and we must guarantee external and internal security, domestic and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, China’s own and common security.
About the mission:
Comrades! Time calls on us, and the people look to us. Only with our undiminished determination and perseverance can we respond to the times and the people. The whole Party should bear in mind that holding on to the Party leadership is the only way to maintain socialism with Chinese characteristics, and that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to achieve the great resurrection of the Chinese nation, and that unity and struggle are the only way for the Chinese people to achieve historic greatness.