China sees acceleration of military development, fight against COVID-19, national security and social stability as the main issues that need priority to deal with.
By
LUKI AULIA FROM BEIJING, CHINA, KRIS MADA
·5 minutes read
AP/NG HAN GUAN
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he walks ahead of other members of the Chinese Politburo Standing Committee including Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to the left during a dinner reception at the Great Hall of the People on the eve of the National Day holiday in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
BEIJING, KOMPAS — Driven by the aspiration to play an important role and be respected on the international stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping has accelerated the country’s world-class military development, reiterated the country’s commitment in the fight against COVID-19, as well as maintaining national security and social stability.
Those issues were shed light by Xi in his speech at the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday (16/10/2022). He also raised the issue of Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territorial sovereignty. He said national security and social stability were prerequisites for building a strong and prosperous nation, especially as China is entering a new centennial era.
He said that China pursued a holistic approach to national security with people's safety being the main concern. He affirmed the country’s commitment to political and economic security while building military, technological, cultural and social resilience, as well as helping create international security.
Xi, 69, is believed to retain his leadership for a third term, which will be confirmed at the end of the congress or on Oct. 23. A total of 2,296 delegates from all over the country are attending the conclave. Around 200 local and foreign journalists are also present to cover the congress. With China still implementing a “dynamic zero-COVID” policy, the congress had been organized – from preparations to the opening day – under heavy security, especially for the journalists. They are told to bring only one cell phone, food and drinks are not allowed and face masks not to be removed.
China’s situation
Xi described China's situation as "extremely uncommon and abnormal" over the past five years or since the 19th congress in 2017. In the speech that lasted approximately two hours, he reminded China to always be vigilant and be prepared to face any dangers and difficulties in the future. "We must strengthen our sense of hardship, adhere to bottom-line thinking, be prepared for danger in times of peace, prepare for a rainy day and be ready to withstand major tests of high winds and high waves," he said.
Xi called for strengthening the ability to maintain national security, ensuring food and energy supplies, securing supply chains, improving the ability to deal with disasters and protecting personal information.
We will adhere to striving for the prospect of a peaceful reunification.
A standing ovation was given to Xi when he reiterated his opposition to Taiwanese independence. This Taiwan issue, Xi promised, would be settled in a new era and should be resolved by China alone.
"We will adhere to striving for the prospect of a peaceful reunification," he said. He pointed out that China would never seek hegemony nor engage in expansion, which he referred to as the Cold War mentality.
KOMPAS/LUKI AULIA
Chinese President Xi Jinping (front center) delivers a speech delivering the achievements of his party and government over the past five years at the 20th Chinese Communist Party Congress, Sunday (16/10/2022), at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China .
Regarding domestic issues, Xi hailed China's economic achievement with the country's gross domestic product having grown from 54 trillion RMB to 114 trillion RMB or about US$16 trillion in the past 10 years. The figure accounts for 18.5 percent of the world economy, which is an increase of 7.2 percent.
China's GDP per capita has increased from 39,800 RMB to 81,000 RMB. “China ranks first in the world in terms of grain production and China's manufacturing sector is the largest in the world. The same goes for its foreign exchange reserves," Xi said.
He also reiterated his support for the private sector and made it possible for markets to play a key role, even as China was shaping up its "socialist economic system" for the sake of "common prosperity."
He pointed out the need to build a high-level socialist market economic system, consolidate and develop the public ownership system, encourage and support the development of the privately owned economy, give full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources and give better play to the role of the government.
Xi’s dream
Klaus Heinrich Raditio, a lecturer in Chinese political philosophy at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy, Jakarta, viewed Xi’s speech as part of his aspiration about bringing China to become an important country in the world. "Every nation has that dream," he said.
In Xi's two-term leadership, China has made a significant leap. His predecessors may have started the leap, but Xi has earned China more respect on the international stage.
According to Klaus, China is seen by the West as challenging their dominance and becoming a counterweight to the hegemony of the United States and its allies, which have dominated the global order for the last 80 years. No wonder, he said, China's maneuvers have drawn enmity from the opposing powers.
On the other hand, according to Klaus, China has become the voice of developing countries on the international stage against the domination of developed and established countries, with Xi offering an alternative to development funding.
Comparing Xi with Mao Zedong, Klaus said both had similarities and differences with them dreaming of China playing an important role on the international stage since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. To realize the dream, as Mao did, Xi has also continued to work on consolidating the internal strength of the Chinese Communist Party. However, unlike Mao, Xi has paid a lot of attention to and made good use of the institution.
Since taking the presidency in 2012, Xi has made the consolidation by overcoming factional friction in the institution. He "removed" a number of politburo members, including a number of generals, such as Generals Guo Boxiong and General Xu Caihou, from China's Central Military Committee.
University of California lecturer Victor Shih said the ongoing congress would be used by Xi as an occasion to make further consolidation. The congress will elect figures who are deemed to support Xi’s next office term. "The composition of the politburo has not changed much, if there are changes, it is because of retirement. However, it will still be dominated by Xi's followers," he told Bloomberg. (AFP/REUTERS)
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