China’s President Xi Jinping after being elected President precedent defying third term, in his first public address, emphasized the importance of national security.
Xi Jinping, in his closing speech to the National People’s Congress, stressed the need to oppose “pro-independence” influence in Taiwan.
Great wall of steel
China and the West’s relations have nosedived in recent times, particularly after the Russia-Ukraine war and continued tussle for dominance in the South China Sea. During his speech thanking the delegates for his unanimous re-election, Xi Jinping said China would build the military into a great wall of steel that would ensure effective safeguarding of Chinese national security, sovereignty, and the developmental interests of China.
Table of Contents
Linking the imperatives of development and security and emphasizing the prerequisites of safety and stability for prosperity and developmentXi Jinping stated stability as the pre-requisite for prosperity and characterized safety as the foundation of development.
Renegade province of Taiwan
Reiterating the official position of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping maintained that the renegade province of Taiwan will be integrated with mainland China, even by force if necessary.
Xi Jinping reiterated in his speech that China would resolve the Taiwan issue and added that China would resolutely oppose any external interference and vehemently challenge all Taiwan independence separatist activities.
Great Revival
Xi Jinping foretold delegates of the rubber-stamp Chinese Parliament that China’s great revival is on an irreversible path.Stressing the official rhetoric of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping told delegates that after a century of struggle, the national humiliation of China has been erased under his leadership.
The founding of the Communist Party of China has paved the way for mitigating a century of humiliation. Xi Jinping has glorified the Communist Party effort and added that the Chinese people have become the masters of their own destiny.
To rejuvenate China, the country should follow the path of rejuvenation through science and education. Xi Jinping vowed to put the country on the path of self-reliance and strength in science and technology.
Need for national reunification
Xi Jinping paved the path to national reunification and rejuvenation. Xi’s speech echoed the sentiment of his old political position on the Chinese dream. Xi has called for consolidated stability in Hong Kong, which Beijing considers part of its own.
Regional hegemony of China
The status quo superpower USA’s dominance is being increasingly challenged by revisionist power China. The regional hegemony of China and its assertive stance in the South China Sea are being challenged by the USA individually and through an alliance of the Quad and Aukus.
The aggressive posture of China along the LAC and in the South China Sea is not in line with the narrative of the peaceful rise of China.The Chinese “balloon” crisis and subsequent downward spiral in bilateral ties are foretelling the arrival of a new cold war. The strategic distrust and failure to communicate are exacerbating the existing contested space of geopolitical dominance.
Xi’s speech has illustrated the vision of the Chinese dream, which is a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Xi Jinping’s Chinese Dream is being challenged by the USA, the only existing superpower. Xi Jinping has accused the USA and other western powers of encirclements, all-round containments, and suppression against China.Xi Jinping’s unprecedented third term will be watched closely by international observers.
According to Susan Shirk, author of Overreach, Xi Jinping is restoring the Mao model of political economy, in which the CPC controls the economy and professional competence is less important than the ideological imperative.