Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said that the country has gained full control over Hong Kong and turned it from chaos to governance at the 20th Communist party Congress.
Delivering a report to the twice-a-decade party in Beijing, Xi said China has also waged a major struggle against Taiwan separatism and is determined to preserve its territorial integrity. Along with the crackdown on Hong Kong, Xi also defended the military aggression against Taiwan, saying he “safeguarded” the country’s “dignity and core interests” by ensuring security.
Xi was quoted as saying, “In the face of turbulent developments in Hong Kong, the central government exercised its overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region as prescribed by China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
On the self-governed island of Taiwan, he said, “In response to separatist activities aimed at Taiwan independence and gross provocations of external interference in Taiwan’s affairs, we have resolutely fought against separatism and countered interference.”
He said that China has demonstrated their resolve and ability to safeguard “China’s sovereignty” and to oppose “Taiwan’s independence.”
Faced with “changes in the international landscape”, the Chinese President said the country has “maintained firm strategic resolve and shown a fighting spirit.” Throughout these endeavours, we have safeguarded China’s dignity and core interests and kept ourselves well-positioned for pursuing development and ensuring security.”
He also defended the zero COVID policy, saying that his government put the people and their lives above everything else and tenaciously pursued the zero-COVID policy.
Regional experts say that Xi will undoubtedly extend his term in power for another five years.
He will either be re-elected as general secretary of the CCP or be newly elected as chairman of the CCP, a title that has lain dormant since 1982 and was once the highest position ever held by Mao Zedong.
The congress is taking place at one of the most perilous periods in international affairs in recent years. A war is raging in Ukraine, Taiwan-China relations are at an all-time low, strained diplomatic relations with the U.S., etc.