On 16th October, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will convene in an all-important gathering of senior committee members. This twice-a-decade event will make major decisions on China`s future path involving the reshuffling of powerful positions, and most importantly and likely, will re-elect President Xi for a further 5-year term, making him the most powerful leader of China since Chairman Mao Zedong. President Xi, who holds the key posts of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, President, Head of State, and Chairman of China`s Central Military Commission is often referred to as the Supreme Leader. He may remain in power for the rest of his life.
Apart from President Xi’s re-election, the Central Committee will select 200 people from some 2,300 delegates to join the Central Committee and amongst them, 25 will be elected to the Party`s Politburo. These are the elite.
Many observers believe that President Xi, in his third term, will be bringing back a more authoritarian rule of government. Already, some analysts are branding his style of socialism as the Xi Jinping thought, an assertively nationalist philosophy that is skeptical of private business. But China today is facing an economic challenge. Covid lockdowns, rising prices, a major property crisis, and a global recession triggered by the war in Ukraine, have damaged confidence. For President Xi, it is also a personal challenge. Economic growth under his rule has been the lowest than under previous presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. If economic performance doesn’t improve, it could bring serious political trouble for him.
Another area of discussion will be China`s zero Covid approaches to the pandemic. While much of the world has been returning to normal, Chinese authorities are enforcing strict lockdowns and curfews` in around 70 cities. These steps are causing frustration and dissent amongst the population and are widely condemned. Some observers say that the party may use Congress to declare victory over the pandemic and end the zero Covid policy.
Finally, there is the issue of Taiwan. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually come under Beijing`s control. But recent visits to the island by senior American officials have not helped in easing tensions with the Chinese. President Xi favors a hardline approach to relations with the West, particularly over Taiwan. He has also declared that Taiwan must be reunited with the mainland by 2049, the centenary of the Peoples Republic. But for the U.S., Taiwan is of great strategic importance. A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would shatter US power in the region and beyond.
The top leadership team of China, which will be unveiled at the Congress, will establish a wide range of policies, and any indication of the country’s future course will be closely watched around the world. The importance of the congress meeting cannot be underestimated as not only will it have an impact on the Chinese population but further in the international arena as well, with the Chinese president destined to remain in power for a long period.
