Taiwan, economy and rival USA
Xi Jinping wants to make China’s military strong – “great wall of steel”
In the rivalry with the US, Xi Jinping relies on innovation and a strong military: Security and stability are prerequisites for development. His new head of government is rather forgiving.
updated
The budget of the Chinese military is to be increased significantly. The picture shows two recruits doing fist-fighting exercises.
REUTERS
This was announced by President Xi Jinping.
AFP/Noel Celis
The budget increase of 7.2 percent was approved by almost 3,000 delegates.
AFP
At the same time, he struck a more conciliatory tone towards Taiwan than just a few months ago.
AFP/Noel Celis
At the time, Xi warned that if necessary, the island would be reconnected to China by military means.
REUTERS
Meanwhile, the new Prime Minister Li Qiang said that relations with the US should be improved again.
AFP
China’s President Xi Jinping wants to significantly upgrade the country’s military.
At the same time, the new head of government, Li Qiang, is calling for more cooperation with the United States.
With regard to Taiwan, Jinping struck a more conciliatory tone than just a few months ago.
In view of growing tensions with the USA and the West, China’s head of state and party leader wants to make the People’s Republic stronger through more independence. The military is also to be expanded into a “Great Wall of Steel”, said President Xi Jinping in a speech at the end of the annual session of the People’s Congress in Beijing on Monday.
The nearly 3,000 delegates approved a sharp increase in defense spending by 7.2 percent and other decisions. After the end of the zero-Covid policy with lockdowns and forced quarantine in December, the second-largest economy is expected to grow again by “around five percent”.
Xi Jinping urges stability
In the uncertain times, Xi Jinping called for maintaining stability. “Security is the foundation for development and stability is the prerequisite for prosperity,” said the President. In his speech, he advocated promoting innovation and “scientific and technological independence”.
However, it will not be easy for China to achieve growth of around five percent as planned, said the new Prime Minister Li Qiang at his first, carefully orchestrated press conference. Additional efforts are necessary. The prospects for the global economy are “not optimistic”.
In view of the tense relations with the USA, the new Prime Minister struck a rather conciliatory tone and advocated an expansion of cooperation. Disconnection serves no one. The two largest economies are closely linked, from which both benefit.
“China and the US must work together”
“China and the United States can and must work together.” He only indirectly responded to Xi Jinping’s accusation that the United States wanted to prevent China’s rise in the world through containment and isolation: “Encirclement and suppression is in nobody’s interest.”
Xi Jinping also seemed to exercise restraint in the conflict over Taiwan. In his speech he called for a “reunification”. Relations should be developed “peacefully”. However, “external interference” and “splittist activities” by independence forces must be firmly rejected.
However, Xi Jinping did not repeat earlier statements that Beijing would not rule out military force if other efforts failed. Tensions around Taiwan had recently increased. The communist leadership regards the democratic island republic as part of the People’s Republic. But Taiwan has long considered itself independent. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concerns have grown internationally that China could take similar action against Taiwan.
The 69-year-old had his ongoing leadership role anchored in the party constitution at the party conference in October. He could even remain in office for life. In doing so, he ties in with the founder of the state, Mao Tsetung (1893-1976), who brought chaos to the country.
Will Xi ever become a threat to China?
“The Mao era highlights the dangers of the over-concentration of power in a communist political system, which is a key issue in China today,” said Susan Shirk, professor of China at the University of California and a former department head at the US State Department. “When no one dares to question the leader’s decisions, the leader tends to make mistakes – not just small mistakes, but those that endanger an entire society.”
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(DPA/bho)