Opinion | With Congress' endorsement, Xi's vision-and-mission for national integration and Asia-Pacific regional peace is in motion
By Augustus K. Yeung
China's national legislature wrapped up the annual session 2024 with near-unanimous support for government goals and plans – designed to carry out ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's vision for the nation, and mission of his pledged integration to the ASEAN, with pragmatic implications for peace in Asia-Pacific.
This grand vision is designed to cope with the great challenges that China is currently facing at home and abroad, especially in the Asia Pacific region, rendering it the most important idea-product of the "Two Sessions".
Apart from self-sufficiency and strengthening in the vital areas such as the economy, there's the emphasis on Xi's call on the military – to "integrate forces", involving hi-tech.
From meetings of the two sessions, the nation's ambition, Xi's vision and mission will become clear to the people and the outside world.
The National People's Congress 2024 and all that.
"The nearly 3,000-member National People's Congress approved a revised State Council law that directs China's version of the cabinet to follow Xi's vision. The vote was 2,883 to eight, with nine abstentions. Other measures passed by similarly wide margins. The most nays were recorded for the annual report of the supreme court, which was approved by a 2,834 to 44 vote." One English-language newspaper in the Greater Bay Area reported.
In brief closing remarks, Zhao Leji, the legislature's top official, urged the people to unite more closely under the Communist Party's leadership "with comrade Xi Jinping at its core."
As the CPC champions innovation and self-reliance in science and technology – to build a modern, wealthy economy – it is leaning heavily on more overly communist ideology.
In view of the divisive partisan squabbling between the Democrats and Republicans in the United States, Xi has further fortified the party's unity and role across the spectrum, from culture and education to corporate management and economic planning. A wise move.
Along with following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought and other party directives, developing "new quality productive forces," a term of substance coined by Xi last September – emerged as a catchphrase at this year's congress.
The term strongly suggests a prioritizing of science and technology – as China confronts trade sanctions and curbs on access to advanced know-how in computer chips and other areas – that the risk-conscious U.S. and other countries deemed to be national security "risks".
The Organic Law of the State was revised for the first time since its adoption in 1982. The revision calls for the nation's State Council to "uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China." Notably, it also adds the governor of China's central bank to the body.
Echoing words seen in just about every proposal, law or speech made in China these days, it spells outs that China's highest governing officials must adhere to the party's guiding ideology, making it more efficient and effective to manage the state's business, especially in managing conflicts abroad.
Another eye opener: During this year's congress, many provincial meetings were opened to the media for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, one local press observed. (Source: MDT)
So, the two sessions 2024 congress ends with a solid show of unity – behind Xi's vision for national greatness and his ASEAN integration mission of peace and prosperity. But how?
"Xi issues high-tech military call to integrate forces: PLA ordered to improve strategic capabilities in emerging areas – such as space and cybersecurity and also told to prepare for maritime struggles," the SCMP reported the day after the "Two Sessions" ended.
" President Xi Jinping has called on the military to step up hi-tech integration of the armed forces, a drive that observers say will be vital to joint operations."
At a meeting of military deputies to the top legislature on Thursday, Xi said the People's Liberation Army should "comprehensively improve strategic capabilities in emerging areas".
He said that among these key areas were deployments in space, cybersecurity defenses and artificial intelligence applications.
Xi also ordered the PLA to prepare – for "maritime military struggles" – and protect maritime rights, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
"The preparation for the military struggle at sea, the defense of maritime rights and interest and the development of the maritime economy must be integrated," Xi said emphatically.
While not referring directly to the U.S., the comments suggest that Xi sees the main potential battlefield – between Beijing and Washington as being on the water, especially in the South China Sea.
Xi also heard briefings on raising maritime situational awareness, integrating management and use of space resources, and applications of unmanned combat forces, among others, the CCTV report said.
Xi was briefed – by six representatives from the military, two of whom were from the PLA's Strategic Support Force (SSF), the core of the military's integration and modernization plan.
Note: The SSF, founded in 2015 in Xi's massive overhaul of the military, has the job of integrating "strategic" functions and abilities across the PLA, including from space to psychological warfare.
Xi also heard briefings from PLA Navy officers – including one from the Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea.
Specifically, after the "Two Sessions" and from Xi, we now know that he is aware of the precarious situations taking place in the disputed areas in the South China Sea of late.
The Chinese side is militarily and diplomatically prepared; the Philippines under Mr. Marcos must now hold back its rancor against China – so that conflict at a bigger magnitude can be more effectively and efficiently kept in check, allowing both sides to switch from maritime disputes to rational diplomatic settlement – building ties and trust for peace and prosperity.
Can we conceptualize Xi's attempts to "integrate forces" as China's strategic deterrence? Mr. Marcos must be made aware of this peace initiative.
(Note: In the South China Sea, there have been continuing maritime tensions and disputes between Beijing and Manila, resulting in a series of clashes involving these countries' coastguard.)
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com
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