President Xi Jinping has set the tone for his second term in office with a rousing speech where he warned his countrymen of the difficulties that they may have to endure to ensure China’s peaceful rise.
In an address which intended to rally the Communist Party of China to counter expected headwinds ahead, Mr. Xi evoked Chinese nationalism, including an oblique take from Mao Zedong’s famous quote —“The east wind will prevail over the west wind.”
“We must ride on the mighty east wind of the new era, charge forward with a full tank and steadily steer the wheel with full power, so that the giant ship of China carrying the great dream of more than 1.3 billion Chinese people will continue to cleave through the waves and sail to victory for a promising tomorrow,” Mr. Xi declared at the end of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s Parliament.
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No threat to anyone
But Mr. Xi reassured those who may be intimidated by China’s rise that his country was not pursing “hegemony”.
“China’s development will not pose a threat to any country. China will never seek hegemony and will never engage in expansion,” he said. “Only those who are accustomed to threatening others will see everyone as a threat,” he observed.
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Yet, the Chinese President made it plain that his country’s territorial status was cast in stone. “Any actions and tricks to split China are doomed to failure and will be condemned by the people and punished by history.” Analysts say Mr. Xi’s comment could be directed at many, including those seeking independence of Taiwan or “self-determination” in Hong Kong, Xinjiang or countries such as India, Japan or in Southeast Asia, which have territorial disputes with China. “It is not allowed and absolutely impossible to separate an inch of the country’s territories,” Mr. Xi said.
China’s tough position on its boundaries could also be a message to the U.S., after President Donald Trump last Friday signed a legislation, which encourages frequent exchanges between U.S. and Taiwanese officials.
“China is laying out its red lines, as (Mr.) Trump prepares his trade war declaration,” says political commentator Einar Tangen in a conversation with The Hindu . “On the sidelines, the rest of the world has to decide between these two competing visions and styles,” he said.
Mr. Xi said that the people of China must be ready to contend with forces that were likely to hinder their country’s growth spiral.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Mr. Xi on his re-election as President. The two leaders, in a telephonic conversation, agreed to continue their close consultations on issues of mutual interest. Mr. Modi also took to Sina Weibo on Monday to congratulate the Chinese President.