Xi Jinping vows to oppose Taiwan ‘pro-independence’ influences as third term begins

Xi Jinping has stressed the need to oppose “pro-independence” influences in Taiwan, as he closed the National People’s Congress (NPC) after a week in which the rubber-stamp parliament handed China’s president an unprecedented third presidential term, and key roles at the top of the government were reshuffled.

Xi closed the session with a speech to the gathered delegates. On Friday he secured his place as China’s most powerful leader in generations in a carefully choreographed ceremony in Beijing.

In his speech on Monday laying out his priorities for China, Xi described the need for “national reunification” as the “essence of national rejuvenation”, casting the issue of Taiwan’s relationship with China as a focus of the new political term.

“We should actively oppose the external forces and secessionist activities of Taiwan independence. We should unswervingly advance the cause of national rejuvenation and reunification,” Xi said, to loud applause. Xi, who has previously not ruled out the use of force against Taiwan, stressed the need to “promote peaceful development of cross-strait relations”.

The Chinese Communist party has never governed Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, but regards it as a renegade province that it must “reunify” with the mainland, by force if necessary. Xi has increasingly prioritised China’s claim to Taiwan, casting it as a historical imperative amid spiralling tensions with the US.

Xi on Monday stressed the need to bolster the military, making it a “great wall of steel” to protect China’s sovereignty and national interests.

He also called for greater economic self-reliance and the need to coordinate development and security. “Security is the foundation for development. Stability is the foundation for prosperity.”

On Saturday, Li Qiang, a longtime Xi ally, was promoted to premier, the second most powerful position in the Chinese Communist party. The former Shanghai Communist party boss replaced Li Keqiang who stepped down after two five-year terms.

Li Qiang, now charged with rebuilding China’s economy after three years of Covid restrictions, sought to inspire business confidence on Monday. Entrepreneurs and businesses in China would be given space and ample opportunities to develop in a rules-based environment and a “culture of respect”, the premier told reporters during his first media briefing.

The party in recent years has cracked down on tech companies, in a bid to assert control over China’s largest enterprises and business elite.

Li also singled out the US for criticism, echoing a speech from president Xi last week in which he condemned US-led “suppression of China”.

“China and the United States should cooperate, and must cooperate. When China and the US work together, there is much we can achieve,” Li said, adding: “Encirclement and suppression are not advantageous for anyone.”

Across the slate of other appointments, there were fewer changes than anticipated, with most cabinet ministers keeping their posts.

Xi has been installing allies in key roles in the government reshuffle, but broke with convention to retain Yi Gang as governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and Liu Kun as finance minister. Both men have reached, or passed, the official retirement age of 65.

“Opting for continuity in these critical economic roles suggests an emphasis on credibility and stability,” said Mattie Bekink, China director at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.

“It is also perhaps a tacit acknowledgment of some of the challenges for Beijing at the moment,” she said. “The real challenge for this third Xi administration is whether it will address structural imbalances in China’s economy and undertake reforms necessary to ensure China’s long-term competitiveness.”

The government has set a 2023 economic growth target of about 5%, up from 3% last year, which was among the weakest performances in decades.

Reuters contributed to this report