Discourse analysis: 'Security' trumps 'economy' in Xi Jinping's speech at the opening of the 20th National Congress.
Xi made it clear that development remains the "top priority," but the issue of national security should take center stage in the coming years.
Leonardo Sobreira, from Beijing (247) - Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear at the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that economic development remains the "top priority."
The goal, as well as the purpose of achieving the "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," depends directly on national security, indicated the General Secretary of the CCP.
"National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is a prerequisite for building a strong and prosperous China," Xi said in his speech on Sunday, the 16th.
An analysis by Bloomberg shows that mentions of 'security' in the draft report surpassed mentions of 'economy'. 'Security', considering variations of the word, was cited 91 times, compared to 55 times at the 19th National Congress in 2017, and 36 times at the 18th National Congress in 2012. In this edition of the meeting, 'economy' was cited only 62 times, compared to 70 times in 2017 and 104 times in 2012.
According to political scientist Diego Pautasso, the CCP has been seeking to combat serious threats to national security. "The issue of national security has been central in recent years. It concerns territorial integrity, American threats, the South China Sea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as the strengthening of the Armed Forces," said the expert.
The German think-tank Merics adds, referring to the concept of 'comprehensive national security' (总体国家安全): “The CCP’s perceptions of threats have increased, fearing that internal and external forces could subvert its power. The party feels besieged by the US and Western countries, intent on containing China. However, the party state is also increasingly confident in its domestic organizational and institutional capabilities and its ability to project power globally—strengths it believes will help it detect, contain, or anticipate threats before they cause substantial damage.”
The concept, introduced in 2014, encompasses 16 different fields, including politics, economics, culture, technology, and overseas interests.
In this regard, senior party officials have been highlighting the need to improve the resilience of the Chinese economy in the face of growing isolationist pressures, mainly from the United States. In the high-tech sector, for example, the US Department of Commerce blocked the sale of advanced chips to China at the end of August, temporarily impacting the Asian country's artificial intelligence sector. New restrictions were applied earlier this month targeting China's supercomputing sector.
Xi's response came in a speech at the Great Hall of the People. "Let's focus on national strategic needs, gather forces to conduct cutting-edge scientific and technological research here, and resolutely win the battle in core essential technologies," the president said.
Furthermore, the need to improve food, energy, and resource security, as well as supply chains, was highlighted by Zhao Chenxin, vice-director of the Leading Group of the Development and Reform Commission of the Communist Party of China, on Monday, the 17th.
The official assured that the complexity of the situation is not cause for alarm. "We are confident in the current circumstances," he said, noting that China possesses the "institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics" to overcome adversity.
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