On the Learning Curve for Peaceful Rise
China watchers dissect what comes out of important CCP conclaves, and no conclave is more important than this 20th CCP Congress. The Congress is held every five years. Apart from setting broad policy for the next few years, the shuffling of members of the Politburo and Politburo Standing Committee is done at this time. As you most certainly know, Xi Jinping will be upsetting what had become a normalizing tradition of the CCP General Secretary stepping down after two 5 year terms. Xi will begin a third term when voting is complete in a few days.
In the first day's action at the Congress, Bill Bishop at Sinocism reports - https://sinocism.com/p/20th-party-congress-chinese-modernization?utm_source=email
Xi delivered an abbreviated version of the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Sunday.... The title of the report is “Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects.
There are Goals to be achieved in several areas, including law and foreign affairs. From Xi's presentation -
Law - “VII. Exercising Law-Based Governance on All Fronts and Advancing the Rule of Law in China'“;
Overall development objectives for the year 2035 include -
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Basically modernize the system and capacity for governance; improve the system for whole-process people's democracy; build a law-based country, government, and society
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Become a leading country in education, science and technology, talent, culture, sports, and health; significantly enhance national soft power
Now we know that China is a big complicated place. The Wolf Warrior diplomacy of the last three years seems to have died down a bit. But right on the heels of aspirations about rule of law and enhancing national soft power we have this below. Chinese diplomats in Manchester England beating up protesters outside of the consulate and dragging a protester inside to further beat him.
Again from Sinocism -
- https://sinocism.com/p/20th-party-congress-chinese-modernization#%C2%A7prc-diplomats-in-uk-beat-up-protestors
PRC diplomats in UK beat up protestors
UK police open probe into assault of protester inside Chinese consulate | Financial Times
Greater Manchester police said in a statement on Monday that a “small group of men” had come out of the Chinese consulate and dragged one of the protesters back into the grounds and assaulted him. “Officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds,” it added.
The force said it had opened an investigation and was liaising with “national policing and diplomatic partners.” The victim suffered several injuries and stayed in hospital overnight.
The incident happened on Sunday afternoon when about 40 demonstrators gathered outside the consulate protesting for Hong Kong independence and democracy.
A video of the incident, the man who rips down the signs appears to be Consul General Zheng Xiyuan 郑曦原, who can be seen later grabbing the victim by the hair:
The video of the incident is quite damning. Click on the Sinocism link above to get the video or click here -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEGl3VXWW1g
The British government should be protesting this action in the strongest terms.
Good thing the goals are for 13 years from now. For now, they can remain aspirational. Or simply a fraud. Evidence for fraud is the following -
Aside from this action, we note that China has been installing its own police stations (!) in British cities and cities around the world - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/09/14/china-opens-unofficial-police-stations-britain-hunt-people-return/ and
Perhaps the learning curve includes redefining rule of law and soft power.
