Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference ends today
The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) today concludes its annual meeting.
The CPPCC, currently headed by Wang Yang, normally allows sub-state officials to present proposals representing their constituencies interests but remained silent on economic and healthcare concerns this year, instead focusing on sovereignty concerns in Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).
Yang, the Chinese Communist Party’s strongest liberal voice, in years prior supported autonomy within Greater China and increased economic cooperation with foreign states. This year, Yang’s opening speech excluded the principle of one country two system and focused on reprimanding foreign interference in Xinjiang province. These shifts in tone were coupled by the CPPCC upholding that China’s response to COVID-19 was overwhelmingly successful. Such rhetoric demonstrates further consolidation within Xi Jinping’s right-wing power base and suggests a politically unified post-pandemic China.
The CPPCC’s tone and agenda this year show China will likely begin taking aggressive direct action in cracking down on protests within Hong Kong and may further escalate tensions with Taiwan. Dissent within both regions has been a long-standing grievance of the Xi administration, though he previously lacked left-wing support for his aggressive crackdown tactics.
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