Xi Secures Third Presidential Term, Why It Is Significant For India & World?

To understand China, one must understand the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) first. Over the course of 100 years, it has evolved from a ragtag guerilla army, ruled over one-sixth of the world's population and converted an impoverished nation into the world's second-largest economy.

Given the stark contrast between the structure of democracy and the CCP, political developments may be dimmed in China which remains a one-party state in which its 1.4 billion people cannot vote for their leader whereas, in democratic nations like the United States (US) and India, there are institutions. 

In China, the National Congress is one such institution and meets once every five years. This year, it began on 16 October which is a significant event in China's political circle. Congress establishes policy for the following five years and its leadership bench. On the first, President Xi Jinping delivered his speech, outlining his achievements and future policy trajectory.

China under Xi

President Xi cited in his speech about poverty alleviation. According to him, around 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty since his election in 2012 and nearly 5 million Communist cadres are being investigated in corruption cases under a decade-long anti-corruption drive. 

He also tried to justify the party's actions in Hong Kong, which crushed the pro-democracy movement

Xi's address was primarily aimed at the party faithful and his home audiences in China, where the hidden theme was that all seemed possible because of his "strong leadership” that solves the problem. 

This was also the unintentional comparison with his predecessor Hu Jintao's reign, which is regarded as a "lost decade" by many in China’s political circles.

Chinese army and Taiwan

On Taiwan, Xi said that while attempts will be made to bring the territory back peacefully, the party rules out the use of force to achieve its goals. Furthermore, he declared unequivocally that "China's total reunification must absolutely be realised and it will be realised without a doubt."

In his speech, Xi denied that China was an expansionist state, meaning that a "strong" China is now only reclaiming territory taken from a "weak" imperial empire. 

This has highlighted the authoritarian regimes weaponising historical claims and using this language to seek retaliation or violently occupy the land. One example is Russia's aggressiveness in Ukraine, which occurred shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Xi at the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year.

Furthermore, as relations between the US and China deteriorated due to the trade war and the limited access to technology, Taiwan came on the radar of belligerent China after the visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and key American officials. 

According to Xi's report, "The use of military power must be normalised and deployed in a variety of ways... China must be able to undertake military operations with ease, establish a secure environment, deter and control dangers and conflicts and win regional battles."

In his speech, Xi urged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to accelerate soldier training and develop new policies in order to realise its goal of becoming a world-class military force. In terms of defence, Xi has increased the stakes.

One of the key 'development goals' set at the Plenum was the formation of a modern army by 2027—the PLA's centennial year. As a focus topic, the Plenum communique identified the "modernisation of national defence to realise the unification of the country and having a strong army."

India and Xi’s third term

India is a vast and populous country. However, its political structure is diametrically opposite to China's. The country is a democratic founded on the rule of law whereas China is an authoritarian regime. 

A nation's interests are governed by its core ideals. As a result, Indian interests clash with Chinese interests which are clearly visible.

Deadly confrontations between both Indian and Chinese armies in 2020 and a continuing tense military stalemate along the border led to deepening complex border issues. However, there has been some disengagement in some spots.

PLA Galwan commander Qi Fabao was elected as a delegate to the Congress and an image of the fierce confrontations in the valley was apparently featured in a movie on the "major achievements" of the Xi era that aired at the Great Hall right before Xi's speech.

The CCP finds its tactics in ancient Chinese treatises, one strategy says that make noise in the east and strike in the west. China retains the element of surprise, striking when it is least expected.

However, Xi’s concerns about India's progress are genuine when fundamental ideals are different. 

Therefore, tensions between India and China are expected to rise. However, India can meet China's threat by exercising strategic patience and swiftly expanding its economy over time.