National Security Takes Center Stage at China’s Congress

China’s recent parliament meeting focused on national security. The government plans to make new laws related to national security and defense education. They also changed laws to give the Communist Party more control over the cabinet. Security was tight in Beijing during the meeting. Foreign journalists had less access than before.

Inside the meeting hall, reporters watched officials talk. The interactions seemed carefully planned. One foreign reporter praised China’s diplomacy and asked how reporters can “tell China’s story well.” The foreign minister responded by mentioning the reporter’s recent dance performance. State media shared videos of this interaction.

Parliament – a legislative body of government

Cabinet – a group of high-ranking government officials

Choreographed – carefully planned and arranged

Diplomacy – the art of dealing with other countries

State media – media outlets controlled by the government

China’s annual National People’s Congress (NPC) gathering has underscored the nation’s heightened emphasis on national security and President Xi Jinping’s tightening grip on power. Delegates at the highly orchestrated event vowed to enact laws to “modernize China’s national security system” and revise defense education regulations.

“National security has become the ‘raison d’etre’ of the Chinese government and the Party,” said Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University. China also broke tradition by canceling the premier’s annual post-NPC news conference, signaling a shift away from governance institutions.

Thomas Kellogg, a Georgetown University professor, described the move as “another example of state governance institutions and traditions falling by the wayside” under Xi’s “Party-dominated vision of governance.” The foreign ministry has dismissed claims of a “China threat,” asserting the nation supports multilateralism and globalization.

Orchestrated – carefully planned and arranged

Raison d’etre – the most important reason for someone or something’s existence

Governance – the act of governing or ruling

Multilateralism – the principle of promoting cooperation among multiple nations

Globalization – the process of increasing interconnectedness among countries

China’s annual National People’s Congress has underscored the nation’s heightened emphasis on national security and President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power. The highly choreographed event saw delegates vow to enact laws to bolster China’s “system and capacity for national security” and revise defense education regulations after last month’s broadening of the state secrets law.

“National security has become the ‘raison d’etre’ of the Chinese government and the Party,” remarked Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University. In a break from three decades of tradition, China scrapped the premier’s annual post-NPC news conference, an event widely anticipated on the policy calendar.

Thomas Kellogg, an Asian law professor at Georgetown University, characterized the move as “another example of state governance institutions and traditions falling by the wayside” under Xi’s “Party-dominated vision of governance.” The foreign ministry has dismissed claims of a “China threat,” asserting the nation is a responsible power that supports multilateralism and globalization.

Choreographed – carefully planned and arranged

Raison d’etre – the most important reason for someone or something’s existence

Consolidation – the action or process of making something stronger or more solid

Scrapped – abandoned or canceled

Multilateralism – the principle of promoting cooperation among multiple nations