China's Xi calls for military growth as party congress opens

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOE McDONALD

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Sunday called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that have strained relations with Washington and tightened the ruling Communist Party’s control over society and the economy.

China’s most influential figure in decades spoke as the party opened a congress that was closely watched by companies, governments and the public for signs of official direction. It comes amid a painful slump in the world’s second-largest economy and tension with Washington and Asian neighbors over trade, technology and security.

Party plans calls for creating a prosperous society by mid-century and restoring China to its historic role as a political, economic and cultural leader. Beijing has expanded its presence abroad including a multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative to build ports and other infrastructure across Asia and Africa, but economists warn reversing market-style reform could hamper growth.

“The next five years will be crucial,” Xi said in a televised speech of one hour and 45 minutes to some 2,000 delegates in the cavernous Great Hall of the People. He repeatedly invoked his slogan of the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” which includes reviving the party’s role as economic and social leader in a throwback to what Xi regards as a golden age after it took power in 1949.



Delegates applaud as Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of China's ruling Communist Party held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. China on Sunday opens a twice-a-decade party conference at which leader Xi Jinping is expected to receive a third five-year term that breaks with recent precedent and establishes himself as arguably the most powerful Chinese politician since Mao Zedong. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)


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[AZLD4Candidate]

1. A throwback to the time after the CCP took over in 1949?

You mean
01. Zhen Fan
02. The Anti-Rightist after the Thousand Flowers
03: Five Anti's
04: Three Anti's
05: Sino-Soviet Split
06: Great Leap Forward and the Great Chinese Famine
07: Cultural Revolution and Red Guard
08: Gang of Four domination

Is this the era that Winnie the Flu wants to bring back? The 27 years that pretty much brought China to its knees?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Authoritarian supporters think short-term; they don't think about transfer of power to worse dictato

Xi is bad enough as a dictator.

But authoritarian followers here and there are fine with the status quo because they never think a few years ahead when the dictator is going to be succeeded by another with other policies or until they discover that not all the authoritarian followers will be rewarded as much as the tier above and the one above that and on up.

[Lovie777]

2. They look like clones......

at the rate the world is going, majority of the countries that can afford high tech weaponry including nukes, satellites, etc. will have them.

Will it deter countries from attacking each other? I doubt it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Xi is a Han nationalist, as dangerous as white nationalists like tRump & christian nationalists. nt

[Irish_Dem]

4. The world spends $trillions every year on weapons and military.

And now is gearing up for an arms race, so even more money is wasted.

The most valuable resources we have are the planet and the people on it.
And we are busy trashing the planet and killing each other.

[bahboo]

6. you have pretty much summed it up...

I pity the future generations...

[turbinetree]

7. Ah yes another narcissistic psychopath leading a country....they look like clapping bobble heads....

wonder if the Executive member Liam from Hong Hong is there....

[catsudon]

8. well

what happened to toning down rhetoric?

i guess the mask is off now that he selects himself for another term, i'm hoping now that with elon musk siding with china, everyone can see rhar china is like russia and will be a thorne on our side.