Xi celebrates himself and reaffirms zero-Covid policy

Chinese leader Xi Jinping hailed China's zero-Covid policy and anti-corruption campaign as major achievements at the opening of the Communist Party Congress. In the fight against Corona, Beijing "put people and their lives first," Xi said in Beijing on Sunday. Beijing has won an "overwhelming victory" in the fight against corruption. He again threatened Taiwan with military force.

Xi took to the podium in the Great Hall of the People to thunderous applause from around 2,300 delegates. In his 100-minute opening speech, he said that in the fight against the corona pandemic, Beijing had "protected people's safety and health to the highest degree" while achieving "significant positive results" socially and economically.

China is the only major economic power in the world to still have a strict zero-Covid policy, with individual outbreaks being immediately combated through lockdowns and mass testing. Again and again, entire cities of millions are put under week-long curfews. The economy also suffers.

His anti-corruption campaign, which has jailed thousands, has eliminated "serious latent dangers" within the Communist Party, the military and the state, Xi said. Critics accuse him of abusing the campaign to eliminate political rivals.

Xi also addressed Beijing's Hong Kong and Taiwan policies in his speech. In Hong Kong, China cleaned up "chaos" after the 2019 pro-democracy protests, Xi said. He also condemned alleged foreign interference in Taiwan. China is waging an "important fight against separatism and interference" in Taiwan, he said. China will "never commit itself to renouncing the use of force" on the Taiwan issue.

Beijing sees the democratically governed island state as a breakaway territory that should be reunited with China - if necessary by force. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has raised fears that Beijing could use a similar approach in its dealings with Taiwan.

Xi warned of difficult times and "potential dangers". He called on the people of billions to “prepare for the worst cases”. "Therefore prepare yourself and be prepared to withstand strong winds, heavy seas and even dangerous storms." Internationally, the party leader saw "immense risks and challenges" as well as "global changes such as have not been seen in a century".

In international politics, Beijing rejects a "Cold War mentality," Xi said - without directly addressing the strained relations with the United States. "China is firmly against all forms of hegemony and power politics, against the Cold War mentality, against meddling in other countries' domestic politics, against double standards," he said. He also did not mention the Ukraine war.

However, Xi committed to the global fight against climate change. China will continue to "actively" participate in the international climate protection negotiations, he said.

At the end of the week-long party conference, the delegates are to vote on a further term for President Xi. A re-election of the 69-year-old for a previously unusual third term is considered certain.

The delegates elect the approximately 200 members of the Central Committee, a kind of party parliament. This body, in turn, appoints the 25-member Politburo and the all-powerful Standing Committee—the highest level of leadership—as well as the Secretary-General. The composition of the Standing Committee - currently seven men including Xi - is not expected to be announced until after the end of the party congress.