Deutsche Welle: In today’s speech, Xi Jinping initially focused on the importance of perfecting the “socialist system with Chinese characteristics” and emphasized that Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory are three important representative ideas. What kind of message do you think his speech released as a whole?
Teng Biao: In general, the content of his speech is still the CCP’s consistent rhetoric. In terms of ideology and ideology, he emphasized more the ideas that the Communist Party had inherited from Marx, Mao Zedong, and Deng Xiaoping. He also talked about the scientific outlook on development. From Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping, the CCP has actually experienced a lot of changes and conflicts within it.
But this set of political discourse actually has no practical meaning. It is entirely because the Communist Party says what is right and what is right. His explanations of history and theory are completely without logic and reason. There are many contradictions and conflicts in the great and glorious theories and historical practices of the CCP.
Deutsche Welle: In the area of national defense, Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army and said that if China wants to become a strong country, it must have a strong army. This seems to be largely consistent with China’s continuous increase in military budget over the past few years. What kind of signals do you think such statements will send to countries in the region?
Teng Biao: After Xi Jinping came to power, the CCP emphasized more nationalism and nationalism, especially for Taiwan. It is also particularly tough and often threatens military reunification. Strengthening national defense and increasing military spending are probably also important means for the CCP to maintain its one-party dictatorship, because this has always been its primary goal. On the other hand, the CCP hopes to use military power to intimidate and deter the outside world.
Of course, it does not rule out that the CCP will use these troops to expand outward, especially to Taiwan. Therefore, his content in the defense section is obviously intended to send a strong signal to the international community.
Deutsche Welle: In the diplomatic section, Xi Jinping emphasized that China will follow a peaceful foreign policy, and emphasized that China has never oppressed or enslaved the people of other countries, and reiterated that it will not do so in the future. He also warned that if other countries try to oppress China, the Chinese people will use “blood and flesh” to form the Great Wall of Steel, causing these countries to meet with a bloodshed. Does his hard-line discussion continue the “wolf war diplomacy” that China has practiced internationally in the past period of time?
Teng Biao, a Chinese legal scholar in the United States, believes that Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of military modernization in his speech, showing that strengthening national defense and increasing military expenditures are probably important means for the CCP to maintain one-party dictatorship, and the CCP also hopes to use military power to intimidate and deter the outside world. .
Teng Biao: This is combined with the CCP’s nationalist and nationalist propaganda in recent years. In fact, the CCP’s external penetration and expansion, including the destruction of international legal norms, are increasing. The changes in Western countries’ policies and attitudes towards China are mainly due to the CCP’s external provocations, penetration, and expansion.
Although Xi Jinping said that China will not enslave and oppress the people of other countries, the CCP actually pursues social Darwinism. Previously, Deng Xiaoping said that the CCP should “hide its power and bide its time”, but when he becomes stronger, he will bully other countries, especially the other countries. He is a weak country.
Like the Belt and Road Initiative and many international violations of human rights, as well as kidnappings abroad, this also shows that the CCP’s claim of not expanding and enslaving other countries is deceiving. If the CCP has enough economic and military strength to enslave other countries, he will definitely do so, because the CCP has also been fostering a dictatorship internationally for its political goals.
Therefore, many Western political scholars have concluded that the Chinese regime is not an expansionary regime. This conclusion is actually not so accurate. When the CCP has no strength, it will hide its power and bide its time, but when it has strength, he will definitely actively provoke and expand outward.
Deutsche Welle: In Hong Kong and Macau, Xi Jinping reiterated the so-called “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and “Macao people administering Macau”. He also said that the two SARs should be fully governed. There is also the implementation of systems and mechanisms to maintain national security. Does this mean that for the future management of these two special zones, the Chinese government will focus on maintaining national security?
Teng Biao: Basically, one country, two systems in Macau has long existed in name only, and the one country, two systems in Hong Kong has also been destroyed. The CCP openly tore up its international commitments, and the rule of law and basic freedoms in Hong Kong are gradually being destroyed. Although Hong Kong still has more freedom than the mainland, this trend is very scary. It may not take too long before Hong Kong will be completely continental. After the National Security Law came into effect last year, the CCP announced that the one country, two systems had been torn up.
Deutsche Welle: In the part of Taiwan, Xi Jinping reiterated that cross-strait reunification is the ultimate goal, saying that the Chinese Sons and Daughters will unite to destroy the Taiwan independence forces, and warn anyone not to underestimate the Chinese people’s determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Is there a big difference between his remarks and the statements made by China on the Taiwan issue some time in the past?
Teng Biao: It should be said that Xi Jinping’s ambitions towards Taiwan are becoming more and more undisguised. Therefore, he will not respect the right of Taiwanese to self-determination, nor will he respect basic human rights and international peace. No matter what means he uses, he considers the Communist Party’s own interests and political power. When he believes that measures taken against Taiwan will not cause the United States to interfere with the international community, he will definitely do so.
Not only this time, the CCP has already given a lot of signals to adopt tougher measures against Taiwan. Therefore, the response of the international community and its support for Taiwan are crucial to Taiwan’s security and survival, especially the attitude of the United States.
Bi Biao is a Chinese legal scholar in the United States. He has served as a human rights lawyer in China and a lecturer in Chinese politics and law. He is currently a visiting professor at the Human Rights Center at the University of Chicago.
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