A new era is dawning for China… and the world. In his very brief first speech as president who begins his historic third term at the head of the second world power, Xi Jinping, 69, did not hide his priorities. “Security is the foundation of development, while stability is a prerequisite for prosperity”he launched Monday, March 13 to some 3,000 deputies gathered at the People’s Palace in Beijing who were completing their annual session.
Echoing this, a few minutes later, his staunch staunch appointed new prime minister two days before, Li Qiang, 63, directly lambasted ” American repression “and was very cautious about the economic outlook, with growth of 3% for 2023” very difficult to reach ».
Make the army a “Great wall of steel”
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, growing tensions with the United States and prospects for the recovery of Taiwan, by force if necessary, the powerful Chinese leader paints a worrying picture of the future. Thus in his eyes, China is threatened and it must defend itself. To this end, Xi Jinping has displayed his priorities.
It is necessary that “To fully promote the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, and to make [l’armée] a Great Wall of Steel that effectively protects national sovereignty, security and development interests”. As mentioned during the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party last October, Xi Jinping wants “to bring China back to the forefront of the great powers”.
US-sanctioned general named defense minister
In this perspective, Xi Jinping had appointed the day before as the new Minister of Defense General Li Shangfu who was sanctioned by the American government in 2018 for having bought Russian weapons from the company Rosoboroexport.
The appointment of General Li, a specialist in space and high technologies, is “a deliberate reaction against US sanctions”, said Manoj Kewalramani, of the Takshashila Institute in Bengaluru, India. This decision “demonstrates Beijing’s willingness to engage in a tightrope strategy” et “will add a new hurdle to the engagement between the United States and China, which is already very limited.”
A displayed Chinese logic of confrontation
In the same logic of confrontation, China announced last Sunday an increased defense budget for 2023, in a context of mistrust from its Asian neighbors, the United States and even now from NATO in the face of its rise in power. China will spend 225 billion dollars on its defense. This makes it the second largest military budget in the world behind that of the United States – about three times higher. Skepticism surrounds the Chinese figures, however. “Much of its military research, such as missiles, cyber defense, etc. are not included in its military expenditure, but considered civilian research and development”Niklas Swanström, director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, in Stockholm, told Agence France-Presse.
Finally, the new Prime Minister, Li Qiang, in charge of the economy, warned that it would be difficult for China to reach its growth target this year. “about 5%”, one of the lowest in decades. Growth is also penalized by a crisis in real estate, a sector which, along with construction, represents more than a quarter of China’s GDP. An additional challenge for China.