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In China, Xi Jinping’s thought has been exposed with the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics. According to the book written by the Chinese President Governance and Administration of China, the fundamental axis is “the materialization of China’s leadership that constitutes the greatest dream for the nation in modern times.”
Since the rise of Xi Jimping in China, human rights violations and the use of technological advances to censor the press, monitor citizens and repress religious minorities have been on the rise, alerting the West and making the voices of the victims echo in the free world.
The Trump administration has defended democratic movements and sanctioned the Chinese regime’s ongoing human rights violations against religious groups, the press, and civil society in Asia.
U.S. action at Trump’s helm has strengthened Washington’s commitment to defending basic principles that have hindered the coercive actions of Communist regimes such as Xi Jinping’s.
In contrast, critics and commentators at the end of the Chinese Communist Party agree on the success of Xi Jinping “to achieve the leadership of the Asian giant on a global level in military, commercial and political matters” in which the Communist Party is the fundamental piece, being the representation of the Chinese people in power.
The Chinese Communist Party has acquired absolute power in internal affairs through stricter anti-corruption policies and has gained control of the Chinese economy, which previously gave an important role to the private sector.
An example of the empowerment of the Communist Party of China has been the sanctions against businessmen like Jack Ma, which seek to make the Party, in addition to regulating financial activity, own the assets of private individuals, according to the press.
Another of the great bets to develop Xi Jinping’s thinking has been the fact of promoting the ambitious “Road and Belt” plan that would give China commercial dominance with access to the five continents, the technological and space race and its strengthening in the Indo Pacific region with the aim of achieving hegemonic power affecting free countries such as Japan, Taiwan, India or South Korea.
China begins 2021 with new national defense law
The Chinese Communist Party has implemented the new national security law by repealing the 1997 law that had a passive aspect in its military vision. The new law promotes three fundamental aspects that provide an active vision that will help the Communist Party to strengthen and consolidate its leadership at a global level.
The concept of “development interests”
According to the international press, the new national security law seeks to add the concept of “development interests” which is the strengthening of hard power, to achieve objectives that the Communist Party considers indispensable.
For example, one of these development interests, the press adds, is China’s maritime domination which could lead the Chinese Communist Party to develop military activities in the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and Djibouti.
It should be recalled that in 2012, in the absence of the Obama Administration in the region, China undertook the seizure of Masinloc Basin, an important area in the South China Sea, which “was a disaster and really had the effect of weakening the credibility of the United States in Asia, since it did nothing to defend the Philippines,” according to Captain James E. Fanell, Director of Naval Intelligence for the U.S. Pacific Fleet until 2015.
According to Radio Free Asia (RFA) report, space activities pose “challenges or threats” alluding to China’s latest space launches and samples of lunar material with the “Chang’e-5” mission, in addition to interests under the Road and Belt plan to establish bastions abroad against the United States, are also considered a developing interest, allowing China to use military power to preserve them.
A National Defense Policy
In 2019 and 2020, the United States intensified its diplomatic and military presence in Asia, in order to combat the expansion of Beijing in the region, which threatens the freedom and democracy of American allies.
The Trump administration was instrumental in making visible the victims of the Chinese Communist Party who oppose the concept of reunification and advocate self-determination and religious freedom and providing stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In response, and continuing his project, Xi Jinping has reinforced the concept of one China. Here, the work of the Chinese Communist Party is to defend national sovereignty from interference by countries like the United States and to aim for the reunification of the territories that Beijing considers its own.
In this chapter, the new national security law, according to the press, is aimed at defending recent legal impositions in Hong Kong, Macao and preserving the sovereignty of Tibet and Xinjiang. It also openly seeks the peaceful or forced seizure of Taiwan and territories in Vietnam, India, the Philippines and Japan.
Civilian training and involvement of society as a whole in military activities
The law that came into force on January 1, 2021, stipulates that civil organizations, companies, institutions and social organizations “must also complete the preparation of the recruitment of militias” according to the RFA report.
The Chinese Communist Party is the center in the politics of Xi Jinping, therefore public officials, military and political leaders must be models for society and chart the way for education framed in national security, rescuing the legacy of Mao Zedong in the cultural revolution, where civilians participated directly in the defense of the interests of the Party.
In the 20th century, Xi Jinping has recycled the concept of militias to go along with military assets in the South China Sea. These Chinese militias have attacked Filipino fishermen in the Lower Masinloc.
The implementation of this law in China increases uncertainty in U.S. allied countries that have received strong support to contain the pressure from Beijing and hope that the administration of Joe Biden will continue firmly.
In anticipation, media has reported that President-elect Joe Biden will maintain the policies implemented by Trump, as they are not only supported by both parties in the U.S. Congress, but also represent a matter of national interest for Washington.
Camilo Bello is a consultant focused on Asia Pacific studies and has experience in strategic management. He has studied law in Colombia and is currently pursuing studies in language and history at National Taiwan Normal University. He has collaborated with Students for Freedom in Hong Kong and Taiwan // Camilo es consultor enfocado en estudios de Asia Pacífico y experiencia en gestión estratégica. Cuenta con estudios en Derecho en Colombia y actualmente se encuentra realizando estudios en lenguaje e historia en National Taiwan Normal University. Colaborador de Estudiantes por la Libertad en Hong Kong y Taiwán