China-ASEAN Ties - Li Talks to Provincial Governors - PLA, CPPCC Discuss 6th Plenum - Provincial Secretaries & 6th Plenum Spirit - CPC Outreach to South Asian Left Parties - Xi Thought on Rule of Law
Here are the stories and pieces from the November 23, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: The lead story on the front page is about Xi Jinping’s speech at the summit to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations. The one big takeaway from the meeting was that China and ASEAN agreed to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
I am going to draw from the speech directly, which is on Page 2 (English version). Xi offers a very positive appraisal of the development of China-ASEAN ties. He attributes this to “our unique geographical proximity and cultural affinity and, more importantly, to the fact that we have actively embraced the development trend of our times and made the right historic choice.”
Some of the points that follow are just worth sharing in entirety. I found the language really striking and reflective of Beijing’s confidence about East Asia being its sphere of influence.
“Oriental culture believes in ‘not doing to others what we do not desire ourselves’. Equality and harmonious coexistence are our common pursuit...The two sides have accommodated each other’s major concerns, respected each other’s development paths, increased understanding and trust through sincere communication, and properly handled disagreements and problems by seeking common ground while shelving differences, thus jointly upholding and promoting Asian values.”
Both sides have pursued “win-win cooperation.”
“Our exchanges are as frequent as those between relatives. We value friendship and credibility. We rejoice together in good times, and help each other out in hard times. We have stood with each other through the Asian financial crisis, international financial crisis, COVID-19 and other challenges, thus forging a stronger sense of being a community with a shared future.”
“China and ASEAN are home to diverse ethnicities, cultures and religions. Diversity and inclusiveness are in our DNA. Drawing wisdom from East Asian civilization, we have steered regional economic integration with an open mind, advanced ASEAN-led regional cooperation through equal-footed consultation, and forged friendships that are open, not exclusionary, with an inclusive attitude, thus honoring the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.”
Following this, Xi said: “China was, is, and will always be ASEAN’s good neighbor, good friend and good partner. I wish to reaffirm that China will unswervingly take ASEAN as a high priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, unswervingly support ASEAN unity and ASEAN Community building, unswervingly support ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, and unswervingly support ASEAN in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.”
He then made five proposals:
“pursue dialogue instead of confrontation, build partnerships instead of alliances, and make concerted efforts to address the various negative factors that might threaten or undermine peace...practice true multilateralism...China firmly opposes hegemonism and power politics...China will never seek hegemony, still less bully smaller countries. China supports ASEAN’s efforts to build a nuclear weapon-free zone, and is prepared to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone as early as possible.” -- This bit about not bullying smaller countries sounds incredibly tone deaf given what’s currently taking place between China and Lithuania.
The next point is about security. This begins with health security. Xi committed to “donate an additional 150 million doses of COVID vaccines to ASEAN countries” and “contribute an additional US$5 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, step up vaccine joint production and technology transfer, and collaborate on research and development of essential medicines.” He also talks about “counter-terrorism, joint maritime search, rescue and exercise, countering transnational crime, and disaster management” cooperation.
The third point is about development cooperation. Xi offers “$1.5 billion of development assistance in the next three years to support ASEAN countries’ fight against COVID-19 and economic recovery.” He also talks about RCEP, upgrading China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, enhancing trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and building joint demonstration zones for economic innovative development. He committed to buying $150 billion worth of agricultural products from ASEAN in the next five years. Also he talked about a program to support 300 young scientists from ASEAN to come to China for exchanges in the next five years and proposed a China-ASEAN Digital Governance Dialogue.
The fourth point broadly talks about climate change-related cooperation. No specific deliverables mentioned that I found noteworthy.
The fifth point is broadly about people-to-people cooperation. No specific deliverables mentioned that I found noteworthy.
Also on the front page, there’s a report about Xi’s letter to the Xinhua-organised World Media Forum, and a report based on comments by Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Wu Jianghao about the China-ASEAN summit. He says that the meeting ended with eight points of consensus:
The establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership
Working together to combat the pandemic
Pursue common development and regional economic recovery following the pandemic
Pursue innovative development and cultivate new growth drivers; this broadly covers science and technology collaboration and work on the digital economy
Pursue sustainable development and accelerate green transformation
Seek deeper people-to-people exchanges
Pursue regional peace and stability. In this regard, Wu specifically mentions China-US relations and emphasises the importance of “non-alignment.” He said: “The earth is big enough for both China and the United States. The key is to constructively control differences and avoid intensification and expansion. Of course, China should safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development interests, and hope that the US side will handle the related issues carefully. At the same time, China is willing to get along with neighbouring countries for a long time, and jointly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.”
Finally, practice true multilateralism.
The joint statement issued after the summit is available here. I thought I’d highlight the bit on the South China Sea:
“Reaffirm the importance of upholding international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and continue to promote maritime security and safety, enhance mutual trust and confidence, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Reaffirm our commitment to the freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and to have Parties concerned undertake to resolve territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. Remain committed to meeting the aspirations of the Declaration for a Decade of Coastal and Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea (2017-2027); Further reaffirm our commitment to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and emphasise the need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and look forward to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with international law including the 1982 UNCLOS, within a mutually-agreed timeline;
Page 3: A bunch of reports to note. First, Li Keqiang met with provincial government chiefs in Shanghai to discuss the economy. I could be wrong, but this isn’t a normal process meeting from what I understand, and the readout suggests that there is anxiety about the state of the economy.
PD reports that Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng, Jilin Governor Han Jun, Hubei Governor Wang Zhonglin, Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui, and Guizhou Governor Li Bingjun spoke at the event. Li also engaged with provincial government chiefs from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hunan, and Yunnan.
Xinhua reports: Li said that China “has been hit by multiple challenges this year, including commodity price hikes, a power crunch and severe floods, all of which have been effectively addressed by the government to keep the economy stable...Facing downward pressure on the economy, the country should remain confident while fully evaluating the difficulties and devising effective measures to address them...Efforts should be made to implement the cross-cycle adjustment measures at the end of the year and the beginning of next year, and to ensure the supply of energy and electricity.”
He wants local governments to focus on “protecting market players, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and individual industrial and commercial households.” He called for implementing “national policies of reducing taxes and fees, ensuring supply and stabilizing prices in the market, and taking measures to clean up accounts receivable owed to small and medium-sized enterprises, so as to help market players reduce costs and solve problems.” Li added: “While rolling out policies, local governments and relevant departments should avoid campaign-style, overly aggressive, or one-size-fits-all measures.” Li also spoke about the importance of governments tightening expenditure in order to “pool resources to ensure that tax and fee cuts are implemented and that basic living standards are ensured.”
He also emphasised the importance of forming a market environment of equal treatment and fair competition.
Next, a report on the Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference meeting to study the guiding principles of the sixth plenum. Wang Yang presided over the meeting and Zhao Leji delivered a report. Xinhua says that Wang “called on the Standing Committee members of the CPPCC National Committee to align their thinking and actions with the guiding principles of the plenum and contribute wisdom and strength to realising national rejuvenation. Zhao briefed the meeting about the convocation of the plenum, the drafting, outline, and main content of the resolution adopted at the plenum, and the requirement for studying and implementing the guiding principles of the plenum.”
In PD, Zhao’s comments are clearly driving home the point about Xi’s leadership. He calls on all members to:
“deeply understand and grasp the decisive significance of the establishment of Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the core position of the whole party, and the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Constantly improve political judgment, political understanding and political execution, conscientiously learn and understand Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, conscientiously strengthen four consciousnesses, four self-confidences and achieve the two safeguards...unswervingly push forward the anti-corruption struggle, and ensure that the party does not deteriorate, change colour or flavour.”
Third, a report (English version) on the armed forces studying the 6th Plenum’s outcomes. CMC vice chairmen Xu Qiliang and Zhang Youxia have asked all levels of the armed forces to study and implement the spirit of the sixth plenary session. Studying and implementing the guiding principles from the CPC plenum are primary political tasks, they said. Xu Qiliang emphasised the “decisive significance” of the two establishments/establisheds. Zhang Youxia called on the forces to “enhance their trust in and support for Chairman Xi, and be more firm and conscious in maintaining the core and obeying the command.” 着眼提高贯彻质效，深化理论研究阐释，引导官兵感悟思想伟力、汲取时代精神、把握发展规律，增进对习主席的信赖拥戴，更加坚定自觉维护核心、听从指挥.
There are a couple of more reports on the 6th plenum publicity. The Central Propaganda Department held an event in Beijing recently. Then, there’s a consolidated report about similar efforts in different regions. In this report, we have provincial leaders essentially falling in line. So there is:
Li Xi, Guangdong Party Secretary, talking about the need to align thoughts and actions with the spirit of the plenary session and deeply understand the decisive significance of the two establishments.
Li Hongzhong, Tianjin Secretary, responds to a question about the two establishments, calling this the “most important political achievement since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which reflects the common aspiration of the whole party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance to the development of the cause of the Party and the country in the new era.”
Beijing Party Secretary Cai Qi talks about the significance of the plenum’s outcomes for the future. He’s believed to be close to Xi, but doesn’t mention Xi or the two establishments in this report.
In Hohhot and Zhengzhou, the comments that are covered are by central propaganda department officials Han Wenxiu and Shi Zhihong, respectively.
Next, a really interesting report about the International Liaison Department meeting with left-wing political parties in South Asia to talk about the 6th Plenum. The report mentions the following speakers:
Nepal’s Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun. He is from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)
Sitaram Yechury, leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Sri Lanka’s Speaker of the Parliament
Dilip Barua from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist)
In addition, around 300 people from about 20 left-wing political parties in South Asia, regional and international left-wing organizations and media representatives from think tanks attended the meeting, says the report.
The report adds that Song Tao said that the Communist Party of China is “willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with left-wing political parties in South Asian countries in terms of theory, path and party building, deepen their understanding of the laws governing the Communist parties, socialist construction and the development of human society, and work together to fulfil the initial mission of seeking happiness for the people and promote the development of a better world.” -- Yes, and China has no intention of exporting ideology or its governance norms. This is just friendly chit-chat, of course.
Page 6: Today’s post-6th Plenum long piece by a senior Party leader is by Wang Chen. He talks about rule of law.
Wang writes: “Standing at a new historical starting point, we must follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, adhere to the rule of law in all respects, continue to take solid steps to promote the rule of law in China, and provide a solid legal guarantee for comprehensively building a modern socialist country.” 站在新的历史起点上，我们要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚持全面依法治国，继续推动法治中国建设迈出坚实步伐，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供坚实法治保障.
The first part of the article deals with history; rather it places China’s current approach to rule of law within a Party narrative of history. He says that historically, the Party “combined the Marxist theory of state and law with the specific realities of the Chinese revolution, explored the practice of various forms of people’s democratic political power in different areas (revolutionary base areas, border areas and liberated areas), and explored the practice of the legal system based on a new type of democratic political power.”
He then briefly talks about the evolution of socialist rule of law after the formation of the PRC. In his process, Wang acknowledges the “Left deviations and mistakes” that led to the Cultural Revolution, and the 1981 history resolution, arguing that its “basic exposition and conclusions are still applicable today.” He then offers an interesting quote from Deng back in the day:
“At the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee held in December 1978, the historic decision was made to shift the focus of the Party’s and state’s work to economic development and carry out reform and opening up. At the same time, the task of developing socialist democracy and improving the socialist legal system was set forth. Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly said: ‘In order to safeguard the people’s democracy, we must strengthen the legal system. Democracy must be institutionalised and legalised, so that such institutions and laws do not change with the change of leaders or because of a change in the leaders’ views and attention. There must be laws to follow; laws must be observed; laws must be strictly enforced; and violators must be prosecuted’.” 1978年12月召开的党的十一届三中全会，作出把党和国家工作中心转移到经济建设上来、实行改革开放的历史性决策，同时提出了发展社会主义民主、健全社会主义法制的任务。邓小平同志明确提出，“为了保障人民民主，必须加强法制。必须使民主制度化、法律化，使这种制度和法律不因领导人的改变而改变，不因领导人的看法和注意力的改变而改变”，“做到有法可依，有法必依，执法必严，违法必究”.
He then talks about the adoption of the constitution in 1982, and points to specific changes related to the development of rule of law. He basically concludes the history bit, saying: “Historical experience and lessons have made our Party deeply aware that when the rule of law thrives, the country prospers, and when it fails, the country is in chaos. The rule of law is closely related to the future of the country and the destiny of the people. It is an indispensable and important means for governing the country and achieving lasting peace and stability. Implementing the rule of law is an important conclusion drawn by our Party from its long-term historical experience, and an inevitable choice for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 历史的经验和教训使我们党深刻认识到，法治兴则国家兴，法治衰则国家乱；法治与国家前途、人民命运息息相关，是治国理政、实现长治久安不可或缺的重要手段。实行依法治国，是我们党总结长期历史经验得出的重要结论，是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的必然选择.
The second section talks about how Xi has ushered in an era of comprehensive law-based governance and rule of law in China. He says that the approach has been drawn from a “strategic perspective of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and relating to the long-term stability of the Party and the country.” He then points to some milestones:
In October 2014, the fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee adopted the Resolution on Certain Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Advancing the Law-Based Governance of China. Not long after this, the CPC Central Committee adopted the ‘Four Comprehensives’ strategy.
In January 2018, the second plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed amending parts of the Constitution, which was also the first such session in the history of the CPC Central Committee. The amendments were cleared by the NPC in March, which was an “advancement that was in line with “keeping with the times.”
It talks about the meeting of the Commission for Overall Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee in August 2018. Here, Xi had said that “advancing law-based governance in all areas should be regarded as a new vision, new thought and new strategy guiding the country's development.” Wang argues that part of the goal is to ensure the strengthening the centralised and unified leadership of the Party over the rule of law in all respects.
He then talks about the adoption of the Civil Code
November 2020, the Party holds its first Central Work Conference on Comprehensively Advancing the Rule of Law. This marked the establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and its status as the guiding thought for law-based governance in China. Wang says that at this point, it was clear that Xi Thought on Rule of Law was of “great political, theoretical and practical significance in the process of building socialist rule of law in China.”
Wang then highlights the central conference on work related to people’s congresses, which was held last month. This meeting talked about “upholding and improving the system of people's congresses, developing people's democracy throughout the whole process, and advancing law-based governance in all respects.”
In the next paragraph, Wang outlines what he views as achievements in building law-based governance; I am not going into the details here. But after this, he says that:
“Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It has systematically answered a series of major questions, such as why and how to comprehensively implement the rule of law in the new era, and achieved a new development and a new leap in adapting Marxist theory on the rule of law to China.”习近平法治思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，系统回答了新时代为什么实行全面依法治国、怎样实行全面依法治国等一系列重大问题，实现了马克思主义法治理论中国化的新发展新飞跃.
Wang then distils the core essence of Xi Thought on Rule of Law into the 11 upholds outlined at the central work conference. He concludes this bit by saying that “we must thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on the rule of law, consciously arm our minds with it, guide our practice, and advance our work, and write a new chapter in comprehensively governing the rule of law in the new era.”
The last section lists some principles for action:
adhere to guidance of Xi thought; adhere to four consciousness, four self-confidences and two safeguards; work to modernise governance capacity
deeply understand the great strategic significance of adhering to the comprehensive rule of law and promoting the rule of law in China. “We must raise our political standing, fully implement the CPC Central Committee’s strategic plan for comprehensively advancing the rule of law in China, fully implement the law-based development plan of China, and fully implement the implementation plan of the development of a law-based society.” 我们必须提高政治站位，深入贯彻党中央全面依法治国战略部署，全面实施法治中国建设规划，全面落实法治社会建设实施纲要.
Improve the quality and efficiency of legislation and speed up efforts to improve the socialist legal system with the Constitution at its core. He also talks about the “need to strengthen legislation in key areas, emerging areas, and foreign-related fields.”
Building a government under the rule of law is a key task and main project of comprehensively advancing the rule of law.
Ensure judicial fairness, efficiency and authority, and ensure that the people feel fairness and justice in every judicial case.
Strengthen oversight over the implementation of the rule of law and ensure that state organs effectively perform their duties of enforcing the rule of law.
Strengthen development of specialised talents for the rule of law, and provide talent support and intellectual support for the rule of law in China. But the caveat here is that: “It is necessary to adhere to the Party’s management of talents, firmly grasp the training direction of socialist rule-of-law talents, and strengthen the construction of talents in the fields of legislation, law enforcement, justice, legal services and legal research.”
Enhance public awareness. Here, Wang also talks about combining “the rule of law with the rule of virtue.”