Xi on PLA Developing Strategic Capabilities in Emerging Domains - Wang Huning on Taiwan Policy - Li Hui's Poland Visit
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Friday, March 08, 2024.
Page 1: The lead story today is about Xi Jinping’s remarks at a meeting of the delegation of the PLA and PAP.
Xi said that “strategic capabilities in emerging fields are essential components of the national strategic system and capabilities. They are closely related to the high-quality development of our country's economy and society, national security, and proactive military struggles, and are of great significance to comprehensively promote the construction of a powerful country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to strengthen mission responsibilities, deepen reform and innovation, and comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging fields.” 中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平7日下午在出席十四届全国人大二次会议解放军和武警部队代表团全体会议时强调，新兴领域战略能力是国家战略体系和能力重要组成部分，关系我国经济社会高质量发展，关系国家安全和军事斗争主动，对以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业具有重要意义。要强化使命担当，深化改革创新，全面提升新兴领域战略能力.
Six lawmakers from the military spoke at the meeting. These are:
Ai Yingchun from PLAN
Wu Shengyan from the Strategic Support Force
Qiao Shasha from the Southern Theater Command
He Yufan from the Strategic Support Force
Yao Dangnai from the Academy of Military Sciences
Zheng Jin from the PLAGF
They discussed topics like:
the construction of maritime situational awareness capabilities
improving cyberspace defence capabilities
promoting the application of AI
strengthening the overall management and use of space resources
strengthening the construction standardisation with regard to emerging fields
development and utilisation of unmanned combat capabilities
会上，来自海军的艾迎春代表、来自战略支援部队的吴升艳代表、来自南部战区的乔莎莎代表、来自战略支援部队的何雨帆代表、来自军事科学院的姚党鼐代表、来自陆军的郑金代表依次发言，就推进海洋态势感知能力建设、提高网络空间防御能力、推进人工智能应用、加强太空资源统筹管理使用、加强新兴领域标准通用化建设、创新无人作战力量建设和运用等方面问题提出意见和建议.
After this, Xi spoke. He said that since the 18th Party Congress, the development of strategic capabilities has “achieved a series of major results”. “After the 20th Party Congress, the Central Committee has proposed, from the overall perspective of promoting high-quality development, the need to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. This provides a rare opportunity for strategic capacity building in emerging fields. It is necessary to seize the momentum, grasp the characteristics and laws of the development of emerging fields, and promote the efficient integration and mutual promotion of new quality productive forces and new quality combat capabilities.” 他指出，党的十八大以来，我们统筹推进战略性新兴产业和新型作战力量发展，取得一系列重大成果。党的二十大后，党中央从推动高质量发展全局出发，明确提出加快发展新质生产力。这为新兴领域战略能力建设提供了难得机遇。要乘势而上，把握新兴领域发展特点规律，推动新质生产力同新质战斗力高效融合、双向拉动.
Xi “emphasised the need to highlight development priorities and implement strategies and plans related to strategic capacity building in emerging fields. It is necessary to coordinate preparations for maritime military struggles, protection of maritime rights and interests and development of the maritime economy, and improve maritime strategic capabilities. It is necessary to optimise the aerospace layout and promote the construction of our country’s aerospace system. It is necessary to build a cyberspace defence system and improve the ability to maintain national network security. It is necessary to strengthen coordination and implementation of major projects in intelligent technology, and increase the application of advanced achievements.” 习近平强调，要突出发展重点，抓好新兴领域战略能力建设有关战略和规划落实。要统筹海上军事斗争准备、海洋权益维护和海洋经济发展，提升经略海洋能力。要优化航天布局，推进我国航天体系建设。要构建网络空间防御体系，提高维护国家网络安全能力。要加强智能科技重大项目统筹实施，加大先进成果应用力度.
“Xi Jinping pointed out that the development of emerging fields fundamentally stems from the innovation and application of science and technology. It is necessary to enhance innovation confidence, insist on self-reliance, proceed from reality, vigorously promote independent innovation and original innovation, and create a vibrant ecology for the growth of new quality productive forces and new combat capabilities. It is necessary to grasp the characteristics of cross-disciplinary development in emerging fields, strengthen integrated innovation and comprehensive application, and promote the formation of a dynamic situation with multiple breakthroughs and the spurting of a community.” 习近平指出，新兴领域发展从根本上说源于科技的创新和应用。要增强创新自信，坚持以我为主，从实际出发，大力推进自主创新、原始创新，打造新质生产力和新质战斗力增长极。要把握新兴领域交叉融合发展特征，加强集成创新和综合应用，推动形成多点突破、群体迸发的生动局面.
Xi Jinping emphasised that the reform of emerging fields should be highlighted as a key point to further comprehensively deepen reforms; build an independent, self-reliant, open and integrated, and dynamic innovation ecosystem; and better promote the building of strategic capabilities in emerging fields. It is necessary to improve the systems and mechanisms for demand docking, planning coordination, resource sharing and other aspects, take the path of standardisation, and improve the overall efficiency of the development of emerging fields. Guided by accelerating the supply of new quality combat capabilities, we must deepen the reform of the national defense science and technology industry system, optimize the layout of the defense science and technology industry, improve the agile response and rapid transformation mechanism of advanced technologies, and build an innovation chain, industrial chain, and value chain that is compatible with the development of emerging fields. It is necessary to update ideas and concepts, boldly innovate and explore new models of building and using new types of combat forces, and fully liberate and develop new combat capabilities.” 习近平强调，要把新兴领域改革作为进一步全面深化改革的一个重点突出出来，构建自主自强、开放融合、充满活力的创新生态，更好推进新兴领域战略能力建设。要健全完善需求对接、规划衔接、资源共享等方面制度机制，走好标准通用化路子，提高新兴领域发展整体效益。要以加快新质战斗力供给为牵引，深化国防科技工业体制改革，优化国防科技工业布局，健全先进技术敏捷响应、快速转化机制，构建同新兴领域发展相适应的创新链、产业链、价值链。要更新思想观念，大胆创新探索新型作战力量建设和运用模式，充分解放和发展新质战斗力.
Also on the page is a report on speeches by CPPCC members. They offer suggestions with regard to the key policy priorities outlined by the leadership. Let me list a few:
Ning Jizhe called to “increase macro-control efforts and introduce more policies that are conducive to stabilising growth; focus on scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces; do everything possible/ make all efforts to expand domestic demand and open up space for urban and rural and regional development; and promote structural reforms and actively take initiative in the transformation and development of reform and opening up.” 宁吉喆委员发言说，过去一年，我国经济回升向好、高质量发展扎实推进建议加大宏观调控力度，多出有利于稳增长的政策；突出科技创新引领，加快形成新质生产力；千方百计扩大内需，开拓城乡和区域发展空间；推动结构性改革，在改革开放转型发展上积极进取.
Chen Qun said it was necessary to give enough room for a free-exploration style of basic research, and encourage researchers to find valuable scientific or technological issues.
Yi Gang said that “to promote high-quality financial development, it is necessary to strengthen the coordination and cooperation of financial policies and fiscal and other policies, and take targeted measures in some key links of economic operation. He called to make good use of fiscal policy space, comprehensively use a variety of monetary policy tools, place increasing social capital investment and financing in a more important position, strive to promote high-level financial openness, and ensure national financial and economic security.” 易纲委员发言说，推动金融高质量发展，要加强金融政策与财政等政策的协调配合，并对经济运行的部分关键环节采取针对性措施。建议用好财政政策空间，综合运用多种货币政策工具，把增加社会资本金投资和融资放在更加重要的地位，着力推进金融高水平开放，确保国家金融和经济安全.
Sima Hong said the high-quality development requires the support of a modern industrial system, highlighting the need to build an industrial system with sci-tech innovation as the guide and advanced manufacturing as the backbone.
Wang Lu shared his views on boosting the industry of new materials. He highlighted the need to speed up the forming of a sci-tech innovation layout covering the main categories of new materials and clusters of key industries.
Zhao Jing, from the Jiu San Society, talked about the need to accelerate the construction of the science and technology financial system, integrate the establishment of special funds for science and technology finance, better leverage the functions of the capital market, expedite the cultivation of talents in science and technology finance and corporate innovation, advance the construction of information service platforms, enhance corporate information transparency and industry information disclosure, and contribute to achieving self-reliance and self-strengthening in technology through these efforts. 赵静委员代表九三学社中央发言说，金融如同活水，浇灌科技的种子、浸润创新的土壤、催生新产业的幼苗。建议加快科技金融体系建设，整合设立科技金融专项资金，更好发挥资本市场功能，加快培养科技金融人才和企业科创人才，推进信息服务平台建设，提高企业信息透明度和行业信息公开性，助力实现科技自立自强.
Tao Zhi spoke about the need to “support colleges and universities to explore long-term comprehensive training models for basic disciplines, strengthen the connection between basic education and higher education, and establish an advanced science and education integrated education system guided by key scientific issues and major projects to improve the level of independent training of scientific and technological talents.” 陶智委员代表无党派人士界发言说，大学是培养青年科技人才的重要阵地。建议支持高校探索基础学科长周期贯通培养模式，加强基础教育与高等教育的衔接培养，以关键科学问题和重大项目为牵引，建立进阶式科教融合育人体系，提升自主培养科技人才水平.
Nan Cunhui, from the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, called to “establish a regular mechanism for enterprises to participate in national science and technology strategic decision-making, support private science and technology enterprises to participate in major science and technology projects, maintain a fair competitive environment for private enterprises, give full play to the important role of private enterprises, and build a strong material and technological foundation for Chinese-style modernization.” 南存辉委员代表全国工商联发言说，民营企业是推进新型工业化的重要力量。建议建立企业常态化参与国家科技战略决策机制，支持民营科技企业参与科技重大项目，维护民营企业公平竞争环境，充分发挥民营企业重要作用，为中国式现代化构筑强大物质技术基础.
Finally, there’s a report on Cai Qi’s comments while participating in a meeting of the Qinghai NPC delegation. He reiterated the two establishments, two safeguards and the importance of Chinese-style modernisation.
Cai called in Qinghai to:
Ensure systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands, strengthen the protection and restoration of crucial ecosystems, and establish a solid national ecological security barrier.
Focus on construction of a modern industrial system; accelerate green transformation; comprehensively promote rural revitalization; and forge a path of high-quality development with distinctive characteristics.
Widely practise the core socialist values, strengthen patriotism education, build a strong sense of the Chinese national community, and facilitate interactions and exchanges among various ethnic groups.
Constantly meet the spiritual and cultural needs of the people of all ethnic groups, strengthen the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, expand the supply of high-quality cultural products, and deeply carry out reforms in social customs and habits.
Comprehensively strengthen party building, consolidate and expand the results of thematic education, strengthen the construction of the cadre team, and guide Party members and cadres to establish a correct view of political performance.
Vigorously combat formalism to reduce the burden at the grassroots levels
要立足“三个最大”省情定位和“三个更加重要”战略地位，坚持山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和系统治理，加强重要生态系统保护和修复，筑牢国家生态安全屏障。抓住新时代西部大开发等战略机遇，以产业“四地”引领现代化产业体系建设，加快绿色转型，全面推进乡村振兴，走出一条具有青海特色的高质量发展之路。要广泛践行社会主义核心价值观，加强爱国主义教育，铸牢中华民族共同体意识，促进各民族交往交流交融。不断满足各族群众精神文化需求，加强文化遗产保护传承利用，扩大优质文化产品供给，深入开展移风易俗。要全面加强党的建设，巩固拓展主题教育成果，加强干部队伍建设，引导党员干部树牢正确政绩观。坚持以党建引领基层治理，大力整治形式主义为基层减负，让基层干部把更多精力放在服务群众和抓落实上.
Page 2: There’s a report on Wang Huning and Ding Xuexiang participating in discussions. Wang met with the Taiwan delegation. He said that under Xi, the PRC “has effectively maintained the overall stability of the situation across the Taiwan Strait and further grasped the strategic initiative to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland.” 王沪宁7日下午参加台湾代表团审议。在听取颜珂、陈永东、周琪等代表发言后，王沪宁表示，过去一年，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，对台工作有力维护台海形势总体稳定，进一步掌握了实现祖国完全统一的战略主动.
He added:
“We must resolutely implement the Party's overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan issue in the new era and the Party Central Committee's decisions and arrangements on Taiwan work, and unswervingly promote the great cause of the reunification of the motherland.
We must adhere to the one-China principle and the ‘1992 Consensus’, resolutely oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and interference from external forces, promote deeper and more solid cross-Strait exchanges and development, promote spiritual harmony between compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and firmly control the future and destiny of the two sides of the Strait in the hands of Chinese people on both sides.”
要坚决贯彻新时代党解决台湾问题的总体方略和党中央对台工作决策部署，坚定不移推进祖国统一大业。要坚持一个中国原则和“九二共识”，坚决反对“台独”分裂和外部势力干涉，推动两岸融合发展走深走实，促进两岸同胞心灵契合，把两岸前途命运牢牢掌握在两岸中国人手中。
Ding met with the Hong Kong and Macao delegations. He told the former that the “legislation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law is the constitutional responsibility of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
Page 3: Has the full press briefing by Wang Yi. I covered this yesterday. If you are interested, you can read the full English version.
Finally, although it is not in the paper, we have two more updates from Li Hui’s shuttle diplomacy.
First, in Warsaw, Li met with Polish Deputy Minister Wladyslaw T. Bartoszewski. The Chinese readout says:
“Li Hui briefed on China's efforts over the past two years in promoting peace talks on the Ukraine crisis, as well as the relevant situation in the second round of shuttle diplomacy. He emphasized that the prolonged and complicated nature of the Ukraine crisis is not in the interest of any of the parties. China is willing to work together with the international community, including Poland, to jointly promote the de-escalation of the situation and an early restoration of peace. Bartoszewski reiterated Poland's principled stance on the Ukraine crisis as a neighbouring country to both Russia and Ukraine. He appreciated China's efforts to promote peace talks and thanked Li Hui for his tireless efforts in conducting intensive shuttle diplomacy. He expressed willingness to maintain communication with China on the next steps of the negotiation process.” 李辉介绍了过去两年来中方就乌克兰危机劝和促谈所做工作，以及第二轮穿梭外交有关情况，强调乌克兰危机长期化、复杂化不符合各方利益，中方愿同包括波方在内的国际社会共同努力，推动局势降温，早日恢复和平。巴尔托谢夫斯基重申了波兰作为俄乌共同邻国在乌克兰危机上的原则立场，赞赏中方为劝和促谈所做努力，感谢李辉特代不辞辛劳密集开展穿梭外交，愿就下一步和谈进程同中方保持沟通.
Contrast this to the Polish readout:
“The Polish side underlined that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine poses a direct threat to regional and global security. The Polish deputy foreign minister stressed the need to respect territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and to refrain from threats of use of force, as the basis for peaceful settlement of the conflict. He pointed out that support for victims of assault is not only a right, but an obligation of all members of the international community, in particular permanent members of the UN Security Council. The Polish side called on China not to provide any political, economic and military support to Russia, as the aggressor.”
“Deputy Minister W. T. Bartoszewski, emphasized his disagreement with any attempts to justify aggression with so-called ‘legitimate security concerns’. (Comment: This is a direct criticism of the Chinese position.)
“Poland condemned the threat to use nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation and the militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant within the Ukrainian territory, illegally occupied by Russian troops. In Poland’s view, these actions set a dangerous precedent and may have negative consequences not only for the Eastern Europe, but for the entire international community. Poland appreciates China's opposition to Russian threats and counts on specific actions aimed at ensuring of nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, including within the International Atomic Energy Agency. Furthermore, deputy foreign minister Bartoszewski emphasized the clearly negative impact of Russia on the food security of developing countries. Ambassador Li Hui indicated, that China is not a party to the conflict, and that the situation in Ukraine is not in anyone’s interest. He underlined China’s readiness to support building of consensus between sides of this prolonged conflict and announced China’s intention to continue consultations with international partners.”
Meanwhile, the Chinese readout on Li’s visit to Ukraine says nothing substantive. All it says is that Li had “candid and friendly talks.”