Communist Party tightens grip on national security
Politburo underscores its authority with backing for blueprint as President Xi Jinping continues to cement power within ruling elite
The Politburo yesterday endorsed a blueprint for national security and highlighted the Communist Party's absolute authority over the area, vowing to step up public awareness on the issue, Xinhua reported.
The elite 25-member body said in a statement that the country was facing "unprecedented national security risks and challenges", some of which were unpredictable, so the country had to always be on alert for dangers.
The statement said China would firmly protect its core interests and safeguard its security in "a pattern [consistent] with Chinese characteristics".
It did not give further details about the blueprint, but highlighted the party's "absolute control" of national security, and pledged to build a "highly professional team" to protect it.
It gave no further details of the plan.
Li Wei, a Beijing-based counterterrorism expert, said the blueprint included crisis management for areas ranging from counterterrorism to defence, foreign policy, domestic social unrest and even the ongoing anti-graft campaign.
"The blueprint indicated [President Xi Jinping] requested related authorities meet higher standards when dealing with security issues, insisting that they be extremely efficient, authoritative and effective," he said.