Going global: China’s lawmakers are gearing up for a new world order as ‘two sessions’ approach
- As the nation battles a trade war and international suspicion, delegates at this year’s National People’s Congress can no longer concern themselves only with domestic issues, analysts say
- And as the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule draws ever nearer, the last thing Beijing needs is more disruption
China’s annual gathering of its legislative and political advisory bodies – known as the “two sessions” – is one of the key events in the country’s political calender and provides a rare opportunity for observers to get close to its movers and shakers. This year’s meetings come as China continues to fight a trade war with the United States and battle the headwinds of an economic slowdown. They also mark 12 months since Xi Jinping amended the constitution to remove a presidential term limit and arrive as the nation prepares to celebrate 70 years of communist rule. In the first of a three-part series, we look at the diplomatic challenges China and Xi have to face.
This year’s annual gathering of China’s political elites is set to be overshadowed by challenges facing the nation on the global stage, as Beijing’s increasingly assertive diplomatic posturing meets with rising scrutiny and resistance.
Ever since the start of the tariff dispute between China and the US in July, diplomats and think tanks have been urging Beijing to adjust its foreign policy approach.
Its many restrictions – including those on exchanges between Chinese and US think tanks – have hampered policymakers trying to make accurate assessments of US President Donald Trump’s administration and cost them opportunities to respond to its increasingly tough actions, they said.