‘Two sessions’ – not 2 weeks. Is the pandemic-shortened annual legislative gathering here to stay?
- During Covid-19, China’s biggest political event of the year was pared down to 8 days from about 2 weeks
- But the first event to be held since the pandemic and its restrictions remains condensed
China’s annual legislative sessions – the once-a-year opportunity for lawmakers to discuss policy – could be shorter for the foreseeable future.
Beijing is expected to keep this year’s “two sessions”, the annual meetings of the country’s top legislative body and political advisory body, brief, wrapping them up in just eight days, far shorter than the event’s average length before the pandemic.
However, a notice from Beijing police banning low-flying aircraft from March 1 to March 12, suggested that the event could wrap up as early as March 11. The neighbouring municipality of Tianjin issued a similar notice.
Aside from the two sessions, local governments in China have regularly banned drones and other low-altitude objects during important events such as the Communist Party’s congress, Shanghai expo and the Winter Olympics.
Last year, the bans in Beijing and Tianjin were lifted on March 14, a day after the closing of the two sessions on March 13.
Low-altitude aircraft on the restricted list include hot air balloons, gliders, blimps, model aircraft and drones.
For years, the annual political event stretched over two weeks, though there is no fixed duration.