20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party to conclude
The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concludes today.
The Congress, which began Sunday, brings together top CCP officials every five years to pick China’s ruling group, the Politburo Standing Committee and lay out Party policy for the next five years. This includes the section of the head of the CCP, the General Secretary, and his de facto successor.
This year’s Congress is historic as President Xi Jinping is widely expected to be granted an unprecedented third term in office. Normally General Secretaries are required to step down after two terms, but President Xi has purged all of his rivals and amended the constitution to allow himself to remain in office indefinitely. Xi has used his unquestionable authority to crack down on any dissent to his rule, even at the cost of economic downturn.
Expect Xi Jinping to be confirmed for a third term without naming a successor. Therefore, short to medium-term, China will continue its social, economic, military, and foreign policies to cement the Party’s dominance in Chinese society and pursue positioning China as the world’s preeminent superpower. Long-term, Xi Jinping is unlikely to step down, but instead continue to purge any challenge to his rule.
