Weekly Report 5|1 12.31.22-1.6.23
- Admin
- Jan 9, 2023
- 20 min read
Highlights
Xi Jinping delivered his New Year’s address for 2023, in which he alluded to challenges from COVID-19 and discussed other developments in 2022. (See Senior Leaders section)
Politburo member, State Councilor, and outgoing Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) published a signed article in Qiushi reflecting on the year in international affairs. (See Senior Leaders section)
People’s Daily published a Zhong Sheng (钟声) article condemning “Western media” for supposedly biased coverage of China’s changing COVID policies. (See Propaganda Work section)
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping Delivers 2023 New Year’s Address
12.31 Xi Jinping delivered his New Year’s address for 2023. Xi began by extolling the achievements of the 20th Party Congress, noting that a “grand blueprint” (宏伟蓝图) has been drawn for the “comprehensive construction of a modernized socialist country” and using “Chinese-style modernization to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Xi stated that “our country has continued to maintain its position as the world’s second-largest economy” and that grain production has remained continuously robust despite a global food crisis. Xi stated that achievements have been consolidated in “poverty alleviation” and stressed “comprehensively promoting rural revitalization (乡村振兴).” Xi stressed that since the start of the pandemic, “we have consistently upheld the people above all else, life above all else, and adhered to scientifically precise prevention and control.” Xi stated that “pandemic prevention and control has entered a new stage.” He stated that “everyone is persevering and making tireless efforts” before asserting that “dawn is just ahead” and “unity is victory.” Xi proceeded to note that in 2022 “Comrade Jiang Zemin left us” and asserted the need to “carry on his legacy by unceasingly advancing the task of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era.” Xi stated that “today’s China is a China in which dreams are continuously realized,” noting successes during the year such as the Beijing Winter Olympics, the successful launch of the Shenzhou 13, 14, and 15, the full establishment of China’s space station, the 95th anniversary of the PLA, the launch of China’s third aircraft carrier, the “Fujian,” and the official delivery of the C919 large aircraft. Xi proceeded to discuss China’s robust economic vitality, asserting that free trade pilot zones and the Hainan free trade port have been “booming,” that there has been innovation in coastal areas, that there has been “accelerated development” in China’s central and western regions, and that the “revitalization” of the northeast is “ready to go.” Xi asserted that the “long-term, positive fundamentals” of China’s economy have “remained unchanged.” Xi then emphasized “seeking progress while maintaining stability” (稳中求进). Xi stated that he was “very pleased” to have seen that Hong Kong was being governed well during a visit he made there during the past year and emphasized the importance of “not wavering from implementing ‘One Country, Two Systems’ (一国两制) well.” Xi proceeded to state that China would contribute “Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions” to “human peace and development.” Xi stressed that “in tomorrow's China, power is derived from unity” and that in a big country such as China it is “very normal” that “different people have different demands” and that there are “different views on the same issue.” Xi emphasized the importance of “using communication and consultation to build consensus.” Lastly, Xi stressed that the “two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family” and expressed his “sincere hope that compatriots on both sides of the strait can meet us half-way (相向而行) and join hands moving forward to jointly forge the long-term well-being (绵长福祉) of the Chinese nation.”
Xi Jinping: Unite in Struggle to Achieve the Goals and Tasks Set at the 20th Party Congress
Qiushi 1.1 Qiushi published the text of a speech Xi Jinping delivered to the first plenum of the 20th Central Committee on 23 October, 2022. Xi stressed the burden of the responsibility imparted to the newly-elected Central Committee and called on them to unite in struggle to achieve the goals of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and national rejuvenation. Xi then expressed his appreciation of the responsibility given to him through his reelection as General Secretary and his resolve to work for the Party, in unity with the new central leadership collective, and in reliance on the entire Party and all the Chinese people. Next, he reflected on changes over the past five years since the previous Party Congress, noting that the Central Committee had successfully accounted for “changes unseen in a century”; strengthened the central leadership collective and the Party’s leadership in general; accomplished a “moderately prosperous society” and the campaign against poverty; coordinated policies for the pandemic and socioeconomic development; effectively responded to international trends and major risks; and other such accomplishments. He praised the efforts of the 19th Central Committee and the contributions of members who have now left “central leadership posts.” Xi then emphasized the importance of the recently concluded Party Congress for unity, ideology, and strategy. He listed key aspects of the Party’s work in carrying out the goals set by the 20th Party Congress: First, “deeply recognize the situation our country’s development faces; consistently maintain clarity on strategy.” While recent accomplishments have helped make progress on long-term goals, the Party must also be mindful of global and domestic challenges and risks. Second, “continue to advance the Party’s theoretical innovation, unceasingly raise the level of Marxist theory,” namely by modernizing and Sinicizing Marxism in line with both Chinese traditions and the reality of modern China. Third, “deeply grasp the Chinese characteristics and basic requirements for Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化), firmly grasp the initiative for our country’s development.” Fourth, “practically implement all deployments for comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, work to realize high-quality development.” This involves implementing the 5-Year Plan and more long-term economic goals, like the implementation of the “new development concept.” Fifth, “comprehensively implement people-centered development thinking, practically advance common prosperity (共同富裕).” Sixth, “thoroughly advance the new great process of party construction in the new era, push for new accomplishments in comprehensive and strict party governance.” Xi then highlighted four further requirements for the Central Committee. First, remember the “big picture and fundamental interests of the country” (国之大者). Central Committee members must improve their “political judgment (判断力), political perception (领悟力), and political administration (执行力) abilities”; maintain discipline and unanimity with the party center; take a long-term and holistic approach; guard against “individualism, decentralism, liberalism, and departmentalism”; and ensure effective implementation of central policies, not the “empty shouting of slogans.” Second, “comprehensively increase skills” in light of the new and higher requirements for leading cadres prompted by the goals of the “new era” and “new journey.” This includes ideological transformation, correct judgment of the relationship between economic issues and other issues, and a focus on serving the masses. Third, “strengthen the spirit of struggle,” including against internal problems concerning reform and development, ideological concerns, and an honest Party work style. Fourth, “remain upright and honest (清正廉洁),” particularly as leading cadres who must serve as a model to others on issues like the correct view and use of one’s own authority.
Wang Yi: Devote Oneself to National Rejuvenation and Keep the Destiny of Humankind in Mind While Bravely Advancing on a New Journey in Major Country Diplomacy With Chinese Characteristics
1.1 Politburo member and State Councilor Wang Yi (王毅) published a signed article in Qiushi. Wang wrote that this year the “international situation has become increasingly profound and complex.” He stated that “changes of the century” (百年变局) have deepened and that instability and the transformative nature of such changes has become “more apparent.” Wang noted challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine crisis, energy and food security, among others. He further asserted that hegemonic bullying has become increasingly harmful and that the risk of camp confrontation, fragmentation, and disorder is increasing. Despite this, Wang noted that the Party and country have made “great strides forward” during the year under the “strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core.” There has been successful coordination of the “domestic and international situations” in addition to coordination between “pandemic prevention and control and socioeconomic development.” He extolled the achievements of the 20th Party Congress. He proceeded to highlight various successes such as Xi Jinping’s “head-of-state diplomacy” (元首外交), the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the proposal of the “Global Security Initiative” (GSI, 全球安全倡议), and Xi presiding over a high-level dialogue on global development during a BRICS leadership meeting for the first time. He emphasized that Xi Jinping has also attended more than five multilateral summits and met more than 40 world leaders since September. Wang proceeded to emphasize that risks and “protectionism” (保护主义) in the world economy are becoming increasingly prevalent, but that “China’s door to the outside is becoming increasingly open and large.” He asserted that Xi Jinping has been the “strongest voice promoting economic globalization” and that he has proposed new policies that will “expand high-level openness.” He also emphasized that “high-quality construction via the Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路)” continues to expand in a fast and steady manner, noting that there are 150 countries and 32 international organizations that comprise the “big Belt and Road family.”
Wang proceeded to laud the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era and stated that “China-Russia relations are built on non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties.” He emphasized that “regardless of how the international situation (国际风云) changes, both China and Russia will maintain their strategic orientation (战略定力).” Regarding relations with the US, Wang stated that bilateral relations should not be characterized by a “you lose, I win” (你输我赢) or “you rise and I fall” (你兴我衰) mentality. Wang stated that “both countries should accurately view each side’s domestic and external policies and strategic intentions.” He emphasized that “General Secretary Xi Jinping has a drawn a red line” and “illuminated the bottom line” (亮明底线) in regards to US-China relations and that both countries should “push US-China relations back to a healthy and stable development track.” On relations with Europe, Wang stated that there has been “steady progress.” Wang proceeded to discuss that China “firmly opposes Cold War thinking (冷战思维) and bloc confrontation (分裂对抗)” and criticized the United States and a small number of countries for pursuing an “Indo-Pacific strategy” (印太战略) and engaging in “closed and exclusive small cliques (小圈子).” Wang stated that there has been positive progress in the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, that there has been full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement has been “fully implemented.” Wang highlighted new achievements in relations with Indonesia, Thailand and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries, and referenced the importance of progress in bilateral relations with India, Japan, and South Korea. Furthermore, Wang emphasized expanded cooperation with African countries, progress in relations with Saudi Arabia, and a deepening comprehensive strategic partnership with Pacific Island countries.
Wang then stressed that the “Taiwan issue is the core of China’s core interests and the foundation of the political foundation of US-China relations” and emphasized that the issue was an “uncrossable red line for US-China relations.” He stressed international support for the “one-China principle” and China’s stance on the issue.He emphasized that over the past ten years China has increased the number of countries it has diplomatic relations with from 172 to 181, and that it has established relations with 9 of the “Taiwan authorities’ supposed diplomatic allies (邦交国).” Furthermore, Wang stated that China defeated a Xinjiang-related draft resolution at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council and exhibited its “achievements in the development of human rights in China’s Xinjiang.” He proceeded to state that “when the situation in Ukraine abruptly changed” the Party Central Committee and State Council were “highly worried about the safety of Ukrainian compatriots.” He also said that Hong Kong has made a “historical transformation from chaos to governance.” Wang proceeded to lay out several objectives for 2023. These include deepening cooperation between China and Russia, implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of China and the United States, promoting the long-term development of EU-China relations, and “firmly struggling against forces that attempt to delay or even block the process of national rejuvenation.” Lastly, he stressed that China would “actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system” and emphasized “focus on elevating international communication and discourse power.”
National Propaganda Department Meeting Convenes in Beijing, Cai Qi Presides and Gives Speech
1.4 Politburo Standing Committee member and secretary of the Central Secretariat Cai Qi (蔡奇) delivered a speech at the national Propaganda Work Department conference held in Beijing. He emphasized the importance of upholding “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics as guidance, deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the ‘two establishes’ (两个确立), strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), consolidating the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), and achieving the ‘two defends’ (两个维护).” He emphasized latching onto the “main line of studying, propagating and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress” and “doing a solid job of propaganda and ideological work” for the “comprehensive construction of a modernized socialist country.” He pointed out that “the historical achievements of propaganda and ideological work made in the new era and in the past ten years” were only possible because of the Xi Jinping “steering a steady course at the helm” (掌舵领航) and the “scientific guidance (科学指引) of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.” He stressed that “Xi Jinping’s important thought on propaganda and ideological work” has answered a series of “directional, fundamental, and strategic questions” about how to “provide basic guidance on how to do a good job in propaganda and ideological work.” He further emphasized the importance of “deeply studying, comprehending, and practically implementing” this guidance. Next, Cai stated that performing propaganda and ideological work well requires “accurately grasping the new situation and tasks” the country will confront ahead. He emphasized implementing the “policy deployments” (决策部署) made at the 20th Party Congress, “deeply studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress,” and driving innovative theory more deeply into “people’s hearts.” He emphasized that it is necessary to “sing” the “main melodies” (主旋律) of “strong confidence” and “China’ bright economy” and strengthen “public opinion guidance” (舆论引导) in the “new stage of pandemic prevention and control.” He proceeded to stress strengthening the Party’s leadership over propaganda and ideological work and improving the transformation of the Party’s “work style.” Politburo member and Head of the Central Propaganda Department Li Shulei (长李书) also spoke at the conference and emphasized “cultivating core socialist values” in addition to using “digitization to empower propaganda and ideological work.” Furthermore, Li stressed “strengthening the construction of international discourse power” and the importance of maintaining ideological security. State Council Vice Premier Sun Chunlan (孙春兰) was also present at the conference.
Propaganda Work
People’s Daily Editorial: Anchor Ourselves in Struggle Goals, Create New Achievements
1.1 A New Year’s Editorial (社论) in People’s Daily reflected not only on 2022, but on the ten years of the “new era” under Xi. It noted progress and challenges in the past year, stating that the Central Committee with Xi at its core had successfully managed issues including control of the pandemic, economic development, national security, technological innovation, reform, and social stability. It stated that throughout the past ten years, China had similarly overcome a series of seemingly insurmountable challenges and achieved great accomplishments. It explained that the past ten years had created the “systemic guarantee,” “material foundation,” and “spiritual strength” to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, due to persistence to and improvements to the Chinese socialist system; accomplishments in development; and increased social unity, high morale, and cultural vitality. It stressed that these achievements of the Party and all the Chinese people were under the leadership of the Central Committee with Xi at its core and the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Editorial stated that the “two establishes” (两个确立) have proven to be a “decisive factor” in the Party-state’s achievements and transformation. It stated that China’s rejuvenation has now entered an “irreversible” stage. Additionally, it stated that China stands “on the right side of history” and “on the side of human civilization’s progress,” with the intention to foster shared values with all nations and construct a “community of shared future for all humankind” (人类命运共同体). The editorial then noted major changes, stating that China’s development is now in a period of simultaneous strategic opportunity and risks and challenges, with an increase in uncertain and unpredictable factors. It called for clear-mindedness and more arduous efforts in the new year as China draws even closer to national rejuvenation. It stressed that implementation of the spirit of the 20th Party Congress begins this year and must be staunchly and completely implemented. It stated that to “anchor ourselves in struggle goals and create new achievements,” it is necessary to 1. “maintain strategic orientation, with staunch conviction and confidence,” 2. “strengthen historic initiative and develop the spirit of struggle,” and 3. “dare to assume responsibility through our action, and pledge to unite in struggle.” In conclusion, the Editorial expressed confidence in the boundless future prospects of the Chinese people and called for unity around “the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core,” implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, “deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the ‘two establishes’ (两个确立), strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), consolidating the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), achieving the ‘two defends’ (两个维护,” and uniting in struggle for socialist modernization and national rejuvenation.
Zhong Yin Commentaries on COVID Policy
People’s Daily continued to publish its series of Zhong Yin (仲音) commentaries on newly “optimized” COVID policy. All but one of the commentaries quoted Xi Jinping’s remarks in his New Year’s address (see Senior Leaders section) that “pandemic prevention and control has entered a new stage,” and that in a difficult time, “everyone is persevering and making tireless efforts.” 2 January’s commentary, “Take Proactive Action, Provide a Solid Support for Pandemic Prevention and Control,” noted recent efforts by local governments and ministries to provide and prepare health services and resources, particularly medication. The commentary claimed that China had rapidly and effectively responded to each phase of the pandemic, emphasizing that each “optimizing adjustment” was based on prior experience, made with full preparation, and focused on protecting the people (especially children and elders) and normalcy in their daily lives. It stated that in the past three years, China won a “precious window of time” in which the severity of variants decreased, research and development of medication progressed, healthcare and treatment abilities improved, and the population became widely vaccinated. The commentary called for policies in the “new stage” of the pandemic to closely follow the traits of the virus, study trends, hasten vaccination and medication supply, strengthen prevention and treatment systems, and improve rapid responses. It stressed that the “scientific optimization” of measures was “necessary, correct, and responsible,” that it had been prepared for, and that it was not “passively letting go.” It said that reclassifying COVID-19 as a Class B infectious disease and managing it accordingly was not the repeal of pandemic prevention and control measures. It stressed that it is still necessary to strengthen services and protections such as providing resources to fever clinics, providing health information online, and improving medication production and supply, particularly for key communities and rural areas.
3 January’s commentary, “With Scientific Judgement, Adopt Targeted Prevention and Control Measures,” stated that “targeted” measures against the pandemic had changed alongside variants to effectively control outbreaks and protect public health. It stated that this has created a “solid foundation” for treatment and scientifically accurate measures, and stressed that all “optimizing adjustments” were based on thorough scientific evaluation with the goals of protecting the people’s lives while minimizing social and economic impact. It claimed that Omicron is weaker and less virulent than the original strain of COVID-19 and “other variants of concern,” and that many domestic and foreign experts believe that COVID-19 will become less virulent and become a common respiratory disease. It reiterated that policy changes were therefore “necessary, correct, and responsible,” and that the reclassification of the disease was not “passively letting go.” It emphasized “dynamic analysis” (动态分析) of the pandemic and relevant factors of the virus and the population as the basis for “targeted measures.”
4 January’s commentary, “Managing Two Things at Once, Effectively Guaranteeing General Social and Economic Stability” described the current “gradual, orderly return to normalcy” in many areas of China. It stated that China had had to weigh both the people’s health and socioeconomic development in its pandemic response, concluding that the people’s lives were protected to “the greatest extent” while China still accomplished economic goals like the anti-poverty campaign. It stressed that “just as one foreign business leader said,” continued policy adjustments show China’s resolve to coordinate control of the pandemic with socioeconomic development. It claimed that China has minimized the pandemic’s impact on development, stabilized the overall market, introduced policies to aid affected businesses, ensured the flow of logistics and supply chains, stabilized employment, prices, and living standards, and so on. It cited various economic accomplishments from the past three years in spite of many challenges, such as maintaining “about a 4.5% average annual growth rate” from 2020-2022. It stated that in the “new phase” of the pandemic, making a “smooth transition” (平稳转段) was not just a public health issue, but an economic one. It called on localities and ministries to implement the Central Committee’s policies, continue to optimize measures based on practical demands, and ensure the stable operation of industry. It further called for continued implementation of stabilizing measures, accelerated stimulus measures, ensuring the supply of daily necessities, protection of social stability, and accelerated economic recovery.
5 January’s commentary, “A Coordinated Advance, [Making] the Entire Country One Chessboard Under National Unity,” praised all of society’s efforts to resolve issues facing the masses and improve pandemic prevention and control. It stated that prevention, control and treatment; protecting the masses’ daily lives; and ensuring necessary social and economic operations were “dialectically united” and all necessary. The commentary also claimed that China had minimized the pandemic’s impact on socioeconomic development and continued to provide basic services like home utilities throughout the past three years. It noted that China had enacted major policies to benefit the people’s livelihoods, and that effective mobilization and logistics had demonstrated the Chinese socialist system’s strengths. It stated that the Central Committee with Xi at its core has adopted a big-picture perspective, strengthened its centralized, unified leadership, promptly optimized measures, and established an effective national system of command and responsibility. It then claimed that all China’s people had helped to maintain stability and gained the confidence to defeat the pandemic. It reiterated that the reclassification of COVID-19 was not “letting go,” and stated that the key now is to improve services and protections while treating the nation as one “chessboard” (一盘棋) under conditions of national unity. The commentary stated that localities and ministries are implementing central policies and optimizing measures, strengthening planning and organization, and ensuring a “smooth transition” and social stability. It stressed that “facing difficulties,” “we are confident that dawn is just ahead” if the nation is united in its response to challenges.
He Yin: Opening Up is the Path We Must Take for World Prosperity and Development
1.4 A He Yin (和音) commentary in People’s Daily commended the formal entry of Indonesia into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), stating that it reflects the “great vitality and attractiveness of RCEP,” which will “inject new momentum into regional economic integration.” Reviewing RCEP implementation progress over the last year, the commentary declared that RCEP has “continuously released benefits through tariff reductions and expanded market access,” as well as promoted the free flow and efficient concentration of production factors. It trumpeted “higher-quality and deeper regional economic integration” from closer trade and investment cooperation as having “injected strong positive energy” into the prosperity and development of the region and the world, and brought “tangible benefits” to enterprises and the public. The commentary highlighted the Asian Development Bank’s decision to raise its economic growth forecast for Southeast Asia in 2022 as “reflecting to a certain extent the pulling effect of RCEP on economic development of countries in the region.” It then declared that as the largest economy among RCEP members, China advocates “true multilateralism” (真正的多边主义), adheres to “open regionalism” (开放的区域主义), and works with relevant parties to implement RCEP in a “comprehensive and high-quality manner, so that the world’s largest free trade area can release more dividends.” The commentary noted that “unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise” around the world today, economic globalization is “facing headwinds,” and global economic recovery is struggling. It stated that the Asia-Pacific economy has entered a “critical stage of post-pandemic recovery” with national economies facing various supply chain difficulties and inflationary pressures, and so it called for RCEP members to “work together to promote the implementation” of RCEP and “send out positive signals of maintaining multilateralism, adhering to open cooperation, promoting free trade, and achieving common prosperity (共同繁荣).” Looking forward, the commentary affirmed that China will continue to firmly pursue the “mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening up”; insist on opening up on a wider scale and deeper level; continue to provide new opportunities for the world with “China’s new development” (中国新发展); continue to work with relevant parties to implement RCEP; promote the construction of an open world economy; and “let opening up bring new bright prospects for global development.”
Zhong Sheng: Complete Exposure of Deep-Rooted Political Prejudices
1.4 People’s Daily published a Zhong Sheng (钟声) article which stated that China has optimized pandemic prevention and control measures according to “changes in the situation” and that these adjustments were “scientific, timely, and necessary.” It stated that “some Western media have disregarded the truth” and “departed from the scientific spirit” to “maliciously smear” China’s decision to adjust pandemic prevention and control policies, thereby exposing the “political prejudices” of Western media. The article lauded successes in pandemic management such as the transformation of nucleic acid testing sites into fever diagnosis and treatment stations, the establishment of 120 “dispatch command systems,” and the organization of increased production of medical equipment by “hundreds of key businesses.” It stated that China has “strengthened the production and coordination of medical resources” and adopted a series of “optimized measures that protect people’s lives, safety, and health to the greatest extent.” It proceeded to state that the pandemic is a “big test” for all countries and that since the pandemic’s inception China has put lives and health above all. It noted that China has formulated nine editions of pandemic prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment programs and successfully avoided the “widespread prevalence” of comparatively stronger “original” and “Delta strains.” It asserted that China “greatly reduced serious illness and deaths” and “won precious time” for research and development in vaccines and pharmaceuticals to occur. It asserted that compared to the rest of the world, China’s “rate of serious infection and death rate is the lowest.” It stated that average life expectancy in China has increased and that the country has risen in the rankings of the Human Development Index (HDI). It proceeded to state that currently, the “pathogenicity and virulence of the Omicron variant is blatantly weakening” while China’s capabilities in medical treatment, detection, and vaccination are continuously increasing. In this context, China has proposed the “20 guidelines” and “new 10 guidelines” and established a plan to shift from managing the pandemic as a Class A infectious disease to a Class B infectious disease. It stated that this is not only “timely and necessary” but is also a strategy that effectively “coordinates pandemic prevention and control with socioeconomic development.” It emphasized that each country in the world will inevitably have to face a “period of adaptation” (适应期) when adjusting prevention and control policies and that China was no exception. It asserted that currently “the development of China’s pandemic situation” is under “control.” It stated the importance of protecting “key groups” such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children and proceeded to assert that “objective” international observers believe that China has accumulated sufficient experience, made the necessary preparations, and has the capability to ensure smooth and orderly adjustments in prevention and control measures.
The article proceeded to state that “facts have proven that China’s optimization of prevention and control measures” do not constitute “lying flat” (躺平). Rather, the ones that are truly “lying flat” are Western countries with a rich array of medical resources. It stated that these countries, which canceled prevention and control policies such as mask mandates “too early,” have also been unable to practically resolve various “social problems” related to the pandemic. It stated that this would ultimately lead to their peoples “paying serious costs with their lives and health.” It singled out the United States, stating that the average life expectancy of Americans has decreased by a year and that over a million Americans have died as a result of the pandemic. It proceeded to assert that in the past three years “Western media, because of a mental imbalance (心理失衡),” have turned a blind eye to the positive results of China’s prevention and control policies and engaged in “malicious attacks” against any prevention and control measure China has proposed. It cited the “laboratory leak rumor” as an example. Lastly, it asserted that politicization of the pandemic and “double standards” have resulted in “serious damage” to the international community’s pandemic control efforts.
Organization Work
12.31 Qin Gang (秦刚) was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
12.31 Wang Xiaoping (王晓萍) was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Social Security. She was removed from her position on the National Supervisory Commission Standing Committee.
12.31 Zhang Youxia (张又侠) was appointed Director of the PLA Election Committee.
12.31 He Weidong (何卫东) was appointed Deputy Director of the PLA Election Committee. Li Shangfu (李尚福), Liu Zhenli (刘振立), Miao Hua (苗华), Zhang Shengmin (张升民), Zhong Shaojun (钟绍军), Wang Renhua (王仁华), He Hongjun (何宏军), Wang Chengnan (王成男), and Sun Bin ( 孙斌) were appointed members of the PLA Election Committee.
1.5 Fu Cong (傅聪) was appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union.
1.5 Zhu Qingqiao (祝青桥) was appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Brazil.
1.5 Hou Yanqi (侯艳琪) was appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
1.5 Yao Wen (姚文) was appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Bangladesh.
1.5 Guo Zhijun (郭志军) was appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Comoros.
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