TAIPEI (TVBS News) — All eyes were on the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Sunday, as this meeting will set the tone and the direction of mainland China's development for the next 5 years.
During his nearly 2-hour-long speech broadcasted live, Xi Jinping restated that Beijing will "never promise to renounce the use of force" and that a "complete reunification of our country must and will be realized."
Xi, general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, also made clear that China will maintain the zero-COVID policy and current pandemic regulations. "We will adhere to the zero-COVID policy and continue the fight against COVID-19 together with the people as one," said Xi.
However, the zero-COVID policy has not only severely affected mainland China's economy, it has had an impact worldwide. The International Monetary Fund recently lowered China's 2022 growth forecast to 3.2 percent, a great drop from last year's forecast of 8.1%.
And according to the Wall Street Journal, the zero-COVID policy is a major reason foreign investors are taking a step back in planning future investments in mainland China.
From foreign strategy, and epidemic control to economic policies, Xi Jinping showcased his firm stance, and in a break in decades-long tradition, it is speculated that delegates are likely to hand Xi a third term as the party chief.
