China’s Xi Jinping was rattling his sabre ‘at past, not the present’

A powerful speech delivered on Tuesday by President Xi Jinping effectively launched his New Era of China’s rejuvenation.

Xi Jinping delivers his closing address to the National People's Congress. Picture: Getty Images

A powerful speech delivered on Tuesday by China’s President Xi Jinping effectively launched his “New Era” of the country’s rejuvenation as it “strides forward at the forefront of the world”.

The annual session of the National People’s Congress, at whose closing session Mr Xi spoke at length, saw the constitution amended to remove the limit of two five-year terms for the president and vice-president. This amendment also wrote in to the constitution Xi Thought on Socialism With Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Most international reports — including The Australian, CNN, The Guardian, The Times of India, Japan Times and most wire services — featured the remark by Mr Xi lauding “the spirit of fighting the bloody battle against our enemies to the bitter end”.

However, the Chinese embassy in Canberra stressed yesterday Mr Xi had been referring to China’s history, not the present.

They said Mr Xi also said: “China’s development will not pose a threat to any country … China will never seek hegemony, and never engage in expansion”.

“The Chinese people’s sincere wish and practical action to contribute to the peace and development of humanity should not be misinterpreted … Justice will prevail!,” Mr Xi said.

China had “a strong determination to take our place in the world”, for which it had been striving “for over 170 years”. This harked back to the Opium Wars, which began what the ruling communist party views as the start of the country’s “century of humiliation” until the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.

In words later echoed precisely at his annual press conference by Premier Li Keqiang, Mr Xi said: “Only those who are accustomed to threatening others see everyone as a threat.” His strongly patriotic speech underlined China’s determination to oppose any steps towards de facto independence by Taiwan.