The 20th Party Congress & China’s Foreign Policy

From October 16 to 22, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held its 20th Party Congress. The Party Congress is held every five years to reshuffle the Party’s top leadership, followed by a political report delivered by the Party General Secretary. This report reviews the achievements of the past five years and sets priorities for the next five years. During the 20th Party Congress, Xi Jinping secured a third term as General Secretary of the CCP and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. In spring 2023, the National People’s Congress will elect the next president of the People’s Republic of China and minister of foreign affairs. China watchers around the world have been closely tracking the personnel changes and analyzing the Party Congress political report.

To analyze some of the crucial elements of that report and discuss the impact of the Party Congress on China’s foreign policy strategy, host Bonnie Glaser speaks with Dr. Bates Gill. Gill is the executive director of the newly established Center for China Analysis at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Gill has authored or edited nine books on China and Asia, including Daring to Struggle: China’s Global Ambitions under Xi Jinping, which was published in June 2022.

Episode Highlights:

[1:41] Xi Jinping’s Political Report: Main Themes

[3:27] The International Environment and Implications

[7:59] Taiwan

[13:21] China’s Reform of the Global Governance System

[16:23] The PLA and China’s Military Modernization

[20:51] US-China Competition: Xi Jinping’s Approach Going Forward

[23:48] Personnel Arrangements