Chinese ambassador pays farewell call on CoAS Sharma
China ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi paid a farewell call on Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhu Ram Sharma at the Army Headquarters on Wednesday. On the occasion, CoAS Sharma congratulated the Chinese ambassador for successfully completing her tenure in Nepal and extended best wishes for her happy future, the Nepali Army Directorate of Public Relations and Information stated. Ambassador Hou is returning home after the completion of her term in Nepal.
Graft convictions extend Suu Kyi’s prison term to 26 years
A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on two more corruption charges Wednesday, with two three-year sentences to be served concurrently, adding to previous convictions that now leave her with a 26-year total prison term, a legal official said, Associated Press reported. Suu Kyi, 77, was detained on Feb. 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government. She has denied the allegations against her in this case, in which she was accused of receiving $550,000 as a bribe from Maung Weik, a tycoon convicted of drug trafficking. Corruption cases comprise the biggest share of the many charges the military has brought against the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate. Suu Kyi has been charged with 12 counts in total under the Anti-Corruption Act, with each count punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine. Suu Kyi had already been sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country’s official secrets act, sedition, election fraud and five corruption charges. Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the military’s seizure of power while keeping her from taking part in the next election, which the military has promised in 2023. In recent months, her trials have been held in a purpose-built courtroom in the main prison on the outskirts of the capital, Naypyitaw. She has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since she was arrested and her lawyers, who had been a source of information on the proceedings, have not been allowed to speak publicly on her behalf or about her trial since a gag order was placed on them last year. In the case decided Wednesday, Suu Kyi was accused of receiving a total of $550,000 in 2019 and 2020 from Maung Weik, with separate payments being treated as two offenses, according to Associated Press. Maung Weik, a construction magnate, had a close relationship with the army generals in power during a previous military-run government, and has headed two main companies during three decades in business: Maung Weik & Family Co. Ltd., specializing in the trading of metals and agricultural products, and Sae Paing Development Ltd., a real estate and construction company. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2008 for trafficking drugs but was released in 2014 under a semi-democratic transitional government led by former General Thein Sein. After his release from prison, Maung Weik returned to doing business with former generals and according to a 2017 report in The Irrawaddy, an online news magazine, became chairman of Mandalay Business Capital City Development, which was involved in urban development work. Under Suu Kyi’s government, Maung Weik won a major development project that included the construction of houses, restaurants, hospitals, economic zones, a port and hotel zones in Myanmar’s central Mandalay region. He was reportedly interrogated by the army two weeks after its takeover last year, and shortly after that, in March 2021, military-controlled state television broadcast a video in which he claimed to have given cash payoffs to government ministers to help his businesses. He said in his video that the money included $100,000 provided to Suu Kyi in 2018 for a charitable foundation named after her mother, and another $450,000 in payments in 2019 and 2020 for purposes he did not specify. A state-controlled newspaper, the Global New Light of Myanmar, reported in February that Suu Kyi in her position as state counselor — the country’s de facto chief executive — received $550,000 in four installments in 2019-2020 “to facilitate the business activities of a private entrepreneur.” Suu Kyi’s close colleague, Zaw Myint Maung, who served as a chief minister in the Mandalay region, was separately accused of receiving more than $180,000 from Maung Weik and was convicted of corruption in June, Associated Press reported. Wednesday’s verdict sentencing Suu Kyi to two three-year sentences to be served concurrently was conveyed by a legal official who insisted on anonymity for fear of being punished by the authorities. He added that her lawyers are expected to file an appeal in the coming days. In separate proceedings, Suu Kyi is still being tried together with the country’s former president, Win Myint, on another five corruption charges in connection with permits granted to a Cabinet minister for the rental and purchase of a helicopter. Suu Kyi has been the face of the opposition to military rule in Myanmar for more than three decades. The previous military government put her under house arrest in 1989, which continued on-and-off for 15 of the next 22 years. Her National League for Democracy party initially came to power after winning the 2015 general election, ushering in a true civilian government for the first time since a 1962 military coup. However, democratic reforms were small and slow in coming, largely because the military retained substantial power and influence under the terms of a constitution it had enacted in 2008, according to Associated Press.
Changes since 2012 impact China and beyond
In the past decade, the People's Republic of China has grown enormously in economic strength and global stature. At the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, put forward the "two centenary goals". The goals mean building a moderately well-off society in all respects by 2020, just before the centenary year of the CPC in 2021, and a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the middle of this century, while the People's Republic's 100th anniversary is 2049, China Daily reported. The Party and the leadership mobilized tens of millions of people to achieve the first goal, the key component of which was the eradication of extreme poverty, which was achieved in 2020. At the start of the targeted poverty alleviation program in 2013, a little less than 100 million people were identified as living below the poverty line. Seven years later, the figure was zero. As Xi said, "thanks to the sustained efforts of the Chinese people from generation to generation, those who once lived in poverty no longer have to worry about food or clothing or access to education, housing and medical insurance". Eradicating extreme poverty in a developing country of over 1.4 billion people, which at the time of the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 was one of the poorest countries in the world－characterised by widespread malnutrition, illiteracy, foreign domination and technological backwardness－is truly an extraordinary achievement. With the realization of the first centenary goal, the second goal has come into sharp focus. Building a great modern socialist country in all respects implies reducing relative poverty, increasing per capita GDP, narrowing gaps between regions and different income groups, and achieving ecologically sustainable, high-quality development. At the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017, a set of objectives for 2035 were adopted as staging posts to achieve the longer-term 2049 goal. These include making China a global leader in science and technology, creating a green economy, reducing the urban-rural income gap, and increasing per capita GDP to the level of a moderately developed country. China has already taken important steps to realize its targets for 2035 and the middle of this century. While investing heavily in education and research, and establishing China as a global leader in several key areas of technology (including telecommunications, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing), the Party leadership has reaffirmed and placed renewed emphasis on the principle of common prosperity. While common prosperity has always been an important goal of Chinese socialism, extraordinarily rapid economic growth over the last four decades has led to some negative side effects, such as high levels of inequality. That's why since 2020, the government has put more emphasis on tackling issues such as the disorderly expansion of unscrupulous private companies including some high-tech enterprises, speculation in the housing sector, widening income inequality, and private education providers. This program is already producing important results and helping improve the lot of ordinary people. China has also stepped up its contribution to the global fight against climate change and to efforts to preserve biodiversity, reduce air pollution and ensure the supply of clean water. Thanks to his love for the environment, President Xi has reiterated the importance of ecological civilization in the past decade and put environmental sustainability at the key position of Chinese policymaking, according to China Daily. Last year, China vowed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Since announcing these goals, the Chinese government has developed systematic programs for achieving them. It has already made extraordinary progress on environmental issues, and is unquestionably the world leader in renewable energy, with the biggest generation capacity of clean energy. As for China's forest cover, it has increased from 12 percent in the early 1980s to 23 percent today. It has established national parks covering 230,000 square kilometres, and is the global leader in production and use of electric cars, trains and buses. China is also home to more than 90 percent of the world's electric buses and 70 percent of high-speed railways. China's integration into the global economy, its friendly relations with other countries and its reputation as a responsible and peace-oriented power have all increased significantly since 2012. Besides, the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2013, has transformed the investment landscape for infrastructure and connectivity, particularly in the developing world. And more than 140 countries that have joined the initiative can now address their infrastructure, telecommunications, transport and energy needs, China Daily reported. Furthermore, addressing the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly last year, Xi proposed the "Global Development Initiative" and called on countries to work closely together in order to revitalize the global economy and "pursue more robust, greener and more balanced global development". This shows that, while certain countries continue to implement Cold War policies focused on consolidating their hegemony, China's foreign policy is aligned with the international community's demand for peace, progress and sustainable development, and for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China's Communist Party Congress: A really simple guide
China's ruling Communist Party is expected to hand a third five-year term to Xi Jinping, arguably the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s, BBC reported.
The decision - which comes after a two-term limit was abolished in 2018 - would further tighten his grip on China.
It is possible that Mr Xi, 69, will remain president for the rest of his life.
The historic move is due at a Communist Party Congress in Beijing beginning on 16 October - one of the most important meetings in the party's history.
Xi Jinping currently holds three top positions
- As General Secretary he is the chief of China's Communist Party.
- As president he is China's head of state.
- As Chairman of China's Central Military Commission he commands the country's armed forces.
He is also referred to as Paramount or Supreme leader.
Mr Xi is likely to retain the first two titles, party General Secretary and Central Military Commission chairman at the party congress - which takes place every five years - and the presidency at the annual National People's Congress in Spring 2023.
Some 2,300 delegates will gather in Tiananmen Square's Great Hall of the People for about a week.
About 200 of them will be selected to join the party's central committee, plus around 170 alternate members.
And the Politburo will appoint the members of the Politburo standing committee.
These are the elite of the elite.
There are currently seven members, including the party's General Secretary Xi Jinping, according to BBC.
Not all of the action takes place at the congress itself.
The central committee is expected to meet the day after the main congress ends.
Why is it important?
Mr Xi will lead the world's second-largest economy and one of its biggest military forces.
Some analysts say he is likely to push China towards a more authoritarian political stance in a third five-year term.
"China under Xi is moving in a totalitarian direction," says Professor Steve Tsang of London University's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Professor Tsang says the Congress could see changes to the party's constitution, with "Xi Jinping thought" being further enshrined as the party's guiding philosophy.
"Xi Jinping thought" is Mr Xi's brand of Chinese socialism, an assertively nationalist philosophy which is highly sceptical of private business.
Under his leadership the Chinese authorities have cracked down on powerful companies in several sectors of the economy.
"If that happens, they'll effectively make him a dictator," Prof Tsang says.
China's top leadership team, to be unveiled at the congress, will set a huge range of policies.
Any hint of China's future direction will be followed closely around the world, particularly on the key challenges: economic, political, diplomatic and environmental.
China's economic challenge
China's economy has boomed in recent decades.
But it now faces serious economic disruption from Covid lockdowns, rising prices and a major property crisis.
Growing fears of a global recession triggered by the war in Ukraine have also damaged confidence.
Economic growth under Mr Xi's leadership is lower than under previous presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, BBC reported.
Some analysts say the legitimacy of the communist government rests heavily on its ability to deliver higher incomes and good jobs for Chinese workers.
So bad economic performance in the next five years could spell serious political trouble for Mr Xi.
The congress will set the stage for a shake up of key economic roles including central bank governor and premier.
Zero Covid
China's zero Covid approach to the pandemic is one of Xi's landmark policies.
While much of the world has been returning to normal, China's authorities have intensified their efforts to contain outbreaks, with strict lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines.
Reports say that more than 70 cities including Shenzen and Chengdu have been under full or partial lockdown measures in recent weeks, with tens of millions of residents affected, huge numbers of businesses disrupted and reports of public discontent.
Mr Xi has vowed to "resolutely fight against any words and acts that distort, doubt or deny" his Covid policy.
A major outbreak in the run-up to the Congress, or during the meeting itself, risks damaging Mr Xi's image of competence.
Some observers say the party may use the Congress to declare victory over the pandemic and end the zero Covid policy.
Alternatively, the party may argue that China - unlike other countries - values people's lives more than the economy, in which case the policy will continue.
Taiwan and the West
Mr Xi has also favoured a hardline approach to relations with the West, particularly over Taiwan.
A visit to Taiwan by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in August prompted China to launch military exercises, including live missile firing, around the island.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing's control. Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the mainland, BBC reported.
Mr Xi has said "reunification" with Taiwan "must be fulfilled" by 2049, the centenary of the People's Republic - and has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve this.
Security experts say that a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would shatter US power in the western Pacific Ocean and beyond.
Taiwan is of huge strategic importance to the West, part of the so-called "first island chain", which includes a list of territories which have been allied to the US for decades.
