Xi Jinping's China vision at CCP's 20th National Congress: Zero-Covid policy to stay, right to use force in Taiwan and more

The Chinese Communist Party kicked off its 20th Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16. It is a week-long gathering of the country's political elite. The party is set to elect the next leader of China and Xi Jinping is largely expected to be handed over a third five-year term. 

• Xi Jinping currently holds the posts of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Chairman of the Central Military Commission and the President of China to the rest of the world.   

What is the importance of the gathering? According to BBC, such political gatherings don't often get the attention of Chinese people, as they are mostly orchestrated events that are almost always the same as the last one. 

• But this time, Chinese people are tuned in to the speeches, to see if there is any foreseeable change to the Covid norms in Mainland China. The short answer is 'no'. 
• China's President Xi Jinping said his controversial zero-Covid policy will continue not acknowledging its negative impact on the Chinese people and the economy. 
• The issue is so important for Chinese people that some even took to the streets in protest (very rare in China) of Xi Jinping's Covid policies. 
• For the world, the gathering is important to discern China's plans in its external affairs, in South China Sea, etc. 
• Xi Jinping did not waste any time making it known that the CCP is very much committed to its expansionist plans. 
• Xi Jinping said the party remains committed to "unifying" Taiwan with Mainland China and if needed, the party will use force to achieve its goal. 
• As for addressing China's economic state, Xi Jinping did not mention clear-cut solutions to abating rising unemployment or the housing crisis. 

Analysis: Western media is calling Xi Jinping the next Mao Zedong of China, the strongest leader since 1976. 

• Mao Zedong ruled China with an iron fist for 27 years until his death in 1976. He was regarded as a revolutionary leader for taking China set in the feudal system to a modern socialist society.
• However, Mao is also infamous for causing the deaths of millions of his own people through his aggressive agricultural and economic policy. Some of his policies also pushed people into poverty and famine. 
• The Western media has also recognised that the Congress gathering showed that there is not one voice of opposition in China against Xi Jinping.