From March 5 to 12, China held its annual Two Sessions — the National People’s Congress meeting and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. These gatherings provide yearly insights into China’s economic and political priorities and plans. Additionally, this year, the government presented its 15th Five-Year Plan, laying out key policies to 2030. We asked four experts to offer their key takeaways from the National People’s Congress.Read more below. Ling ChenWilliam L. Clayton Associate Professor at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins UniversityA key takeaway from China’s most recent National People’s Congress is that Beijing is trying to respond to its economic slowdown by pursuing two goals that sit uneasily together. On the one hand, the government emphasized the need to boost domestic demand and household consumption, acknowledging that weak consumer confidence and spending have become major drags on growth. On the other hand, technology, advanced manufacturing, and state-led investment received greater emphasis, particularly in areas tied to strategic competition and long-term industrial upgrading. The tension lies partly in the allocation of state resources and local governments’ attention: while these priorities are intended to support future growth, they may limit the capacity devoted to household support needed to revive near-term consumption. Taken together, this suggests that, although Beijing is increasingly stressing consumption, its policy approach still adheres more closely to the familiar and politically comfortable path of investment- and supply-side solutions.Jaehwan LimProfessor in International Politics at Aoyama Gakuin UniversityChina’s annual National People’s Congress unfolded under the shadow of continued turmoil in the military’s leadership. Recent purges of senior military figures suggest that Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping remains focused on tightening political control over the armed forces and reasserting party discipline at the top. But the pattern also points to persistent instability: The widening removal of high-ranking officers implies
Members-Only Content
This article is reserved for War on the Rocks members. Join our community to unlock exclusive insights and analysis.
