he Communist Party has for the first time identified separatist activities in Hong Kong and Taiwan as focuses of its national security strategy, saying the forces are eroding the foundations of the party’s rule.
The movements were highlighted in an article in the latest edition of Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the party’s Central Committee.
[The central government will continue to unswervingly implement the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and curb ‘Hong Kong independence’ according to the law … It will promote cross-strait relations but also resolutely carry out the struggle against ‘Taiwan independence’,” the article said.
It also highlighted the need to maintain international relationships, curb financial crises, cultivate soft power, ensure food safety and protect the environment – all with President Xi Jinping as the core leader.
“Political security is fundamental to the strategy, which underlies the security of the regime and its system. The most fundamental aspect is to maintain the leadership of the party, the socialist system and the authority of the Xi-centred leadership,” the article said.
The statement comes less than a month after Premier Li Keqiang opened the National People’s Congress in Beijing with an unprecedented warning that the Hong Kong independence movement would “lead nowhere”.
Chen Daoyin, an associate professor of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said the security strategy was not a static document. “The security strategy covers many areas and it can vary at times depending on the key threats to the party’s rule,” Chen said.
He said the party’s understanding of national security was completely different from the foreign policy focus in the West.
For example, on the mainland, the National Security Council, chaired by Xi, is a party body serving the regime across a range of issues, from politics to economics and social stability.
The mainland is facing threats on a number of fronts and policymakers have made stability and the prevention of financial risks high priorities this year.
The economy grew at its slowest rate in 26 years last year, forcing the government into action to stabilise growth and create new jobs. The authorities were also rattled by turbulence in the financial markets, prompting the downfall of many top regulatory officials.
Economics professor Hu Xingdou, from the Beijing Institute of Technology, said the security outlook reflected rising social conflict but the authorities sometimes were too suspicious and exaggerated their enemies.
“The ‘Hong Kong independence’ movement is driven by a few extremists. It’s simply impossible to achieve, and there is no need to raise such a topic to national strategic level,” Hu said.
He said the authorities should do more to make allies rather than define opponents.
“The leadership should be broad minded to accept different opinions, even sharp criticism,” Hu said.
The article also highlighted the need for international cooperation to overhaul global governance and “build a community of shared destiny”.
