Echoing Mr Xi’s remarks, vice-minister Xu said that moving forward, China will implement a broader national security strategy, although he was short on policy specifics
“The new era public security system will unswervingly implement a holistic national security concept, push forward the modernisation of the national security system and capacity, in line with new plans and requirements, (and) guard against and dissolve all risks and potential problems that would endanger security,” he said.
BEYOND ITS CONTROL
While Mr Xu said the new strategy would involve moves like regular campaigns against gang crimes and reforming the police system, he stopped short of going into details.
“The wording is such that it is kept ambiguous enough and vague enough as a report card, but also to reserve certain spaces in order to maneuver in the international environment that China is finding itself in, particularly the dynamics of the environments,” said Dr Lim.
There are also external forces which even China as a superpower cannot control, said Dr Lim, including the COVID-19 pandemic, potential global recession, and the upcoming US mid-term election as China continues facing tensions with the West.
The Biden administration had released a National Security Strategy last week that focused on outcompeting China and restraining Russia.
It highlighted China as “the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it”.