China's 5th Plenary Session Declares Ambition to Build a Strong Military Rivaling the United States

Analysis of Hong Kong Media's 5th Plenary Session Coverage: Security Mentioned 22 Times
Opportunity for Hegemonic Powers Amid Global Turmoil

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Hong Kong media evaluated the results of the Chinese Communist Party's 19th Central Committee 5th Plenary Session (5th Plenum) as a meeting that emphasized strengthening security. They analyzed the results as a strong expression of the Chinese leadership's determination not to yield to pressure from the United States and other Western countries.

On the 30th, Hong Kong media Ming Pao reported that the term "security" was mentioned 22 times in the 5th Plenum communiqu? (meeting materials) that concluded the previous day, emphasizing China's security enhancement in various fields.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Chinese leadership proposed that security must be strengthened across all sectors including national defense, economy, people's livelihood, society, and food to address and prevent various risk factors that could affect China's modernization and development process. They also emphasized the need for the People's Liberation Army's "absolute leadership" to achieve complete modernization of national defense and military and to cultivate a strong army by 2027.

Ming Pao reported, "It is the first time that the Chinese Communist Party has set goals related to military modernization," but added, "there was no detailed explanation."

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that through the 5th Plenum, China declared it would not tolerate external pressure on its path to becoming a global hegemon and especially vowed to cultivate a strong military to stand shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. military.

SCMP analyzed, "The Chinese Communist Party stated in the 5th Plenum communiqu? that it must seize the opportunity to rise as a hegemon during the current period of great upheaval in the international community," adding, "This declaration was made just days before the chaotic U.S. presidential election."

Jeff Wu, Associate Researcher at Hong Kong think tank Tianda Institute, explained, "China's goal is aimed at Taiwan." Wu said, "The intention is to develop the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army to be able to confront the U.S. military by 2027 and effectively block U.S. military interference around the Taiwan Strait."

Earlier, Chinese-language media Duowei reported on the 27th that a recent trend emphasizing "development interests" has been detected in China, which "signifies a tremendous change in China's diplomatic strategy and an expansion of national defense tensions."

Duowei reported that amid increasing threats and attacks from the United States against China, China is signaling that it would not hesitate to go to war if its "development interests" are infringed upon.

Duowei stated that development interests have risen alongside "sovereignty" and "national security" as core Chinese values, and China has recently firmly declared in high-level speeches that it will not tolerate violations of these core values.