THE SQUIZ
Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday opened the Communist Party Congress in Beijing with a speech that has set the scene for talks and power moves over the coming week. He’s defended China’s ‘COVID Zero’ policy following a rare public protest on Thursday. He also talked up his regime taking “full control” of Hong Kong and said China might use force to bring the self-governing island of Taiwan under its authority. “We reserve the option of taking all measures necessary,” he said. And the 69yo declared China has won “the largest battle against poverty in human history” as he promoted his “common prosperity” policy to grow China’s middle class while reining in powerful billionaires.

UMM WHAT’S THIS MEETING ABOUT?
The twice-a-decade, week-long gathering brings together 2,300 delegates from around the country for the most significant event in China’s political calendar. It’s the 20th Congress in the party’s 101-year history and is held in the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square under tight security. Long story short, the week is a big one for Xi – he is set to extend his leadership for another 5 years and further cement his power over his party and the country. Experts say it makes him the country’s most powerful ruler since founder Mao Zedong. After Mao’s death, the party introduced an unofficial system of collective leadership and term limits to prevent the concentration of power from happening again. But during Xi’s 10 years as leader, he’s ditched all that. Critics say those moves are at the core of concerns about his authoritarianism and decreasing tolerance for dissent.

WHAT’S COMING UP THIS WEEK?
Good question… As with most of China’s political events, little information about what will take place has been released publicly. The sessions will be held behind closed doors with the outcomes formally announced next weekend. If past protocols are followed, the new leadership team (aka those who Xi has handpicked to work with him) will be unveiled the day after the Congress closes. Given Xi’s track record of cracking down on free speech, analysts say there are few left to argue against it. Watch this space…