Observers' desire to understand the Chinese regime is understandable, especially since the stakes are higher year after year, writes WeifengZhong. But amplifying the CCP’s messages is counterproductive.
The mere fact that the party congress is happening means that there are no real uncertainties around key policy issues facing Beijing. In his book, Stanford University political scientist Guoguang Wu, who advised former premier Zhao Ziyang prior to 1989 on political reform, detailed just how symbolic the political conference is.
Observers often refer to China’s party congress convening once every five years, but that’s only a convention since 1977. Before that, the meeting took place rather irregularly and was often delayed for years when Mao felt that his absolute dominance was in any trace of doubt. Even after 1977, the party congress could take place anywhere from September to November of a year, depending on how ready the Chinese leader felt he was at the time.
When the congress does convene, there will be no room for any deviations from the general secretary’s will. Party delegates have the right to cast their ballots for the party leadership, including the members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the CCP’s top ruling body, but there are no more candidates than seats to fill. Yet there’s a"preparatory election" before the final fake vote, so delegates can make sure that they are really doing it right.
While China watchers in the West may have their reasons for bringing the events of the congress to the public’s attention, they should not give it undue attention in a way that boosts the CCP’s legitimacy. Countless news reports and analyses are opining on what to watch for at the gathering when there’s really nothing to expect. There’s evenBeijing wisely capitalizes on Western attention.
Observers' desire to understand the Chinese regime is understandable, especially since the stakes are higher year after year while Beijing’s decision-making is not getting any less opaque. But amplifying the CCP’s messages is counterproductive. The highly touted party congress is China’s purposeful political ritual, and it should be treated as nothing more than that.
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