Amidst internal and external challenges, the atmosphere at China’s “Two Sessions” is tense, with strict security measures in place. Reports suggest that attendees are more cautious than ever in facing reporters to prevent any potential leaks.
The “Two Sessions” (National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) are currently being held in Beijing. According to a report from Hong Kong’s “Sing Tao Daily” on March 6, the atmosphere at the “Two Sessions” is dull, with delegates remaining silent.
Military technology has been a focus of the press activities at the “Two Sessions.” Hong Kong media reporters recently encountered two military experts at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. One of them is Wang Yongliang, academician of the Air Force Early Warning Academy, and the other is Wu Dewei, a professor at the Air Force Engineering University, both of whom are members of the CPPCC. They were privately discussing various military technology topics.
The Chinese Communist Party has been touting the stealth technology of its so-called domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jets. As these two colonels are experts in radar and navigation technology, when asked by a Hong Kong media reporter about the capabilities of the J-20 fighter, they remained silent and quickly moved on to another location.
The report also mentioned that reporters attempting to interview various military delegates from different branches in the Great Hall of the People over the past few days have been coldly received. In the past, some would at least say a few words on military technology topics, even if they were just superficial remarks. However, this year, due to the intense international situation, attendees have significantly heightened their awareness of confidentiality.
Not only in military matters, but it is also difficult to find anyone willing to be interviewed on other issues. Hong Kong media reported that, in the “Grand Teahouse” of the Great Hall of the People, a reporter engaged in a casual chat (not for an interview) with a delegate who was having tea. The delegate, attending the Two Sessions for the ninth time, revealed that the discipline in recent years has indeed become stricter.
Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Group, was surrounded by reporters after finishing a group discussion yesterday. He only answered questions after obtaining official approval for “accepting interviews with domestic journalists.”
Currently, the Chinese economy continues to deteriorate, with various industries facing depression and public discontent on the rise. The escalating infighting among the top Chinese Communist Party officials, as well as external factors such as the downfall of Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, and attacks by the United States and Israel on the current regime in China’s ally, Iran, are all impacting the Chinese Communist authority.
During the “Two Sessions,” the security measures in Beijing are unprecedented. Video footage from the morning of March 5 shows delegates attending the Chinese Communist Party’s Two Sessions disembarking from buses and entering the Great Hall of the People, with black-clad security personnel closely monitoring their every move.
According to a report from Hong Kong’s “Ming Pao” on March 5, the route from Chang’an Street to Tiananmen Square is one of the most strictly guarded areas during the Two Sessions period. Along this street towards the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, multiple checkpoints have been set up, with temporary police posts stationed at every intersection. Only pedestrians with prior appointments to the venue are allowed to enter, and they must show their ID cards for inspection and open their belongings for police scrutiny before being granted passage.