**Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday that the world is entering a period of “stormy seas” and urged the ruling Communist Party to prepare for choppy waters ahead, as Beijing finds itself increasingly isolated and at odds with Western powers.**
Xi’s comments at the opening of a four-day meeting of the party’s Central Committee came a day after he met with President Joseph R. Biden for a virtual summit overshadowed by skepticism and acrimony.
The two leaders failed to resolve key disagreements on human rights, trade, and Taiwan, with Biden warning that his administration would defend Taiwan from any Chinese aggression and Xi vowing to “unify” the self-governing island nation with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Xi warned that China is facing both internal and external challenges, as the global balance of power shifts and the international community grows wary of Beijing’s growing assertiveness.
Internally, he said, the party must maintain a tight grip on power and strengthen its ideological grip on society, while externally, it must “resolutely safeguard” China’s national interests and sovereignty.
“We must be fully prepared for major struggles ahead,” Xi said, “and we must strengthen our ability to withstand major wind and storms.
Xi’s bellicose rhetoric and vision of China as a besieged fortress under siege by Western powers are at odds with Biden’s attempts to portray the United States as a defender of democracy and human rights, and to rally international support for a unified front against Beijing.
The Biden administration has been outspoken in its criticism of China’s human rights record in Xinjiang, its crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, and its military provocations in the South China Sea and against Taiwan.
The United States has also imposed sanctions on Chinese officials and companies it accuses of human rights abuses and trade violations.
China’s response has been equally defiant, with Beijing accusing Washington of being a “bully” and warning that it will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs.
Xi’s latest remarks suggest that Beijing is doubling down on its confrontational approach, despite the risks of further isolating China and damaging its economy.
“China’s trajectory is increasingly clear —toward authoritarianism at home and confrontation abroad,” said Jude Blanchette, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“Xi has decided that China is the victim of an organized campaign by the West to thwart its inevitable rise,” Blanchette said, “and he is determined to push back.”
It remains to be seen whether Xi’s strategy will succeed in the long term, but in the short term, it is likely to further strain relations between China and the West, and increase the risk of conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.
**Xi’s speech also focused on domestic issues, such as the need to address income inequality and environmental pollution, but his emphasis on the need to prepare for a period of turbulence suggests that he sees the international arena as increasingly fraught with peril.**
“The current international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes, and there are more and more uncertainties and unstable factors,” Xi said. “We must be fully prepared for major struggles ahead.”
Xi’s remarks were met with muted enthusiasm by some party cadres, who expressed concerns about the challenges ahead but praised Xi’s leadership.
“We are facing a lot of external pressure and internal challenges,” said one cadre from the southern province of Guangdong, “but with General Secretary Xi at the helm, we will overcome any obstacles.”
Others were more cautious, expressing hope that China could avoid conflict with the United States and other Western powers.
“We need to be prepared for a period of turbulence, but we also need to work towards peace and stability,” said a cadre from the eastern province of Jiangsu. “We cannot afford a major war.”
The CCP Central Committee meeting is expected to conclude on Sunday, with the release of a communique that will outline the party’s priorities for the coming year.
The communique is likely to emphasize the need for unity, stability, and a strong military, as well as the importance of strengthening the party’s grip on power.
It is also likely to reiterate Xi’s warnings about the risks and challenges ahead, and to call on the party to be prepared for a period of sustained confrontation with the West..
