Xi Jinping dropped hints at Filoli summit

 

Xi Jinping dropped hints  at Filoli summit

When Chinese President Xi Jinping denied plans to invade Taiwan during his meeting with U.S. counterpart Joe Biden last week, not many noticed his hidden intentions.
 
During the summit in California, Xi denied having plans for military action against Taiwan in 2027 and 2035, according to a senior U.S. official.
 
Many U.S. officials and business executives have taken Xi's abrupt remarks at face value, regarding them as a denial that China will invade Taiwan at least for the near future, but sources familiar with China's domestic politics have a completely different take.
 
What really mattered were Xi's deliberate mentions of the years 2027 and 2035. Given that the Chinese Communist Party convenes a national congress once every five years - the next one comes in 2027 - Xi's references are tantamount to declaring his bid for fourth and fifth terms as China's top leader.
 
To break through the difficult political situation back home, Xi needed to send a message regarding Taiwan and show confidence that he would be in charge for more than a decade to come. The true purpose of his traveling to the U.S. might have been to make that declaration and then spread it to the rest of the world, including China.