Xi Jinping was re-elected as president of China and reached an unprecedented third term

After the formal vote of the National People’s Assembly (APN)the legislative body of China, Xi Jinping, 69, was re-elected this Friday they preside over and, in this way, begins to unprecedented third term for another five years.

The result of the vote of the deputies was final: 2,952 votes in favour, zero against and no abstentions. The result was celebrated with a resounding applause from all lawmakers gathered in the hall Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

It was not an unexpected result. Is that the parliament is in practice dominated by the Communist Party (CCP), which he already nominated last October Xi Jinping for another five years as general secretary and head of the military training commission, the two most powerful posts in the country.

“I swear to be (…) loyal to the motherland and the people (…) and work hard to build a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, more civilized and harmonious,” Xi Jinping promised, what was he the only candidate for the position he has held since 2013.

In this way it has become the leader with the longest years in power in recent history of the Asian giant. This was possible thanks to the fact that, in 2018, ended the constitutional limit of two presidential terms.

Meanwhile, the National People’s Assembly (APN) also elected the then deputy prime minister, Han Zheng, as vice president to replace Wang Qishan.

In addition, APN’s annual session served to announce a modest growth target of “about 5%” in 2023 and a increase in the military budget.

Xi Jinping: a tougher stance against the United States

On the eve of winning his third term as president, Xi Jinping has signaled he will take a tougher stance against what he perceives as an effort to United States of America for blocking the rise of China.

Last Monday he clarified what, in his opinion, the serious threat to China’s development: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

“Western countries, led by the United States, have implemented containment, encirclement and total suppression of Chinawhich has brought unprecedented serious challenges to our country’s development,” Xi said in a speech, according to China’s official news agency.

Xi’s new outspokenness may be welcomed by nationalist audiences at home, but could raise suspicions abroad at a time when Beijing has been trying to stabilize ties with the West.

It reflects how you prepare for a greater confrontation and competition between the two largest economies in the world.

His meeting with President Joe Biden in November raised hopes that Beijing and Washington would try to halt the downward spiral in their relations.

But tensions have only escalated since then because of a Chinese spy balloonTight China’s alignment with Russia and the export controls to China imposed by the United States.