On 8-11 November 2021, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) (the Sixth Plenum) was held in Beijing. Around 197 members and 151 alternate members of the Central Committee attended the session. The members of the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and leading officials of other departments were present in a non-voting capacity.[i]
A plenum is a meeting wherein all full and alternate members of the CPC’s Central Committee attend the proceedings. The delegates attending the meeting are China’s most important officials and include members of the party leadership, ministers, regional party chiefs, senior generals and the executives of state-owned conglomerates. The present 19th Central Committee was elected in 2017 and will continue until the next year’s National Congress. A new committee will be appointed next year. Each committee generally holds seven plenary sessions in the span of its five-year term. The sixth plenary session usually emphasizes ideology and party building and can set the ground for the leadership reshuffle at the party congress in the subsequent year. For instance, 2016’s sixth plenary session anointed Xi Jinping as the party’s “core”. A year later Xi Jinping Thought was written into the party’s constitution at the congress.[ii]
Even before the current meeting, there were indications that third resolution on history will be passed. The People’s Daily published on its WeChat account that the resolution will answer two vital questions: “Why were we successful in the past? How can we continue to succeed in the future?” Professor Yang Xuedong of the Tsinghua University said, “The third resolution is highly anticipated as it is crucial for the Party to reach a consensus on important historical questions and to inspire its members to forge ahead.”[iii]
The paper aims to assess the major outcomes of the Sixth Plenum.
Assessment
At the Sixth Plenum, Xi Jinping presented the report on the work of the Political Bureau and adopted the Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the past Century and the Resolution on the Convocation of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.[iv] The resolution was spread over 36,000 Chinese characters. It reviewed the history of the party since 1921, covering the periods of the new democratic revolution, socialist revolution and construction, reform, opening-up and socialist modernisation, and a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.[v] The Plenum summarised the achievements under Xi Jinping’s leadership, reinstated the importance of the Chinese culture, economy and foreign policy.
As anticipated, the Sixth Plenum passed a key resolution on the history of the party. It is the third resolution of its kind in 100 years of the CPC. Earlier, Mao Zedong in 1945 passed the first historical resolution. His resolution was known as the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party”. It came after a political and ideological purge within the party and was also known as the Yanan Rectification Movement (1942-1945).[vi] Subsequently, it led to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
The second resolution was passed under Deng Xiaoping in 1981. It was known as the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China”. It focused on the 10-year Cultural Revolution started under Mao Zedong. It purged remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and reimposed Mao’s doctrine and his thought.[vii] It ended the mayhem of the Cultural Revolution and set China on the path of opening up and reform, transforming it into the World’s second-largest economy.[viii]
The third resolution passed under Xi Jinping is known as “Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century”. The timing of the historical resolution is of importance as it coincides with the centenary of the CPC, completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects also known as the first centenary goal and starting of the second centenary goal. The resolution centred on the subject of history. A Chinese maxim has reinstated that: “with history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a state.” Taking this forward, Xi Jinping reiterated that summarising the Party’s major achievements and historical experience over the past century was of great significance to further unify the thinking, will and action of the entire party.[ix] He highlighted the achievements under him and pointed out the CPC and the Chinese people have “written the most magnificent epic in the thousands of years of the history of the nation.”[x] At the Plenum, Xi Jinping has given a linear interpretation of history. The passing of the third resolution has given a chance to revisit the history of the party and set the momentum for further functioning of the party and also set the tone for the party for the realisation of the second centenary goal.
The Plenum has put Xi Jinping at par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. In the resolution, his name appeared 22 times as compared to 18 times that of Mao Zedong and 6 times that of Deng Xiaoping.[xi] Xi Jinping was declared as the helmsman and the leader of the people. The Plenum established Xi Jinping as the “core of the Party” and any criticism against him would amount to the criticism of the Party and the Chinese nation. It contrasted Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping’s achievements with that of Xi Jinping and forged a new ideological consensus for Xi Jinping’s era. It declared that, while Mao adopted Marxism to China, under Xi Jinping it is “a new breakthrough” and the “leap” to “the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century.”[xii]
Notably, the selection process for the 20th Party Congress has begun. On 19 November 2021, the CPC has issued a directive to prepare for the election of delegates. It clearly states that the candidates should firmly uphold “Xi Jinping’s core position in both the party’s Central Committee and the party as a whole, and respect the Party’s central authority and it’s centralised and unified leadership.”[xiii]
At the end of the plenum a communiqué was released. Besides passing of the third resolution on history the communiqué elucidated on the Chinese culture, economy and foreign policy.
The communiqué emphasised on Chinese culture. The word culture appeared eight times in the document. The resolution placed Chinese culture at the front and centre of Chinese socialism. It praised Chinese culture as a significant advantage of the Chinese nationality and calls for its continuation and development.[xiv] It further declares, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics “embodies the best of the Chinese culture and ethos in our times and represents a new breakthrough in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context”.[xv]
On the economic issue, the communiqué elucidated on the Chinese development model and how China transformed itself from a semi-feudal to an industrialised nation. It stated that the “Party has consistently promoted broader and deeper reform across the board”. Socialism with Chinese characteristics “is now more mature and well-defined, and the modernisation of China’s system and capacity for governance has reached a higher level.” The Chinese economy is “on a path of higher quality development that is more efficient, equitable, sustainable and secure”. It further called on all Party members to work to endorse prosperity for all and work towards the second centenary goal.[xvi] However, the issue of debt and other impending economic issues were omitted from the document. It may be pointed out that Xi Jinping has essentially followed the Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao’s strategies of relying on injection of state funding into infrastructure and real-estate projects to increase GDP. This approach has generated debt at all levels of government, and has also contributed to enterprises and consumers incurring large debts.[xvii]
On foreign policy, it was highlighted that in the last few years internationally, the profile of China has been raised. Concepts such as “major-country diplomacy” and “human community with a shared future” has “become a banner leading trend of the times and human progress”. China has broken new ground in its diplomatic endeavours amid profound global changes and turned crises into opportunities amid complex situations on the international stage. In passing years China has created its own space and turned crises into opportunities in the international arena. The Chinese efforts such as the “concept of a human community with a shared future” have resulted in increasing China’s clout.[xviii]
On Hong Kong, Xi Jinping described that China has taken “measures to address both symptoms and root causes of relevant issues”. “These moves have helped to restore order in Hong Kong” to transform it into a better region.[xix] While on Taiwan, Xi Jinping opposed any foreign interference and reiterated that “We uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 consensus. We firmly oppose separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence”.[xx] However, recent Chinese aggression and strong statements towards Taiwan were not mentioned. Instead, the Plenum stated, “We have maintained the initiative and ability to steer cross-Strait relations.”
To sum up, it was the last plenum, before the 20th Party Congress in 2022.The third resolution passed under Xi Jinping will help in establishing his authority and promote his signature projects such as the China Dream and the Belt and Road Initiative. Xi Jinping has called upon the entire state apparatus to work towards the China Dream. He has ensured in the plenum that his work is glorified and there is no challenge to him. In all likelihood, he will once again be reelected during the 20th National Party Congress. Overall, the Plenum has successfully laid the ground for the 20th Party Congress and paved the way for a third Presidential term or the President for a lifetime for Xi Jinping.
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* Dr Teshu Singh is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views are of the author.
Endnotes
[i] Huaxia, Full Text: Communiqué of 6th plenary session of 19th CPC Central Committee, Xinhuanet, 11 November 2021, http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/11/c_1310305166.htm, accessed on 21 November 2021
[ii] Jun Mai, Communist Party’s ‘sixth plenum’: what is a plenum, and why is it one of China’s most important political events?, South China Morning Post, 6 November 2021,
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3155038/communist-partys-sixth-plenum-what-plenum-and-why-it-one-chinas, accessed on 20 November 2021
[iii] Yang Sheng and Cao Siqi, 19th CPC Central Committee kicks off sixth plenary session, to table landmark resolution, Global Times, 8 November 2021, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202111/1238387.shtml, accessed on 24 November 2021
[iv] Huaxia, Full Text: Communiqué of 6th plenary session of 19th CPC Central Committee, Xinhuanet, 11 November 2021, http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/11/c_1310305166.htm, accessed on 21 November 2021
[v] CPC releases key resolution to embark on another 100 years of endeavors, CGTN, 16 November 2021,https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-11-16/Milestone-resolution-on-CPC-s-100-year-experience-released-15eJBAW00tq/index.html, accessed on 21 November 2021
[vi] Cat Wang, Xi Jinping’s ‘historical resolution’: what is it and why is it important?, South China Morning Post, 7 November 2021,
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3154996/xi-jinpings-historical-resolution-what-it-and-why-it-important , accessed on 21 November 2021
[vii] ibid
[viii] Josephine Ma and William Zheng, Chinese Communist Party resolution cements Xi Jinping’s leadership, putting him on par with Mao, and paves way for legacy-defining third term, South China Morning Post, 11 November 2021,https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3155753/chinese-communist-party-resolution-cements-xi-jinpings , accessed on20 November 2021
[ix] Huaxia , China Focus: CPC's third resolution on history and its future-looking plenum, Xinhuanet, 13 November 2021, http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/13/c_1310308992.htm, accessed on 29 November 2021
[x] John S. Van Oudenaren, Geopolitical Challenges Cloud Next Chapter in Xi’s Triumphalist History, The Jamestown Foundation,19 November 2021, https://jamestown.org/program/geopolitical-challenges-cloud-next-chapter-in-xis-triumphalist-history/, accessed on 26 November 2021
[xi] Chris Buckley, China’s History Is Revised, to the Glory of Xi Jinping, The New York Times,16 November 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/world/asia/china-history-xi-jinping.html, accessed on 29 November 2021
[xii] Nathan Levine, ASPI Note: Understanding China's Sixth Plenum, Asia Society Policy Institute,https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/aspi-note-understanding-chinas-sixth-plenum, accessed on 24 November 2021
[xiii] William Zheng, Chinese Communist Party formally starts process of selecting delegates for next year’s congress, 19 November 2021, South China Morning Post, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3156743/chinese-communist-party-formally-starts-process-selecting, accessed on 25 November 2021
[xiv] Zhuoran Li, The Sixth Plenum and the Rise of Traditional Chinese Culture in Socialist Ideology, The Diplomat, 19 November 2021
https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/the-sixth-plenum-and-the-rise-of-traditional-chinese-culture-in-socialist-ideology/, accessed on 22 November 2021
[xv] Huaxia, Full Text: Communiqué of 6th plenary session of 19th CPC Central Committee, Xinhuanet, 11 November 2021, http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/11/c_1310305166.htm, accessed on 21 November 2021
[xvi] Ibid
[xvii] John S. Van Oudenaren, Geopolitical Challenges Cloud Next Chapter in Xi’s Triumphalist History, The Jamestown Foundation,19 November 2021, https://jamestown.org/program/geopolitical-challenges-cloud-next-chapter-in-xis-triumphalist-history/, accessed on 26 November 2021
[xviii] Huaxia, Full Text: Communiqué of 6th plenary session of 19th CPC Central Committee, Xinhuanet, 11 November 2021, http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/11/c_1310305166.htm, accessed on 21 November 2021
[xix] Ibid
[xx] ibid