China Syndrome.

News Items covers four subjects: (1) World in Disarray, (2) Financialization of Everything, (3) Advances in Science and Technology, and (4) Electoral politics, foreign and domestic. Six days a week, not Sundays. Weekdays by ~6:45am ET. Saturdays: sometime in the morning, usually. Tom Smith, who heads up research, contributed to this report.

1. Xi Jinping’s Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 16, 2022

The theme of this Congress is holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, staying confident and building strength, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, forging ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and striving in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts…..

Comrades, The Party has made spectacular achievements through its great endeavors over the past century, and our new endeavors will surely lead to more spectacular achievements. Let the whole Party, the entire military, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups stay closely rallied around the Party Central Committee. Let us keep in mind that empty talk will do nothing for our country; only solid work will make it flourish. Let us maintain firm confidence, unite as one, and forge ahead with resolve. And let us strive in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts.

Bill Bishop’s report on the Report is worth reading in full. (Source: sinocism.com, drive.google.com)

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2. President Xi Jinping is firmly in control of China’s twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle, which could see bigger-than-expected changes as he builds a new supporting team for his unprecedented third term. As many as four top positions on the Politburo Standing Committee could change hands and nearly half the Central Committee will be replaced, the South China Morning Post has learned. The results will be made public this coming weekend at the end of the week-long 20th Communist Party congress. On October 22, the party will form a new Central Committee to head 97 million party members. The next day, the Central Committee will hold its first full session to endorse the line-up of the 25-member Politburo and the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee – the highest decision-making body. (Source: scmp.com)

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3. China has made a decision to seize Taiwan on a “much faster timeline” than previously thought, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday, shortly after China’s leader reiterated his intent to take the island by force if necessary. “There has been a change in the approach from Beijing toward Taiwan in recent years,” Blinken said in an event at Stanford University in California. The remarks from America’s top diplomat on Monday come as China holds its twice-a-decade Communist party congress, and shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping used a widely-watched speech on Sunday to say the “wheels of history are rolling on towards China’s reunification” with Taiwan. While peaceful means were preferable, Xi added, “we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.” The full conversation with former Secretary of State Condi Rice (now head of the Hoover Institute at Stanford) is here. (Sources: bloomberg.com, stanford.edu. styate.gov)