President says China will continue to ‘oppose Taiwan independence’ in address launching week-long event that is likely to grant him third term
Xi Jinping has opened the 20th congress of China’s ruling Communist party, a week-long event where he is widely expected to win a third leadership term and cement his place as the country’s most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.
Xi began a speech that touted the party’s safeguarding of national security, maintaining social stability, protecting people’s lives and taking control of the situation in Hong Kong, which was rocked by anti-government protests in 2019.
