China’s President Xi Jinping accuses the US of “repression”.

China is facing major challenges: in a speech, President Xi Jinping denounced the “oppression” of his country by the USA. Under US leadership, Western countries have “enclosed, encircled and suppressed China all around, which has posed unprecedented challenges for our country’s development,” Xi said in a speech to delegates at the Political Consultative Conference on Monday, according to a report by the state news agency Xinhua of the Chinese people in Beijing.

In recent years, China has been confronted with a number of new hurdles that threatened to slow down its economic rise. In view of “profound and complex changes in both the national and international landscape, China must have the courage to fight,” said the 69-year-old head of state, who is about to start his third term.

China and the USA are in fierce economic competition. The issues of dispute between Washington and Beijing are trade and human rights. In addition, a Chinese balloon was shot down over the US east coast, which the White House said was used for espionage purposes. China denies this.

Relations between China and the USA had recently deteriorated significantly, also due to the Taiwan question. US officials have repeatedly warned of a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. China regards Taiwan, which has been seceded since 1949, as a breakaway territory.

Sessions of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference usually coincide with the expected ten-day National People’s Congress, which is currently being held in Beijing. As usual, the MPs should unanimously approve the decisions of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CP).

It is therefore considered certain that President Xi Jinping will be confirmed as head of state for a third term. This further cements his position as the most powerful president since the founder of the state, Mao Zedong.