What the big topics that went unmentioned at China’s ‘two sessions’ reveal

Subjects that are avoided or downplayed at annual plenary meetings also important in gauging China’s political direction

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Deputies attending China's 12th National People's Congress leave after the closing meeting of the fifth session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 4:52pm, 15 Mar 2017Updated: 11:28pm, 15 Mar 2017

While much has been discussed by the about 5,000 officials, lawmakers and political advisers in the two-week annual plenary sessions in Beijing, what hasn’t been mentioned can be equally revealing in gauging China’s politics.

Issues including the disappearance of a well-connected mainland businessman in Hong Kong, the ongoing hunt for “financial crocodiles”, a warming in Sino-Vatican ties and the creation of a super anti-graft agency were either left unspoken in the hallways of the Great Hall of the People or lacked any new details at the “two sessions” – The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress.

An analyst said the absence of discussions on these matters could underscore how policymakers in Beijing are treading carefully amid uncertainties about the new Donald Trump administration in the United States and the looming reshuffle of the Communist Party leadership late this year.

Delegates leave after the closing session of China's National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Less than two months ago, the disappearance of mainland tycoon Xiao Jianhua in Hong Kong and Beijing’s high-profile talks of hunting down “financial crocodiles” put strengthened financial regulation in the spotlight.

Around the time of Xiao’s disappearance, Beijing’s top securities regulator Liu Shiyu used strong-worded terms including “financial crocodiles” and “barbarians” to describe those who make fortunes by exploiting loopholes in regulations.