Communist Party No 3 hails superiority of ‘Chinese democracy’ and warns against Western influences

Comments by Li Zhanshu, head of the country’s top legislative body, are seen as a sign of Beijing’s growing confidence in its political model

It is the first time a senior party leader has called for members to ‘tell the story of China’s democracy’ and signals a rhetorical shift

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Beijing’s confidence in its political model is growing. Photo: Xinhua

Guo Ruiin Guangzhou

Published: 6:09pm, 24 Oct 2021Updated: 9:37pm, 24 Oct 2021

China should resolutely resist “erosive” political Western influences such as multi-party elections and an independent judiciary and “tell the story of China’s democracy” well, the chairman of the country’s top legislative body said on Saturday.

“We need to learn from the beneficial achievements of foreign political civilisations, but we must not abandon the fundamentals of China’s political system,” Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said during a parliamentary meeting in Beijing.

“We should resolutely oppose, resist and prevent the erosive influence of so-called ‘constitutionalism’, multi-party elections, the tripartite system, the bicameral system and the independence of the judiciary in the West,” said Li, the number three in the Communist Party’s hierarchy.

Li Zhanshu (left) made the comments at a meeting of the NPC’s Standing Committee in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

“We should strengthen theoretical research and the propaganda interpretation of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics and the People’s Congress system, and tell good stories about China’s democracy.”

Analysts said that this is the first time a senior leader has used the phrase “telling the story of China’s democracy”, showing China’s confidence in the intensifying ideological confrontation with the United States.

Communist Party No 3 hails superiority of ‘Chinese democracy’ and warns against Western influences

Comments by Li Zhanshu, head of the country’s top legislative body, are seen as a sign of Beijing’s growing confidence in its political model It is the first time a senior party leader has called for members to ‘tell the story of China’s democracy’ and signals a rhetorical shift

Comments by Li Zhanshu, head of the country’s top legislative body, are seen as a sign of Beijing’s growing confidence in its political model

It is the first time a senior party leader has called for members to ‘tell the story of China’s democracy’ and signals a rhetorical shift