The CCP characterizes its strategy to achieve political, social, and economic modernity as a grand national endeavor, sweeping in scope and far-reaching in how it will transform the PRC and, in turn, the world. The CCP defines this as “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” or national rejuvenation as a state in which the PRC is “prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.” The PRC’s strategy entails efforts to amplify internal and external elements of national power that will “raise China’s international influence, appeal, and power to shape events to a new level.” The PRC’s strategy entails a long-term planning process to attain national rejuvenation that sets objectives, priorities, and milestones across all aspects of governance and policy areas, including economics, political affairs, legal systems, public order, national security, diplomacy, defense, education, science and technology (S&T), culture, and the environment. The objective of “national rejuvenation” or “Chinese modernization” is broad enough to justify almost any policy put forth by the CCP.
CCP officials have described achieving the unification of PRC and Taiwan as “a natural requirement” for national rejuvenation.
The PRC pursues its efforts to generate greater national power by defending and advancing its sovereignty, security, and developmental interests. Consequently, the PRC’s national ambitions and statecraft rest on the foundation of the CCP-dominated political ideology of enhancing “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” which the CCP views as the only path that will lead to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The objective of this CCP-led strategy is perhaps best stated in what the CCP calls its “basic line,” a single sentence in the CCP’s constitution that serves as the mission of the CCP and the cornerstone for its policymaking. Last amended at the 20th Party Congress in 2022, it states:
“The basic line of the Communist Party of China in the primary stage of socialism is to lead all the people of China together in a self-reliant and pioneering effort, making economic development the central task, upholding the Four Cardinal Principles, and remaining committed to reform and opening up, so as to see China becomes a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.”
The 20th Party Congress, held in 2022, incorporated new developments since 2017 in “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” after the term was adopted into the CCP’s constitution. The inclusion of Xi Jinping’s namesake ideology into the CCP constitution was hailed as a “guide to action for the entire Party and all the Chinese people to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” The 2022 changes to the CCP constitution included an obligation of party members to “uphold Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and within the party” as a whole while “upholding the authority and centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee.” Since the 20th Party Congress, the CCP has continued to stress the need for strengthening the PRC’s capacity to secure its overseas interests, including improving its control over grain, energy and other resources, and key industrial and supply chains. The PRC relies heavily on imported oil. Food security has been elevated to a top national security priority by the CCP in recent years due to climate shocks, trade disruptions, uncertain global markets, and unsecure lines of transportation.
The Party Congress report stressed the CCP’s need to prevent digital penetration, sabotage, subversion, and separatism activities from external actors.
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Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
