China Issues Its 'Red Lines' For 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year speech at 7:00 o'clock Beijing time on December 31, 2016.[Photo: Xinhua]

Bloomberg: China’s Xi Vows to Defend Maritime Interests, Sovereignty in ’17

* New Year’s speech focuses on reforms to help more people
* Nation will adhere to peaceful development in new year: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country will deepen reforms as he vowed to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime interests in 2017, a year that will present fresh international and domestic challenges for the leaders in Beijing.

In a New Year’s speech published Saturday by Xinhua, Xi said the outcome of reforms should benefit more people and he vowed to address difficulties in areas such as employment, education, health care and housing. He also said the country adheres to peaceful development and resolutely safeguards its sovereignty and maritime interests.

“Chinese people will not agree to whoever that wants to make trouble on this,” Xi said in the annual address, referring to the country’s sovereignty rights and maritime interests. China’s claims to territory in the South China Sea have been contested by other nations.

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Previous Post: China Moves To Contain Taiwan

Update #1: President Xi extends good wishes in New Year speech (China.org)
Update #2: A good year for Xi Jinping – but trouble is heading his way (Tom Phillips, The Guardian)
Update #3: "This Would Cross Our Red Line" - Chinese Military Considering Measures To "Cripple" Taiwan (Zero Hedge)

WNU Editor: Everyone that I know in China is nervous right now.  No specific reason why .... but there is a sense in China right now that the country's steady rise for the past 25 years is now coming to an end. Tariffs, border disputes, a slowing economy, an Asian arms race, a changing of the guard  in much of the Chinese leadership (with the exception of President Xi) .... 10 years ago none of these issues were present .... the focus was on growth and economic.political stability. Today ... the China of today is the complete opposite .... hence the reason why many Chinese are now nervous.