Qiushi Journal, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee’s flagship bimonthly periodical, released a speech that Xi Jinping, the CCP General Secretary, gave at the February 3 meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee.
Qiushi published the full text of Xi’s speech on Saturday, February 15. In the speech, Xi explained his role since January 7, 2020, in containing the novel coronavirus. After consolidating power, Xi has made it a rule that different organizations, including the National People’s Congress, State Council, each headed by a Politburo Standing Committee member, all report their work to him. This is the first time he had to explain to others what he has been doing.
China experts observed that Xi has been under mounting domestic and international pressure because of the outbreak, as well as the spread of the coronavirus. In order to “gain international understanding and support,” Xi offered guidance on “communicating with WHO, and with relevant countries and regions, to promote information sharing and policy coordination.” Meanwhile, Wilbur Ross, the US commerce secretary, revealed that the 15-member WHO delegation has no US experts in it.
Xi also wanted to “ensure societal control and security by stepping up law enforcement and mobilizing public security and the armed police in joint efforts.” Xi made no mention of the delayed or inaccurate reporting that the local leaders from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak had voiced.
Xi gave orders to “strengthen control and management of Internet media; push for clear organizational and individual obligations, management obligations, and supervision obligations; and strike against and handle those who spread rumors and stir up trouble.”
On February 4, the day after Xi’s speech, Zhao Kezhi, minister of China’s ministry of public security, told police personnel across the country through a teleconference to maintain a secure and stable environment to fight the virus. He said the police needed to place “political security” above everything else, and to crack down on “domestic and international hostile forces.”
Xi also emphasized adherence to the economic goals set for this year, including achieving “moderate prosperity.”
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1. Excerpt in Chinese:
第一，强化显政，坚定战胜疫情信心。让群众更多知道党和政府正在做什么、还要做什么，对坚定全社会信心、战胜疫情至为关键。要深入宣传党中央重大决策部署，充分报道各地区各部门联防联控的措施成效，生动讲述防疫抗疫一线的感人事迹，广泛普及科学防护知识，凝聚众志成城抗疫情的强大力量。
要多层次、高密度发布权威信息，正视存在的问题，回应群众的关切，增强及时性、针对性、专业性，引导群众增强信心、坚定信心，着力稳定公众情绪。要统筹做好决胜全面小康、决战脱贫攻坚、经济形势等重大宣传，为当前舆论融入更多暖色调，营造风雨无阻向前进的浓厚氛围。
第二，把握主导，壮大网上正能量。要加强舆情跟踪研判，主动发声、正面引导，强化融合传播和交流互动，让正能量始终充盈网络空间。
要把控好整体舆论，努力营造良好舆论环境。要加强网络媒体管控，推动落实主体责任、主管责任、监管责任，对借机造谣滋事的，要依法打击处理。
第三，占据主动，有效影响国际舆论。国际社会高度关注疫情发展，要主动回应国际关切，讲好中国抗击疫情故事，展现中国人民团结一心、同舟共济的精神风貌。要全面做好同疫情防控相关的外交工作，继续做好同世界卫生组织、有关国家和地区的沟通协调，促进疫情信息共享和防控策略协调，争取国际社会理解和支持。
目前看，我们仍然要坚持今年经济社会发展目标任务，党中央决策部署的经济社会发展各项工作都要抓好，党中央确定的各项任务目标都要完成。疫情特别严重的地区要集中精力抓好疫情防控工作，其他地区要在做好防控工作的同时统筹抓好改革发展稳定各项工作，特别是要抓好涉及决胜全面建成小康社会、决战脱贫攻坚的重点任务，不能有缓一缓、等一等的思想。
Source: Qiushi, February 15, 2020
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2020-02/15/c_1125572832.htm
2. Excerpt of Chinese:
1月25日，习近平在中共最高权力机构中共中央政治局常务委员会就新型冠状病毒疫情召开的会议上发出指令说，“面对新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情加快蔓延的严重形势，必须加强党中央集中统一领导，各级党委和政府要增强‘四个意识’、坚定‘四个自信’、做到‘两个维护。’”
习近平所说的“四个意识”是指“政治意识”、“大局意识”，“（以习近平为的核心的）核心意识”、“（向习近平看看齐、无条件遵从其命令的）看齐意识”；“两个维护”的则是指“坚决维护习近平总书记（中共）党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导。”
近日来，中共控制下的中国媒体在大力宣传和歌颂习近平之余，也在大力报道习近平所提倡的所谓“正能量”消息，如：世界卫生组指派遣专家代表团前来中国学习应对疫情的经验；中国医务人员围绕着病入膏肓、奄奄一息的病人载歌载舞，高唱中共颂歌《没有共产党就没有新中国》；从简陋的用于隔离病人的所谓方舱医院出院的患者说，在方舱医院获得了非常好的照顾，住进去都不想出院了等等。
中国官方媒体报道说，“2月4日，中国公安部召开应对新型冠状病毒感染肺炎疫情工作第三次全国公安机关视频会议，国务委员、公安部（中共）党委书记、部长赵克志出席并讲话。赵克志强调，要始终把维护政治安全放在首位，严密防范、严厉打击境内外敌对势力的各种捣乱破坏活动，坚决防止公共卫生风险向社会稳定领域传导。”
Source: Voice of America, February 14, 2020
https://www.voachinese.com/amp/China-First-Priority-In-Epidemic-Fight-is-Political-Security-20200214/5288355.html