中國領導人習近平星期五(3月10日)在第十四屆全國人大一次會議上再次“當選”國家主席,進入第三個任期。西方觀察人士指出,集黨政軍大權於一身的習近平恐怕將讓領導人終身製再度在中國上演;與此同時,經濟疲軟、與美國關係緊張,讓習近平第三個任期一開始就面臨內憂外患。
西方媒體在對習近平第三度成為國家主席進行報導時,大多指出這一結局毫無懸念。美聯社在發表推文時說:“中國領導人習近平被授予第三個五年總統任期,這使他步入了終身執政的軌道。儀式性的全國人民代表大會以2952比0的投票結果支持習近平的任命早已是定局。”
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been awarded a third five-year term as president, putting him on track to stay in power for life. The endorsement of Xi%27s appointment by the ceremonial National People%27s Congress in a 2,952-0 vote was a foregone conclusion. https://t.co/sSw5yGTl0x
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 10, 2023
英國廣播公司(BBC)駐華記者麥笛文(Stephen McDonell)則對這一毫無懸念的結局進行了調侃。
“哇,真是太驚險了!(Whew that was close!)”麥笛文在推特上寫道:“習近平以2952票對0票‘再次當選’中國國家主席。”
由於西方受眾可能不會區分中國“國家主席“的概念與總統制國家“總統”一職的不同,麥笛文特別指出:“習近平的權力來自於他擔任的黨總書記和中央軍委主席。國家主席的頭銜大多是儀式性的。”
Whew that was close! Xi Jinping "re-elected" as President of China 2952 votes to 0. BTW, for those who don%27t following #China closely, Xi%27s power comes from him being Party General Secretary and head of the Central Military Commission. The title of President is mostly ceremonial.
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) March 10, 2023
政治風險評估機構歐亞集團總裁伊恩·布雷默(Ian Bremmer)也對習近平連任的消息進行了諷刺。他在推文中說:“在懸念和緊張中,習近平以2952票(贊成)對0票反對,再次獲得連任,獲得史無前例的第三個5年任期。”
xi reappointed for unprecedented third 5 year term in a nail biter2952 votes for0 votes againstpic.twitter.com/Kllk44ZFw2
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) March 10, 2023
習近平於去年10月打破傳統,第三度出任中共中央總書記。此前,中國憲法刪除了對國家主席任期兩屆的限制,為習近平長期執政掃清了法律障礙。
許多西方政治家、評論人士和活動者都表示,習近平的“全票當選”,再次反映了中國全國人大這個橡皮圖章機構的選票毫無意義。
比利時前首相居伊·伏思达(Guy Verhofstadt)在推特上說:“習近平以2952票贊成、0票反對、0票棄權獲得連任……專制政體就是這樣!”
Xi Jinping re-elected with 2952 votes in favor, 0 against and 0 abstentions…That is what an autocracy looks like ! pic.twitter.com/jeI29baTZK
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) March 10, 2023
設在美國的非政府組織香港民主委員會以推文諷刺說:“誰說中國沒有民主?!全國人民代表大會以2952票(贊成)對0票(反對)、0票棄權再次選舉習近平成為主席。香港的全國人大常委會委員譚耀宗說,‘這充分反映了中國14億人民的願望’(他們根本沒有投票)。”
Who says China doesn’t have #democracy?! The National People’s Congress re-elected Xi Jinping as president 2,952 to 0 with 0 abstentions. #HongKong’s NPC Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung said, “This fully reflects the wish of China’s 1.4 billion people” (who didn’t vote). pic.twitter.com/5yRKhccIdA
— Hong Kong Democracy Council (@hkdc_us) March 10, 2023
許多西方觀察人士在轉發習近平連任消息的同時,也不忘指出習近平的連任是一小部分人的決策結果。
人權觀察中國部主任索菲·理查森(Sophie Richardson)在轉發這則新聞時指出:“習近平不是再次當選(re-elected)。他是被再次選擇欽定(re-selected)。”
#XiJinping was not re-elected. He was re-SElected. https://t.co/BlklA5NHd4
— Sophie Richardson (@SophieHRW) March 10, 2023
《衛報》的報導標題是:“習近平被授予前所未有的第三個中國國家主席任期”。
人權觀察的理查森則指出,與其說是“被授予”(handed),不如說是“奪取”(seized),因為習近平“扼殺了所有可能的競爭”。
Not so much “handed” as “seized,” having choked off all possible competition. https://t.co/iNxI6iCvgj
— Sophie Richardson (@SophieHRW) March 10, 2023
美國田納西州共和黨聯邦眾議員蒂姆·伯切特(Tim Burchett)也發推文說:“因為他(習近平)的對手都消失了。”
Because his opponents disappeared. https://t.co/Y3688lx3n0
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) March 10, 2023
美國有線電視新聞網(CNN)主播、國家安全事務首席記者吉姆·修托(Jim Sciutto)說:“習近平並非以‘全票當選’出任第三任國家主席。他是由一個他控制的機構選出來的,這個機構在中國人口所佔比例微乎其微。在此之前,一個旨在防止領導人終身執政的任期限制被他和他的盟友廢除了。”
Xi Jinping was not “unanimously elected” to a third term as president. He was selected by a body he controls, composed of an infinitesimal percentage of the Chinese population, and after he and allies scrapped a two-term limit designed expressly to prevent another leader for life
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 10, 2023
許多西方媒體還指出,習近平連任之際,中國內憂外患的大背景令其執政充滿挑戰。
路透社的推文說,習近平打破慣例,第三次出任中國國家主席,加緊了對中國這個世界第二大經濟體的控制;與此同時,中國正試圖“擺脫新冠疫情帶來的衰退,外交方面的挑戰也在增加”。
Xi Jinping secured a precedent-breaking third term as president of China during a parliamentary session in which he tightened his control of the world%27s second-largest economy as it emerges from a COVID slump and diplomatic challenges mount https://t.co/jw9OyoL5Ci
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 10, 2023
《紐約時報》的推文說,習近平進入第三個中國領導人任期時,面臨著振興中國經濟的挑戰。推文指出,“中國進入經濟困境的背景是此前嚴格的新冠防控措施、房地產開發商和科技巨頭遭受打壓,以及中國與美國及其盟友的緊張局勢日益加劇。”
As he enters his third term as China’s leader, Xi Jinping faces the challenge of reviving the Chinese economy after strict Covid restrictions, crackdowns on property developers and tech giants, and escalating tensions with the U.S. and its allies. https://t.co/A8gwm0B0OM
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 10, 2023
美國作家、評論人士章家敦(Gordon Chang)寫道:“習近平一直在將中國推向懸崖,現在他有更多權力這麼做了。”
#XiJinping has been taking #China over the cliff. Now he has more power to do so. https://t.co/aCRc0mBxNe
— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) March 10, 2023
美國新聞網站Axios在發表新聞推文時說,進入習近平的第三個任期後,中國“強硬的外交政策可能還要持續至少五年”。
The Chinese Parliament%27s unanimous vote means Xi Jinping%27s authoritarianism and assertive foreign policies are likely to continue for at least another five years.https://t.co/i8b14B38pk
— Axios (@axios) March 10, 2023
美國著名民調機構皮尤研究中心也加入了對習近平連任的討論。該機構發推文說,在2022年秋季的調查中,30%的美國人表示,中國國家主席習近平的第三個任期對美國來說將是一個非常嚴重的問題,另有41%的人表示,這將是個有些嚴重的問題。
In our fall 2022 survey, 30% of Americans said that a third term for Chinese President Xi Jinping would be a very serious problem for the U.S., while an additional 41% said it would be a somewhat serious problem. https://t.co/QqmmeiIjd9 https://t.co/lx87ybul0F
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) March 10, 2023
在中國牆內的社交媒體上,習近平連任國家主席的消息受到熱烈討論,似乎讓審查人員應接不暇。
中國社交媒體分析師棵小曼(Manya Koetse)說,習近平第三個任期上了微博的熱搜,單個話題的瀏覽量超過8億,所有的熱門話題都與習近平有關。但她同時指出:“在刷新和搜索時,注意到評論區有些關閉、有些開放,視頻時而在線、時而離線,習近平的名字甚至在短時間內無法搜索。這是微博忙碌的一天!”
Xi Jinping%27s third term is top trending on Weibo, 1 topic has over 800 million views, all top 3 trends Xi-related. While refreshing & searching, noticed comment sections closing/opening, videos online/offline, and Xi%27s name even unsearchable for a brief moment. Busy day at Weibo! pic.twitter.com/HRXy2iIa2A
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) March 10, 2023