This is ‘Global Village Today’, which delivers major news from various countries around the world.
Moderator) What news do you have today?
Reporter) Yes. The 20th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China kicked off on the 16th. In his work report, President Xi Jinping emphasized security and strong countermeasures against the coronavirus. The Ukrainian capital, Kyuub, was attacked by Russian troops on the morning of the 17th. At least eight people have been killed in a fire in a prison in Iran where anti-government protesters are detained.
Moderator) This is the first news of the global village today. An important event started on the 16th in China, right?
Reporter) Yes. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CCP) kicked off on the 16th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. On the first day, about 2,300 Communist Party representatives (delegates), key party leaders such as President Xi Jinping, and former President Hu Jintao attended the event. Sun Ye-ri, spokesman for the 20th Party Congress, said the event will run until the 22nd.
Moderator) What kind of event is the party congress in the CCP?
Reporter) Yes. The Party Constitution of the Communist Party of China defines the Party Congress as the supreme leadership organ of the Communist Party. The Communist Party Congress, held in private every five years, is the largest political event in China. Here, a central committee member to elect the party leadership is selected, the party’s performance is evaluated, and policy directions for the next session are presented.
Moderator) It can be said that the most important task of the party congress is the composition of the Central Committee, right?
Reporter) Yes. At the end of the party congress period, a new Central Committee consisting of 200 Central Committee members and 170 candidate members is elected. The Central Committee includes the highest level officials, such as heads of regional and state-owned enterprises, and government ministers.
Moderator) Is this Central Committee electing key party leaders?
Reporter) That’s right. In the first plenary session held on the day after the party congress, the Central Committee members elect the key leadership members: the Central Politburo, the Standing Committee, and the General Secretary. Currently, there are 25 members of the Central Politburo, including the Standing Committee. There are 7 standing members.
Moderator) Who is the current standing member of the Central Politburo?
Reporter) Yes. General Secretary Xi Jinping, President of the State Council, Premier Li Keqiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Zhansu, President Wang Yang of the National People’s Political Consultative Conference, Secretary Wang Huning, Secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, Zhao Leji, Secretary of the Central Discipline Committee, and Deputy Prime Minister Han Han.
Moderator) Isn’t it the third consecutive term of General Secretary Xi Jinping, which is most notable during the party congress?
Reporter) Yes. Xi is currently the President of the State, Party General Secretary, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. It is highly likely that the party’s general secretary and the president of the Central Military Commission will be confirmed for the third consecutive term at the National People’s Congress (NPC) to be held in the spring of next year.
Moderator) Has President Xi been in power for 10 years already?
Reporter) Yes. If President Xi confirms his third term at the party congress, he will be in power for 15 years. He will become China’s supreme leader for three consecutive terms for the first time since the reform and opening era.
(Moderator) Did President Xi give a speech on the 16th, the first day of the party congress?
Reporter) Yes. Reported on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. In his speech, he emphasized strengthening national security capabilities, securing food and energy supplies, stabilizing supply chains, improving disaster response capabilities, and protecting personal information.
Moderator) Shall we summarize the highlights of the speech on this day (16th)?
Reporter) Yes. First of all, the mention of corona prevention stands out. Xi stressed that the so-called ‘zero-corona’ policy was a people’s war to stop the spread of the virus, and that it had achieved great results.
Moderator) Does it sound like there will be no change in the zero-corona policy, which is complaining of great fatigue in some parts of China?
Reporter) Yes. The following economic sectors emphasized that “high-quality development” is important for China’s future, and that the party should increase income and make the people happy. He also emphasized that the next five years are very important and that “reform and openness” should be strengthened.
Host) Tensions with Taiwan, which China regards as its territory, have been on the rise since last year. Was there any mention of Taiwan?
Reporter) Yes. “We will continue to pursue peaceful reunification with sincerity, sincerity and utmost efforts,” Xi said.
Moderator) Are you saying that you will not tolerate Taiwan’s independence?
Reporter) That’s right. Meanwhile, in his speech on the 16th, President Xi emphasized that a historic opportunity has come to elevate China’s status and influence in the international community. “In the world today, tremendous change is accelerating, a new scientific, technological revolution, and industrial transformation are underway, and there is a significant shift in the international balance of power,” he said. “This presents a strategic opportunity for China to pursue its development.” he emphasized.
Moderator) Do you mean to continue pursuing China’s goal of expanding its influence externally?
moderator) Yes. Xi stressed that the Communist Party must foster a sense of purpose, courage and self-belief, and will not be swayed by errors or threatened, and will not succumb to pressure. He also re-emphasized the principle of foreign policy: respecting other countries, coexisting independently and peacefully, opposing hegemony and politics by force, Cold War mindset, and double standards.
Moderator) The Global Village is the next news today. This time I’m going to Ukraine. The Ukrainian capital, Kwai, was attacked again on the 17th.
Reporter) Yes. A drone launched by Russia attacked Kyuu. The Ukrainian government said an Iranian self-destruct drone was used in the attack. Soldiers opened fire at drones after an explosion erupted in the center of Kivu. Anti-aircraft rockets were seen ascending into the sky.
Moderator) Were there any casualties in this attack?
Reporter) Yes. The Ukrainian government says four people have been killed in an attack on a residential building in Kyuu. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said it had shot down 37 Russian drones since the night of the 16th. It is said to be equivalent to 85% of the drones involved in the attack.
How did the Ukrainian side react to this attack?
Reporter) Yes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media telegram on the 17th that “the enemy has been threatening civilians all night and all morning.” said. President Mikhail Podolyak also tweeted after the drone attack that Russia should be expelled from the G20 and other international organizations.
Moderator) It is known that the Russian military is increasing the use of drones for self-destruction. Western intelligence authorities have said that the Russian military has acquired a large number of self-destruct drones from Iran, right?
Reporter) Yes. However, Iran has denied that it has supplied drones for self-destruction to Russia, and reaffirmed its position on the 17th. Meanwhile, Volker Turk, the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called for an end to drone attacks on civilians. The U.S. embassy in Ukraine has also called the attack a “shameful “do it your way” act.
Host) Are there any news that other regions in Ukraine other than Kyuu were also attacked on this day (17th)?
Reporter) Yes. The vicinity of the Zaporiza nuclear power plant complex has been bombarded again. A sunflower oil storage in southern Mkolayu was also attacked and set on fire. An energy facility in the south-central Dnipropetrovsk region was also on fire after a missile attack. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s power grid operator, Ukrenergo, said energy infrastructure in central and northern parts of the country had been damaged by Russian attacks.
Moderator) Do you have any words from the Russian side about this attack?
Reporter) Yes. Russia’s Ministry of Defense said in a daily battle description on the 17th that it used high-performance and precision weapons to attack military targets and energy infrastructure in Ukraine in large numbers. He also explained that the attack hit designated targets and repulsed Ukrainian forces that were trying to break through the defenses in the southern Kherson region.
Host) There was a big accident on the Russian side last weekend, right? Have you been injured in a gun accident at a military shooting range?
Reporter) Yes. At a military shooting range in Belgorod, near Ukraine, two people fired firearms during a shooting training on the 15th, killing 11 people. The Russian Ministry of Defense called them “terrorists” and announced that they were killed on the spot with counter fire.
Moderator) Have the identities of the shooters been revealed?
Reporter) Yes. The Russian Ministry of Defense said they were from the former Soviet republic without further explanation. Meanwhile, a high-ranking Ukrainian official said the shooters were from the Muslim-majority Republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia and opened fire after arguing over religious issues on the 15th.
Host) Global Village Today, let’s look at one more news. A fire broke out in a prison in Iran where anti-government protesters are held on the 15th, killing four people. Has the death toll increased since then?
Reporter) Yes. Iran’s judiciary issued a statement on the 17th, saying that eight people have been killed so far in a fire in Ebin prison. According to the statement, the fire started on the evening of the 15th after inmates fought among inmates at the prison workshop. All the victims were imprisoned in the thieves’ zone and died from inhalation of smoke and toxic gas.
Host) Isn’t Ebin Prison a well-known place in the international community?
Reporter) Yes. International human rights groups have accused the prison authorities of torture, threats of indefinite detention, prolonged interrogation and refusal to treat inmates. In 2018, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Ebin Prison for serious human rights violations.
Host) Anti-government protests have been ongoing in Iran recently. Some of those who took part in the protests are known to be imprisoned in Ebin Prison, right?
Reporter) Yes. Hundreds of arrested anti-government protesters have been imprisoned in Ebin Prison. Many other people charged with security are detained here, including political prisoners and Iranians with dual citizenship.
Moderator) Because of this, didn’t it say that the fire was related to the recent anti-government protests?
Reporter) Yes. However, it is an unverifiable statement. Iranian authorities, of course, denied that claim.
Moderator) According to media reports, anti-government protests continued in Iran on the 17th?
Reporter) Yes. Anti-government protests took place on the 17th in several cities, including central Iran’s Yazd and northwestern Piranshar, and in the capital, Tehran. Video posted on the Internet showed protesters burning tires in the streets and chanting the death of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Moderator) It is being said that the protests pose the most serious challenge to the regime since the Islamic Republic was established in Iran in 1979. Protests sparked by the death of a young woman?
Reporter) Yes. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish Iranian, was Satan. Ahmini died on the 16th of last month after being detained by the customs police for not wearing his headcover, hijab properly. Police officials announced that Amini had died of a heart attack, but his family insisted that he died from being beaten by the police. Since then, violent anti-government protests have erupted in many parts of Iran and have continued to this day.
Moderator) Isn’t it known that the Iranian military and police forcefully suppressed the protests, resulting in many casualties?
Reporter) Yes. Human rights groups estimate that at least 200 people have been killed so far. Iranian military and police are using physical force to quell the protests, including firing live bullets and beatings.
In the midst of this, the European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on Iran in relation to this situation?
Reporter) Yes. EU foreign ministers announced on the 17th that they were sanctioning 11 individuals and four institutions responsible for cracking down on anti-government protests. EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Rousseff Borrell tweeted: “We have unanimously decided to take action against those responsible for the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent suppression of peaceful protests.”
Moderator) Yes. Global Village Today, I will listen up to here.