Chinese President Xi Jinping won a third official five-year term as president on Friday, following a vote by the country’s mostly ceremonial legislature.
The National People’s Congress voted 2,952 to 0 to re-elect Xi, who is 69, putting him on track to stay in power for life.
Xi’s victory was a foregone conclusion as he has sidelined potential rivals and filled the highest ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his own supporters since he first came to power in 2012.
PNA members are appointed by the ruling party and dissidents are not common.
CHINA WRITES FURIOUS LETTER TO HAWLEY ABOUT COVID ORIGINS LAW: ‘POLITICAL MANIPULATION’
Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during a session of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Xi nominated himself in October for a third five-year term as party general secretary, breaking a long-standing Chinese tradition in which leaders relinquish power after two terms, or once every ten years.
His two-term limit had previously been struck out of China’s constitution, leading experts to predict that he could choose to stay in power for life.
JOSH HAWLEY UNVEILS PLAN TO STOP CHINESE COMPANIES AND CCP-LINKED ENTITIES FROM PURCHASING US FARMLAND
Chinese President Xi Jinping walks to cast his vote during a session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) to select state leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
NPC members were not given a list of potential other candidates, so Xi was assumed to be unchallenged. The electoral process was mostly carried out in secret.
In tandem with the extension of the presidency, Xi was unanimously named commander of the People’s Liberation Army, the formal name for China’s military.
CHINA URGES KEVIN MCCARTHY TO AVOID REPEAT NANCY PELOSI TRIP TO TAIWAN
Chinese President Xi Jinping looks up after voting to select state leaders during a session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
China’s military is unique in that it is led by the ruling political party, rather than its members who are sworn to defend the country or a constitution.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The elections came as China faces mounting international pressure to appease its aggression in the East China Sea and its hostilities with Taiwan and Hong Kong, and to demand Russia end its invasion of Ukraine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
