National Security Commission of the Chinese Communist Party

The proposals to establish a commission related to national security originated under CCP general secretary Jiang Zemin in 1997, though it was never implemented due to the fear of concentrating too much power in one person. After the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999, the Central National Security Leadership Small Group (NSLSG) was established in 2000. The National Security Commission was established at the third plenary session of the 18th CCP Central Committee in November 2013, in what was considered a major regrouping of Party structure. Analysts regarded the establishment of the CNSC one of the most "concrete" and "eye-catching" outcomes of the Plenary Session, the culmination of a more than decade-long internal debate on whether China should have a national security council.

The commission has operated very secretively, being described by The New York Times as "one of the most secretive bodies of a secretive state". Its size, staffing and powers not being publicized. It additionally contains local committees in provinces, cities and counties, which focus on domestic threats such as dissent and protests. Since its establishment, the CNSC has been chaired by CCP general secretary Xi Jinping.

History

The initial conception of the CNSC came during the Jiang Zemin era in 1997, with a proposal by Wang Daohan, later the president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. Jiang had taken interest in the United States National Security Council during his state visit to the United States that year. Out of concern that the establishment of such a body would give too much power to the leader, who would be head of both the commission and the Central Military Commission, it was never implemented.

The proposal was again reconsidered in 1999 after the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade due to concern over how long it took various state security agencies to gather information on the incident and make it known to Chinese leadership, leading to the establishment of the Central National Security Leadership Small Group (NSLSG) in 2000 to coordinate national security crisis response.

Xi Jinping later revived the idea as part of his reforms in the foreign policy and security sectors, as part of an attempt to overcome problems that have accumulated for many years. Its establishment was discussed as part of the Decision on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform at the third plenary session of the 18th CCP Central Committee in November 2013, during what was considered a "major regrouping of the top CCP power structure." Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Qin Gang stated that the NSC would aim to combat the "three evils"; namely terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism.

The Politburo held a meeting to study and decide on the establishment of the commission on January 24, 2014, which decided Xi should be its chairman. The CNSC held its first meeting on April 15, 2014, where Xi Jinping articulated a concept of "big security", saying that China "should take an overall approach to national security, strengthen the confidence of the Chinese people in the path, theories and system of socialism with distinctive Chinese features, and ensure China's durable peace and stability." These definitions contain meanings of both domestic security and foreign threats.

Between April 2014 and 2018, the CNSC had no publicly reported meetings. In 2018, it held its second publicized meeting. Between March and April 2020, the Commission held its third publicized meeting, In May 2023, the Commission held its first publicly announced meeting after the 20th CCP National Congress in 2022.

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National Security Commission of the Chinese Communist Party

History

Purpose and functions

Membership

2017 Commission membership

2022 Commission membership

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