As thousands of delegates from across China gather in Beijing this week for the annual parliamentary session, a subtle change in the atmosphere can be sensed in the capital. While most ordinary Chinese citizens pay little attention to the events inside the Great Hall of the People, the significant 1950s modernist structure adjacent to Tiananmen Square, the effects of this week’s meetings resonate throughout the city.
Security measures have been intensified, with additional uniformed personnel stationed on Beijing’s bridges to prevent any protests reminiscent of Peng Lifa’s demonstration at Sitong Bridge prior to the 20th party congress in 2022. Commuters at busy subway stations are subjected to random identification checks. Virtual private networks, which allow users to bypass internet censorship, are experiencing slowdowns as authorities tighten control over information flow from outside the country.
It is crucial for the Communist Party that the concurrent sessions of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body, and the National People’s Congress (NPC), which serves as China’s rubber-stamp parliament, proceed without issues. Collectively referred to as the Two Sessions, these meetings are the most significant annual event in China’s political calendar.
From Beijing’s perspective, the outside world seems to be in turmoil. China’s assertion of being a stable force amid global chaos is reinforced by current events, such as the escalating verbal exchanges between the presidents of the US and Ukraine, and the precarious state of the US-backed ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Aside from a few headlines regarding tariffs, China remains largely absent from the news cycle. The tariffs themselves are not a major concern for the public, even as China is anticipated to announce another round of countermeasures against the US following Donald Trump’s threat of an additional 10% duty.
“I’m not worried about the trade war,” said Wang Zichen, an 18-year-old salesperson in Beijing’s upscale Chaoyang district. “The US and China are just having some issues that need resolving… [the US] is a friendly country.” Wang is more focused on attracting his next customer, as business has been slow. In 2024, total consumer goods sales in Chaoyang fell by 4%, while commercial and residential property sales dropped by 10% and 13%, respectively, when measured in square meters.
China was expected to rebound from the pandemic with a surge in consumer spending, but many on the street agree that this has not materialized. Real estate prices are declining, and millennials and Gen-Z workers are facing challenges in finding employment. Even middle-aged individuals, including those with young children, are remaining at home without jobs. Like the younger generations, they are adopting a “lying flat” approach, opting for passivity in a society that seems to offer little reward for hard work.