Tra continuità di indirizzo e turbolenze negli apparati: i lavori del 4° Plenum del XX Comitato Centrale del Pcc

This paper examines the concept of national security, a central pillar of China’s domestic and foreign policy. Over the past decade, this concept has undergone significant expansion, evolving from a primarily traditional understanding—focused on territorial integrity and regime survival—into a comprehensive framework encompassing political, economic, technological, social, and ideological dimensions. Under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, national security has become an overarching paradigm guiding governance. The notion of “comprehensive national security” now extends beyond China’s borders, reflecting Beijing’s ambition to help shape a global security environment aligned with the strategic objectives of the Chinese Communist Party. This broader vision integrates economic resilience, technological self-reliance, supply chain security, energy security, and financial stability into the national security agenda. The 15th Five-Year Plan further confirms this expanded approach, embedding security considerations across key sectors of development and industrial policy. Domestically, recent political developments underscore the centrality of security within the institutional architecture of the People’s Republic of China. On the eve of the Fourth Plenum, a new wave of purges affected high-ranking figures within the Central Military Commission, signaling significant adjustments within the military establishment and reinforcing civilian control over the armed forces. In this context, Xi has continued to emphasize the anti-corruption campaign as a core governance priority. Framed not only as a moral imperative but also as a security necessity, the anti-corruption drive functions as a mechanism to strengthen Party discipline, ensure loyalty within the state apparatus, and safeguard regime stability. Together, these dynamics illustrate how national security has become the organizing principle of contemporary Chinese governance.