Also read the extensive background story: Not everyone saw Xi’s presidency coming, but ‘he had a promotion in mind from day one’

“The situation in Hong Kong has reached a great transition from chaos to rule,” Xi told a Communist Party delegation at the opening of the congress, which is held every five years. Britain ceded Hong Kong in 1997 and since then China has increasingly taken power in the former British Crown Colony.

The president also promised a “great fight against separatism and interference” on the island of Taiwan, which China regards as a rebel province. Xi expressed his determination to protect his country’s territorial integrity and oppose Taiwan’s independence. “We will never agree to stop the use of force against Taiwan,” the head of state said.

Britain ceded Hong Kong in 1997 and since then China has increasingly taken power in the former British Crown Colony. Xi stressed that his crackdown on corruption has removed “serious latent dangers” within the Communist Party and the country’s military. “The fight against corruption has won a major victory and has been fully consolidated, removing serious latent dangers within the party, state and military.” However, critics argue that Xi has used his anti-corruption campaign to cripple opponents.

Xi is expected to be awarded a historic third term as general secretary at the party congress. He is known as the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, the founder of communist China. If he gets a third term, it’s against tradition. It is the norm for party leaders to resign after a maximum of two terms. In addition to being secretary general, Xi is also China’s president and had previously scrapped a rule that he could remain in the role for a maximum of two terms.

See below what is really going on between Taiwan and China.