Guards, curtains obscure China political session

The annual conclave of China’s National People’s Congress in Beijing’s cavernous Great Hall of the People is a highly scripted affair, designed to showcase the Communist Party’s governance of China to the world.

But for all of the pomp and circumstance, the meetings and votes are largely a rubber-stamp formality. The actual decision-making happens out of sight behind drawn curtains, on the other side of closed doors, and down corridors manned by guards to keep away outsiders’ prying eyes.

This year’s session has an especially important task in passing constitutional amendments that will abolish term limits for the president and vice president.

The move allows head of state and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely, despite fears of a return to the catastrophic dictatorship of communist China’s founder, Mao Zedong.

In this Thursday, March 8, 2018 photo, a security official stands guard at the doors of the Great Hall of the People during a plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Tuesday, March 6, 2018 photo, an official walks out from behind a curtained-off area at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Tuesday, March 6, 2018 photo, a security official sits in a chair at a doorway at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Friday, March 2, 2018 photo, a security official is silhouetted as he stands behind frosted glass doors at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Friday, March 9, 2018 photo, a security official sits behind a rope line as he guards a corridor at the Great Hall of the People during a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Friday, March 9, 2018 photo, a military officer walks through a door flanked by a pair of security officials during a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Friday, March 9, 2018 photo, a security official stands guard at a door during a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Thursday, March 8, 2018 photo, a security official walks through a curtained-off area during a plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Tuesday, March 6, 2018 photo, security officials gesture as they stand guard at a bank of elevators at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Friday, March 9, 2018 photo, an attendant pulls back a curtain for a delegate during a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Friday, March 9, 2018 photo, ushers pull back a curtain as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, second row left, and Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Yang, second row at right, attend a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Guards, curtains obscure China political session, by Mark Schiefelbein.

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