Xi Jinping’s economic plan and defence spending in the South China Sea: Key takeaways from the National People’s Congress

China’s government has responded to increasing pressure to improve the country’s economy, by further emphasising the role of new, high tech industries in the nation’s future. The most important political meeting of the year — the National People’s Congress — began on Tuesday at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. The economy has been struggling under the weight of an ongoing and enormous real estate crisis, high local government debt and the lowest level of foreign direct investment since the early 1990s. The situation has squeezed everyday consumers and left some waiting indefinitely for unfinished apartments they’ve already paid for….