China's National People's Congress (NPC) - Closing Ceremony

BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 20: Members of a band from the People's Liberation Army leave following a speech by China's President Xi Jinping after the closing session of the National People's Congress at The Great Hall Of The People on March 20, 2018 in Beijing, China. The annual gathering of Chinese lawmakers concluded with a nationalistic speech by president Xi Jinping, his first public address since the abolishment of term limits marked the beginning of his indefinite rule. Xi spoke confidently of China's determination to take its place in the world, and gave the strongest sign in decades that the Communist government wants to bring Taiwan back under Beijing's control. Xi warned that China would never allow 'one inch' of territory to be separated from it, and said any attempts to split China will receive 'the punishment of history'. The denunciation appeared to be aimed at the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act this week that allows high-level U.S. visits to Taiwan. Xi's speech earned wide applause from the nearly 3,000 loyal delegates at the National People's Congress, which voted earlier this month to amend the constitution to allow the 64-year old Xi the possibility of being a 'leader for life'. The concentration of virtually unchecked power has stirred worries of China's return to an era of autocratic rule not seen since Mao Zedong. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)