BEIJING — The entirety of the Chinese security state is on display in central Beijing this week, as the ruling Communist Party holds its biggest political confab of the year: the Two Sessions. It’s a highly orchestrated event but an extremely important one for Xi Jinping, China’s strongman leader, who has been steadily increasing his power over the past decade.

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Xi tolerates no dissent or opposition, so the security apparatus is making sure nothing can disrupt the proceedings.

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Police keep watch on the road leading to Tiananmen Square, the site of pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989 and key Communist Party buildings, including the Great Hall of the People.

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A police officer keeps watch on a bus driving through central Beijing. Police check IDs against lists of alleged troublemakers and search for leaflets or protest banners.

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A security officer keeps watch inside the Great Hall of the People, where the rubber-stamp parliament is approving predetermined decisions.

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Chinese military officers line up outside the Great Hall of the People. On the surrounding streets, plainclothes officers patrol.

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The security measures are as much about a show of strength as they are about keeping order during the event.

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Guards have been hired to keep 24/7 watch over pedestrian bridges across the city to prevent any demonstrations. During the 2022 meetings, a man unfurled a banner over a bridge, protesting against Xi. He was quickly detained.

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A security camera in Xidan, a popular commercial street not far from Tiananmen Square. Extra cameras have been installed as part of intensified security efforts, including 527 more along highways in Beijing.

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People line up at a checkpoint at the entrance of Tiananmen Square for bag checks, a year-round measure that is enforced more strictly during the political meeting.

Gilles Sabrié for The Washington Post

Greeters direct delegates to their buses and hotels. More than 5,000 delegates from around China are in Beijing for the political extravaganza.

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A Chinese guard stands beneath a portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong displayed on Tiananmen Gate. Security around the square is always tight, but has been heightened during the Two Sessions.

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