The latest quinquennial Chinese congress on Saturday was host to multiple departures from varied political conventions of the country. It concluded with incumbent leader Xi Jinping securing a precedent-defying third term in office. In addition to this, four allies of the incumbent leader are expected to be appointed to the Standing Committee of China’s highest policy-making body, Politburo. The clean sweep has been made possible by apparently forcing the early retirement of other officials from a governance structure that historically has witnessed sharing of power between different factions.
The developments hence pave the way for Mr. Xi’s unchallenged domination of Chinese politics for the next five years. Shattering both factional equations and ‘collective leadership’, China has been suggested to be transiting to one-man rule.
During the Congress, former leader Hu Jintao (79) was escorted off the stage before the voting was to commence on approving amendments to the party constitution. The other set of exclusions include second-ranked leader Li Keqiang and fourth-ranked Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) Member Wang Yang – both allies of Mr. Hu. Their early retirements – with both being under the unofficial retirement age of 68 – would pave the way for four new appointments to the PBSC with another two due to retire. Mr. Li will however continue as Premier until his term concludes in March.
Drew Thomposon, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the national University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NSU, Singapore) tweeted, “This is a leadership that will be focused on achieving Xi’s political goals, rather than pursuing their own agendas for what they think is best for the country. There is only one correct way to govern, and that is Xi’s way.” He added separately, “It is clear from the outcome of the 20th Party Congress that national security and the Party’s political security take precedence over economic growth.”
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