New CCP Politburo and Standing Committee
Newly elected General Secretary Xi Jinping stepped out with his 6 colleagues of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner most sanctum of political power in China – Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, and Zhang Gaoli – to meet the international press at the close of the CCP’s 18th National Congress yesterday.
This is an older cohort than the last group, averaging 63.4 years compared with 62.1 years five years ago. With the exception of Messrs Xi and Li, all the others are 64 or above who will have to make way for newcomers next time round. (Subsequent posts will look at the major players more closely.)
source: Xinhua
In addition to Party Chief, Mr Xi was named Chairman of the Central Military Committee (CMC), in contrast to his predecessor Hu Jintao who was only able to take the helm there two years after he became General Secretary cum President of State. This indicates the transition of power went smoother than expected and bodes well for Mr Xi to consolidate power and set his political and economic development and reform agenda much earlier. Mr Xi will assume the Presidency next spring at the National People’s Congress (NPC) that elects the highest officials in government.
First to be introduced by Mr Xi, Mr Li, practiced in economics and law, is destined to become the next Premier next March. North Korea trained Zhang Dejiang is expected to head up the NPC, which despite its rubber-stamp reputation, is witnessing sharper debate and a rise in opposition votes. Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng, appearing fourth in line, is likely to become the Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference CPPCC), China’s advisory body. Liu Yunshan, fifth to step out, most likely oversees culture and media affairs and it remains to be seen how he will deal with China’s burgeoning press, both traditional and Internet-based. Mr Zhang, the last to meet reporters, is slated to become Executive Vice-Premier.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was 6th entrant Mr Wang Qishan, an economics and finance specialist who takes up the unenviable task of fighting graft within the Party. He was appointed Secretary of the Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection (CCDI) which set to work right away. A veteran state-owned bank governor and Mayor of Beijing at the height of the SARS crisis in 2003-2004, he is affectionately known as ‘chief of the fire brigade’ – putting out fires in the financial world, the economy, and in broader society. Given his deep financial credentials and the fallout of the Bo Xilai affair, he has been given a strong mandate to go after economic criminals.
In his farewell speech, Mr Hu singled out corruption as the biggest danger faced by the Party and government. Mr Xi, in his first speech as supreme leader, conveyed the same sentiments: “There are many pressing problems within the Party that need to be resolved, particularly corruption, taking bribes, being divorced from the people, going through formalities, and bureaucratism caused by some in the Party…(We must) solve major problems of the Party, improve out conduct and maintain close ties to the people.”
Several younger rising stars were elevated into the top 25. Guangdong Party Chief Wang Yang, seen by many as an economic liberal who advocates deeper economic and political reforms, joined 17 other non-Standing Committee colleagues. Li Yuanchao, the always smiling chief of the Party’s powerful Organization Department, also joined the ranks. Two prominent woman made the cut, Liu Yandong, tipped to become a Vice-Premier, and Sun Chunlan, who some speculate will become head honcho in Tianjin.
Among the youngest to ascend are Inner Mongolia Party boss and experienced Tibet expert Hu Chunhua who could take over from Wang Yang in Guangdong and Sun Zhengcai who could be dispatched to clean up Chongqing, the former bastion of Bo Xilai. Beijing Party chief Guo Jinlong was promoted along with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng. Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu will continue to oversee domestic security, a portfolio that was downgraded from the Standing Committee. Finally, Liu Qibao joins the select group who some claim will head up the Propaganda Ministry.