Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The new Standing Committee

The big shots paraded (in order) in Beijing. That means that the factional disputes about who will be on the new Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China are over.

(There is a 2-minute video of the parade from the BBC on the page with the first article.)

China confirms leadership change

Xi Jinping has been confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade.

Mr Xi led the new Politburo Standing Committee onto the stage at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, signalling his elevation to the top of China's ruling Communist Party…

Most of the new committee are seen as politically conservative, and perceived reformers did not get promotion…

Mr Xi was followed out onto the stage by Li Keqiang, the man set to succeed Premier Wen Jiabao, and five other men - meaning that the size of the all-powerful Standing Committee had been reduced from nine to seven.

Those five, in order of seniority, were Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang, Shanghai party boss Yu Zhengsheng, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Tianjin party boss Zhang Gaoli…

Mr Xi has also been named chairman of the Central Military Commission, a Xinhua news agency report said, ending uncertainty over whether that post would be transferred from Hu Jintao immediately.

Mr Hu's predecessor, Jiang Zemin, held on to the post for two years after he stood down from the party leadership.

New Standing Committee member Wang Qishan has also been named head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection - the party's anti-corruption watchdog…

[T]he power transition process has been orderly, for only the second time in 60 years of Communist Party rule…

Take note of the number of people who served in Shanghai. That's were Ziang Zemin had his political base.

Profiles of new Standing Committee Members