Top Chinese leadership except Xi faces personnel changes

Mar 28, 2017, 09:00 am

By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday – It seems clear that a reshuffle will be carried out in China's top leadership except Xi Jinping. Unless a big change occurs, China is highly likely to announce major personnel changes at the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the beginning of March next year following a discussion at the 19th Communist Party Congress in the fall.

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The conference of the Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China. Some of these Politburo members are likely to replace the top leaders of the ruling party who will retire soon./ Source: Xinhua News

In the past, it was an accepted principle not to carry out a major reshuffle in the top leadership of the ruling party. It used to be arranged like this intentionally. However, things are likely to change under Xi's regime. This is due to high demand for personnel. Most of all, five out of seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, which constitutes the top leadership of the ruling party, are going to retire. Considering the fact that Premier Li Keqiang is expected to step down as well, we should say that a major reshuffle in the top leadership is inevitable.

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Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang is expected to be promoted as Premier. If he is promoted, he will start his term in March next year./ Source: Xinhua News

According to a Beijing source on Monday, the current Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (62) is expected to be promoted as Premier of the State Council, the second most powerful man in China. It is almost certain that Li Keqiang will move to the chairman position of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which is the third rank in power.

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Li Zhanshu, the current Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China, has the most potential of becoming the Chairperson of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee./ Source: Xinhua News

For the post of chairperson of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Xi's powerful ally Li Zhanshu seems to be the most potential candidate. Li, 67, is the current Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of Chin and a member of the 25-man Political Bureau. If this is the case, he will inevitably become a member of the Political Standing Committee. Wang Qishan (69), who is scheduled to retire due to the tradition of the party, might become another potential candidate if he remains in the standing committee due to the consideration of Xi Jinping.

Guangdong Provincial Party Secretary Hu Chunhua (54) and Chongqing Party Secretary Sun Zhengcai (54) are expected to compete for the chairman position of the Central Military Commission, the fifth most powerful position in China. The one who falls behind is likely to move to Vice Premier position, the seventh in power. It seems clear that both will enter the standing committee.

It is probable that Wang Huning (62), a long-time advisor to Xi Jinping and the current Director of the Central Policy Research Office, will occupy the position of the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the sixth in power. There is no doubt that the upcoming personnel changes will solidify Xi's one-man rule.

#Chinese leadership #Xi Jinping #personnel change #reshuffle