In a long dispatch, New China reveals in part how the 300 main Chinese leaders were selected within the central committee, whose names were published at the end of the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this weekend. According to the official agency, Xi Jinping would have been personally involved in the choice of candidates.
From our correspondent in Beijing,
This selection of the president’s men began at the end of 2020, according Xinhua. As Party General Secretary, Xi Jinping personally chaired the March 2021 meeting of the “ central committee political bureau standing committee for special research which set up the group responsible for inspecting executives.
Loyalty to two establishments »
He also gave instructions on the process and the selection criteria – with obviously in these criteria that of loyalty to the Head of State and the principle of “two establishments”. The theory established by historic resolution of the party in 2021 intended to ” establish the status of Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the party’s central committee and the whole party » and to « establish the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era. »
Respect for the Head of State as “ core of the party and followed his ideas. The candidates, according to Xinhua Quoted by the South China Morning Postalso had to be able to Wrestle ” against the western sanctions and preserve national security. Finally, there was a check on the integrity of the candidates. ” Pay attention to the behavior of spouses, children and their spouses, leading executives in business », say the guidelines reported by the agency New China. Corruption often coming from relatives.
This long process led to the renewal of half of the political bureau. The four newcomers among the seven members of the standing committee at the top of Chinese power are loyal to the president. Some worked with him directly when Xi Jinping was general secretary of the wealthy eastern province of Zhejiang (west).
“ New Zhejiang Army »
“ Xi Jinping was the party secretary in Zhejiang province and in this position he was very involved in party affairs, government affairs, but also military affairs.emphasizes Gao Zhikai, deputy director of the think tank Chinese Center for China and Globalization (CGC). As a political commissar, he doubled the strength of the People’s Army garrison in Zhejiang, continues the political scientist. In fact, he managed the province in all its aspects, which allowed him to establish many connections. He met with provincial heads, prefecture officials, mayors, etc. And he zoomed in on qualified people he had met, worked with. It is therefore not surprising at all. »
A team of loyal to the president, which some have dubbed the “New Zhejiang Army”. With the main figure Li Qiang, the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of Shanghai who has experience in two major provinces (Zhejiang and Jiangsu) as well as at the head of the Chinese economic capital which he confined for nearly three months in the spring of 2022. But he lacks political depth and, in any case, he has no experience as Deputy Prime Minister in the central government. A loyal future Prime Minister, therefore, who in five months should give way behind the Head of State.
►Also read: Xi Jinping secures a third term as head of China