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Xi Jinping becomes 'core' leader of China Xi Jinping becomes 'core' leader of China
(about 2 hours later)
China’s ruling Communist party has declared that President Xi Jinping is the party’s “core”, putting him in a more powerful position ahead of a key congress next autumn. China’s Communist party has given the president, Xi Jinping, the title of “core” leader, putting him on par with previous strongmen Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, but signalled his power would not be absolute.
A statement released by the party following a four-day meeting of party leaders in Beijing, and carried by state media, referred to Xi as “core of the party centre”. Xi is also head of the party and the military as well as head of state. A lengthy communique released after a four-day meeting of senior officials in Beijing emphasised the importance of collective leadership. The system “must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason”, the party said.
Late Chinese strongman Deng Xiaoping coined the phrase “core leader”. Deng said himself, Mao Zedong and Jiang Zemin were core leaders, meaning they had almost absolute authority and should not be questioned. But all members should “closely unite around the central committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core”, said the document, released through state media.
Since assuming office almost four years ago, Xi has rapidly consolidated power, including heading a group leading economic reform and appointing himself commander-in-chief of the military, though as head of the Central Military Commission he already controlled the armed forces. The core leader title marks a significant strengthening of Xi’s position before a key party congress next year, at which a new standing committee, the pinnacle of power in China, will be constituted.
The plenum meeting paves the way for a congress, held every five years, in autumn 2017, at which Xi will further consolidate his power and could indicate who may replace him at the 2022 congress. Since assuming office almost four years ago, Xi has rapidly consolidated power, including heading a group leading economic change and appointing himself commander-in-chief of the military, though as head of the central military commission he already controlled the armed forces.
While head of the party, the military and the state, Xi had not previously been given the title “core”.
Deng coined the phrase “core leader”, and said he, Mao Zedong and Jiang Zemin were core leaders, meaning they had almost absolute authority and should not be questioned. Xi’s immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao, was never called the “core”.
The plenum meeting paves the way for a congress, held every five years, in autumn 2017, at which Xi will further consolidate his power and which could indicate who may replace him at the 2022 congress.
A new standing committee, which currently has seven members and is the pinnacle of power in China, will be announced at the congress.A new standing committee, which currently has seven members and is the pinnacle of power in China, will be announced at the congress.
Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based political commentator, said now that Xi was the “core”, things should go more smoothly for him at next year’s congress. But he would have more on the line, given his increased responsibility to answer for economic and social problems facing the leadership.
“If the economy continues to go downhill and the rifts in society become more serious, the responsibility of the core is greater,” Zhang said. “Your relative power and authority are greater, everyone is deferring to you. But they will be watching to see if your leadership is good or bad.”
An unofficial campaign to name Xi the “core” has been under way this year, with about two-thirds of provincial leaders referring to him as such in speeches, according to figures compiled by Reuters, before the plenum formally accorded him the title.
Steve Tsang, professor of contemporary Chinese studies at the University of Nottingham, said that although Xi remained in a strong position, there was still a year to go before the congress. “There’s still a lot of unanswered questions. Will his successor be named? Will Xi get a third term?”
Judging by recent past precedent, Xi should step down at the 2022 congress after a decade at the top, but speculation in leadership circles has swirled that he may try to stay on, perhaps giving up the post as president but remaining as party leader, the more senior of the posts.