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| China’s Communist Party Declares Xi Jinping ‘Core’ Leader | China’s Communist Party Declares Xi Jinping ‘Core’ Leader |
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| BEIJING — President Xi Jinping of China came out of a Communist Party conclave significantly strengthened on Thursday, when he was formally elevated to the status of “core” leader. The term suggests Mr. Xi has joined the same revered league as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping before a big shake-up in the party’s top ranks next year. | BEIJING — President Xi Jinping of China came out of a Communist Party conclave significantly strengthened on Thursday, when he was formally elevated to the status of “core” leader. The term suggests Mr. Xi has joined the same revered league as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping before a big shake-up in the party’s top ranks next year. |
| The meeting of the Central Committee, which consists of senior party members, also set in motion plans for a congress in the second half of next year, which is virtually certain to confirm Mr. Xi as national leader for five additional years and to appoint a new cohort of officials under him. Naming Mr. Xi the party’s “core” leader does not have any clear immediate consequences, but it suggests that he has gained the upper hand before he and his colleagues must decide China’s next leadership lineup. | The meeting of the Central Committee, which consists of senior party members, also set in motion plans for a congress in the second half of next year, which is virtually certain to confirm Mr. Xi as national leader for five additional years and to appoint a new cohort of officials under him. Naming Mr. Xi the party’s “core” leader does not have any clear immediate consequences, but it suggests that he has gained the upper hand before he and his colleagues must decide China’s next leadership lineup. |
| Since Mr. Xi became general secretary of the party in 2012, the leadership “with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core has acted on its words, led by example, and staunchly promoted comprehensively and strictly managing the party,” said the official communiqué from the four-day meeting. It also demanded obedient unity under Mr. Xi. | Since Mr. Xi became general secretary of the party in 2012, the leadership “with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core has acted on its words, led by example, and staunchly promoted comprehensively and strictly managing the party,” said the official communiqué from the four-day meeting. It also demanded obedient unity under Mr. Xi. |
| “For a country and for a party, a leading core is vitally important,” said the document, issued by Xinhua, the official news agency, and solemnly read on Chinese state television. | |
| “In thought, politics and action, the entire party must conscientiously remain tightly in step with the party center,” it said, using the party’s name for the central leadership. It urged officials to “vigorously defend the authority of the party center.” | “In thought, politics and action, the entire party must conscientiously remain tightly in step with the party center,” it said, using the party’s name for the central leadership. It urged officials to “vigorously defend the authority of the party center.” |
| The party had earlier deemed only Mao, Deng and the former president Jiang Zemin as “core” leaders. It is a kind of political halo that suggests the holder dominates his peers. The latest decision suggests that Mr. Xi has already won similar pre-eminence, even before finishing his first term. | The party had earlier deemed only Mao, Deng and the former president Jiang Zemin as “core” leaders. It is a kind of political halo that suggests the holder dominates his peers. The latest decision suggests that Mr. Xi has already won similar pre-eminence, even before finishing his first term. |
| Christopher K. Johnson, an expert on Chinese politics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that the elevation was a “huge deal.” | Christopher K. Johnson, an expert on Chinese politics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that the elevation was a “huge deal.” |
| “The core designation puts him on a path toward granting him ideological arbiter status,” Mr. Johnson said by email. That, he said, “could have big implications for appointments next fall,” when the congress is likely to meet and endorse a new leadership. | “The core designation puts him on a path toward granting him ideological arbiter status,” Mr. Johnson said by email. That, he said, “could have big implications for appointments next fall,” when the congress is likely to meet and endorse a new leadership. |
| At that congress, many leaders must retire, giving Mr. Xi room to reshape the party’s top tiers. Under the informal retirement ceiling, five of the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the party’s highest body, must step down, leaving only Mr. Xi and the premier, Li Keqiang. | |
| In the past two leadership successions, a likely heir emerged five or even 10 years before the incumbent’s retirement as party chief. But some political insiders and analysts have said that Mr. Xi may delay choosing a successor so that he has more time and more choices. | In the past two leadership successions, a likely heir emerged five or even 10 years before the incumbent’s retirement as party chief. But some political insiders and analysts have said that Mr. Xi may delay choosing a successor so that he has more time and more choices. |
| Mr. Xi and his allies have been preparing for the move since the start of the year, when dozens of provincial leaders lauded Mr. Xi as a “core” leader. Recently, some revived the campaign of acclaim, called for “absolute loyalty” to him and defended his “absolute authority” as party leader. This week, People’s Forum, a party-run magazine, said that there were “high expectations for further defining General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core status.” | Mr. Xi and his allies have been preparing for the move since the start of the year, when dozens of provincial leaders lauded Mr. Xi as a “core” leader. Recently, some revived the campaign of acclaim, called for “absolute loyalty” to him and defended his “absolute authority” as party leader. This week, People’s Forum, a party-run magazine, said that there were “high expectations for further defining General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core status.” |
| But all that fell short of the official imprimatur given by the Central Committee, which brought together 348 officials for its latest meeting. | But all that fell short of the official imprimatur given by the Central Committee, which brought together 348 officials for its latest meeting. |
| Mr. Xi also won endorsement for two new sets of rules — on party political life and supervision — that offer tools to cut off corruption, strengthen top-down control over officials and extend the reach of the party. | Mr. Xi also won endorsement for two new sets of rules — on party political life and supervision — that offer tools to cut off corruption, strengthen top-down control over officials and extend the reach of the party. |