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China congress: All eyes on committee for clues to successor China congress: No heir anointed as Xi reveals top leadership
(about 2 hours later)
Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to reveal the team of top leaders who will serve under him over the course of the next five-year term. China has revealed its new senior leadership committee, breaking with tradition by not including a clear successor to President Xi Jinping.
Mr Xi, 64, will on Wednesday announce the line-up of the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, the country's most powerful politicians. The omission cements Mr Xi's grip on China for the next five years and possibly beyond, a day after his name was written into the constitution.
Chinese leaders have in recent decades included one or more possible heirs, indicating a clear line of succession. Five new appointments were made to the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, China's most powerful body.
But there is speculation Mr Xi may buck that trend, cementing his own power. The new committee was unveiled at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
The announcement of the Standing Committee, as well as the 25-member Politburo, comes after the end of the Communist Party congress, China's most important political meeting. Vice Premier Wang Yang has been named as China's executive Vice-Premier, and Shanghai Party Secretary Han Zheng has been promoted to lead the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
They will be joined by Zhao Leji, Li Zhanshu and Wang Huning, alongside Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang to form the seven members.
Chinese leaders have in recent decades nominated one or more possible heirs to the Standing Committee at the beginning of their final term, indicating a clear line of succession.
There had been speculation that Mr Xi would elevate his protégé Chen Miner and Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua, both of whom are young enough to be credible successors.
But their absence from the new committee will fuel speculation about Mr Xi's long-term intentions and his eventual successor.
The announcement of the Standing Committee, as well as the 25-member Politburo, followed the close of the Communist Party congress, China's most important political conference.
Delegates at the meeting elected the powerful Central Committee, a group with some 200 members which meets twice a year.Delegates at the meeting elected the powerful Central Committee, a group with some 200 members which meets twice a year.
There had been rumours that Mr Xi would reduce the size of the Standing Committee from seven to five, further tightening his control, but they proved unfounded.
Several international news organisations, including the BBC, were denied access to the announcement, at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
The Foreign Correspondent's Club of China said in a statement it was "gross violation of the principles of press freedom".
What does this mean for China's leader?What does this mean for China's leader?
The party voted on Tuesday to enshrine Mr Xi's name and ideology into its constitution, elevating him to the same level as the party's founding father, Mao Zedong. The decision to not appoint potential successors to the Standing Committee consolidates power with Mr Xi for the next five years, and points to a continued role for him after 2022.
The unanimous vote to incorporate "Xi Jinping Thought" significantly strengthens Mr Xi's political control of the country, making him essentially unassailable. It is also likely to ensure him continued power and influence long after his eventual retirement. The party voted on Tuesday to enshrine Mr Xi's name and ideology into its constitution, elevating him to the level of the party's founding father, Mao Zedong.
Elected president in 2012, Mr Xi begins his second five-year term as of this year's congress. The unanimous vote by delegates to incorporate "Xi Jinping Thought" into the constitution significantly strengthens Mr Xi's political control of the country, making him essentially unassailable. It is also likely to ensure him continued power and influence long after his eventual retirement.
In recent history, Chinese leaders have served 10-year terms, but Mr Xi could continue after 2022 as party chief and head of the military, allowing him to wield influence over the country's leadership beyond the end of his presidency. Elected president in 2012, Mr Xi began his second five-year term as of this year's congress.
Do we know who will be in the final line-up? In recent history, Chinese leaders have served 10-year terms, but Mr Xi could technically stay on after 2022 as party chief and head of the military, allowing him to wield influence over the country's leadership beyond the end of his presidency.
Five of the current seven members of the Standing Committee are due to retire, with only Mr Xi and Premier Li Keqiang staying on.
An unconfirmed list of five candidates slated to join the committee, reported by both the South China Morning Post, and New York Times, contains no likely successors to Mr Xi.
Chongqing's party chief Chen Miner, 57, and Guangdong party chief Hu Chunhua, 54, both of whom are young enough to be credible successors, are not thought to be included.
But political analysts who spoke to the BBC's Chinese service suggested that Mr Hu and Mr Chen could be in the final list.
Sun Zhengcai, a Politburo member once thought of as a possible leadership contender, who was expected to be elevated to the Standing Committee, is reportedly now under investigation for violating party regulations.
How has Xi changed China?How has Xi changed China?
Mr Xi's has assumed an unprecedented number of positions since coming to power in 2012, including the title of a "core" leader of China.Mr Xi's has assumed an unprecedented number of positions since coming to power in 2012, including the title of a "core" leader of China.
His first term has been marked by significant development, a push for modernisation and increasing assertiveness on the world stage.His first term has been marked by significant development, a push for modernisation and increasing assertiveness on the world stage.
It has also seen growing authoritarianism, censorship and a crackdown on human rights.It has also seen growing authoritarianism, censorship and a crackdown on human rights.
He has spearheaded a sweeping anti-corruption campaign which has seen more than a million officials disciplined. It has been seen by some as a massive internal purge of opponents.He has spearheaded a sweeping anti-corruption campaign which has seen more than a million officials disciplined. It has been seen by some as a massive internal purge of opponents.
What is 'Xi Jinping Thought'?What is 'Xi Jinping Thought'?
At first glance, "Xi Jinping Thought" may seem like vague rhetoric, but it describes the communist ideals Mr Xi has continuously espoused throughout his rule.At first glance, "Xi Jinping Thought" may seem like vague rhetoric, but it describes the communist ideals Mr Xi has continuously espoused throughout his rule.
Its 14 main principles emphasise the Communist Party's role in governing every aspect of the country, and also include:Its 14 main principles emphasise the Communist Party's role in governing every aspect of the country, and also include:
China's 'new era'China's 'new era'
By Carrie Gracie, China editor, BeijingBy Carrie Gracie, China editor, Beijing
Xi Jinping has always admired Chairman Mao even though his own father was once jailed in one of Mao's purges and Xi himself spent his teenage years living in a cave and working as a farmer.Xi Jinping has always admired Chairman Mao even though his own father was once jailed in one of Mao's purges and Xi himself spent his teenage years living in a cave and working as a farmer.
Fifty years on, he joins his hero in the pages of the party constitution, the unanimous vote of congress delegates a measure of how effective his own party purges have been. He's claimed a new era in the history of Communist China.Fifty years on, he joins his hero in the pages of the party constitution, the unanimous vote of congress delegates a measure of how effective his own party purges have been. He's claimed a new era in the history of Communist China.
Where Mao united the country and Deng Xiaoping made it rich, Xi intends to make it strong.Where Mao united the country and Deng Xiaoping made it rich, Xi intends to make it strong.
Having his name in the party bible means none will dare challenge him. His comrades have already started calling him the helmsman of China and saviour of socialism.Having his name in the party bible means none will dare challenge him. His comrades have already started calling him the helmsman of China and saviour of socialism.
But Mao's paranoid one-man rule inflicted terrible mistakes and misery. Back then China was shut off from the world. Now it is the greatest trading power on the globe.But Mao's paranoid one-man rule inflicted terrible mistakes and misery. Back then China was shut off from the world. Now it is the greatest trading power on the globe.
If Xi fails, we're all the poorer. And if he succeeds, his drive for control will reach us all.If Xi fails, we're all the poorer. And if he succeeds, his drive for control will reach us all.