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China congress: No heir apparent as Xi reveals top leadership China congress: No heir apparent as Xi reveals top leadership
(about 3 hours later)
China has revealed its new senior leadership committee, breaking with tradition by not including a clear successor to President Xi Jinping.China has revealed its new senior leadership committee, breaking with tradition by not including a clear successor to President Xi Jinping.
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. The omission cements Mr Xi's grip on China for the next five years, a day after his name and his teachings were written into the constitution.
But it raises questions over whether Mr Xi, 64, intends to rule beyond 2022.
Five new appointments were made to the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, China's most powerful body.Five new appointments were made to the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, China's most powerful body.
The absence of an heir raises questions over how long Mr Xi intends to rule. Why does the Politburo Standing Committee matter?
Apart from 64-year-old Mr Xi, premier Li Keqiang, 62, was the only committee member to retain his position. The committee is the top body of China's all-powerful Communist Party. Its role is to discuss and decide on major policy issues.
Chinese leaders have in recent decades hinted at one or more possible heirs to the Standing Committee at the beginning of their final term, indicating a clear line of succession. The party's constitution says China's top leader must also be a member of the standing committee. So appointments are keenly watched.
In the new line-up, Premier Li Keqiang, 62, is the only member to retain his position, apart from Mr Xi.
What kind of signal does the new line-up send?
Chinese leaders have traditionally hinted at possible heirs through committee reshuffles at the beginning of their final term.
There had been speculation that Mr Xi would elevate his protégé Chen Miner and Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua, both of whom are in their 50s - young enough to be credible successors.There had been speculation that Mr Xi would elevate his protégé Chen Miner and Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua, both of whom are in their 50s - young enough to be credible successors.
But the six dark-suited men who walked out on stage on Wednesday were all in their 60s and are all likely to retire at the end of this five-year term. But the fact that the new appointees were all in their 60s, and likely to retire at the end of this five-year term, sends a different signal.
The absence of any younger members will fuel speculation about Mr Xi's long-term intentions and his eventual successor. The absence of any younger members will fuel speculation about Mr Xi's long-term intentions.
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. Could Xi leader break the 10-year rule?
Several international news organisations, including the BBC, Financial Times and The New York Times were denied access to the announcement, at Beijing's Great Hall of the People. The tradition emerged in the 1990s, when veteran leader Deng Xiaoping sought to avoid a repeat of the chaos that marked the Mao era and its immediate aftermath.
The Foreign Correspondent's Club of China said in a statement it was "gross violation of the principles of press freedom". Mr Xi's two predecessors have followed the orderly pattern of succession. But since he came to power in 2012, he has shown his readiness to write his own rules.
What does this mean for China's leader? The party voted on Tuesday to entrench Mr Xi's name and ideology. The unanimous vote to incorporate "Xi Jinping Thought" into the constitution significantly strengthens Mr Xi's political control.
The apparent absence of potential successors in the Standing Committee consolidates power with Mr Xi for the next five years, and points to a continued role for him after 2022. Even if he decided to stand down in 2022, his influence is now so great that he could continue to effectively rule the country.
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. Analysis: On the offensive
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. Carrie Gracie, BBC News, Beijing
Elected president in 2012, Mr Xi began his second five-year term as of this year's congress. Breaking the mould on the succession, as with so much else, is part of the Chinese president's New Era, as he has termed it.
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. But don't imagine that now the Congress is over, you can forget about Mr Xi's New Era. In the clash of political civilisations, he has put China on the offensive.
In his speech to Congress, he set out a vision not just for the five years ahead but for 30, and talked of a socialist model which provides, "a new option for other countries and nations".
At home China is accelerating its ability to listen to every call and track every face, online posting, movement and purchase. Expect it now to export not just the governance model but the cyber weapons to make that work.
Even as the party unveiled its new leadership, it excluded major Western news organisations from the ceremony.
Officially no reason was given for barring the BBC, Financial Times, Economist, New York Times and Guardian, but unofficially journalists were told that their reporting was to blame - another sign of Xi's determination to control the message at home and abroad.
Read more from Carrie Gracie
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'
By Carrie Gracie, China editor, Beijing
China's plans for a new leadership unfold in great secrecy and the only certainty was party chief Xi Jinping.
China has suffered many succession struggles and the absence of a next generation leader will trigger speculation over how long Xi Jinping intends to rule.
As for the exclusion of several foreign news organisations, no official reason was given. But unofficially journalists were told their reporting was to blame - a sign of China's growing determination to control the message at home and abroad.