Xi Jinping secures third term and stacks inner circle with loyalists

With all seven members of the new Politburo Standing Committee loyal to Xi, “There is no counterweight or checks and balances in the system at all.”

Xi Jinping secures third term and stacks inner circle with loyalists

(The Chinese leader comes from a political background. His father Xi Zhongshun was a close associate of Chinese military commander Liu Zhidan. In 1962, Senior Xi was thrown into prison and his wife (Xi Jinping's mom) too was banished to a labour camp. Xi Jinping, like many youngsters of his time, was asked to "denounce" his parents by those promoted to positions of responsibility.) 

Xi Jinping has been confirmed as leader of China for an unprecedented and record breaking third term, after a week-long political meeting eliminated 'key rivals' and strengthened his political power.

The 20th Party Congress, the most important meeting of the ruling Chinese Communist party five-year political cycle, saw about 2,400 delegates gather in Beijing to rubber-stamp major reshuffles and constitutional changes, media reports said.  

At a press event on Sunday, seven key Xi loyalists were revealed as members of China’s most powerful political body, the politburo standing committee (PSC), as they walked on stage in order of rank.

The privilege of three-term election was only accorded to party founder Mao Zedong.

Xi Jinping is 69.

He was elected to the powerful Central Committee despite crossing the official retirement age of 68 and completing 10-year tenure.

Several senior leaders including the number two leader Premier Li Keqiang either retired or failed to make it to the Central Committee resulting in a major shakeup of China’s politics and government.

Li Qiang, the party secretary of Shanghai, is likely to be appointed the next premier in March 2023 when Li Keqiang steps down after two terms.

Shanghai has historically been a breeding ground for top national leaders. 

While Li’s prospects might have been dented by the chaos of Shanghai’s protracted Covid lock down, analysts say Xi values loyalty and trustworthiness above all. 

Li was Xi’s chief of staff from 2004 to 2007 when Xi was Zhejiang province’s top party boss.

In 2012, China watchers said, the Chinese Communist Party needs a leader who is both strong and courageous.

More importantly, a question was posed by many : "Is Xi such a person?" 

In short and in retrospect, one can say Xi Jinping came up the ladder the hard way. It was only in 1997 - Xi's rise at the national level began to fructify.

 At the 15th CCP Congress, Xi was elected a member of the Central Committee. He was only 43.

Around 2017 - Xi Jinping's politics and foreign policy was seen as activist posture and thus invited easy comparison to Donald Trump’s difficulties in accomplishing his own diplomatic agenda. Chinese media hailed Xi's stint as one known for pushing through “historic changes”. It was also observed that Beijing would give up a well known Chinese guiding principle of “avoiding brightness, cherishing obscurity” meaning a low-profile foreign policy.

Both Chinese media and the western experts were also overwhelmed by what was given out as the 'Xi Jinping Thought'.

Among the top world leaders to congratulate Xi were North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

“The results of the Party Congress fully confirm your high political authority, as well as the unity of the party 

you lead,” Putin said, according to the Kremlin.

In 2018 Xi spearheaded the abolition of presidential term limits on leaders, paving the way for him to become leader for life. Massive anti-corruption purges during his tenure, and this week’s political reshuffles have ensured there is little, if any, opposition remaining.

A list of delegates appointed to the 205-member central committee on Saturday revealed some of the most senior rivals to Xi, with links to other factions in the party and their own power base, had been shuffled into retirement, says 'The Guardian'.

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