The 20th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China (CCP) was a defining moment in China’s history as many unsaid norms were broken in the selection of the new leadership. After months of speculation with regard to the Party Congress, Xi Jinping walked out on 23 Oct, ’22 with the new Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) members that were filled with friends and allies.
Besides Xi, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi are the other members of the newly formed PBSC.
The Congress which commenced on 16 Oct, ‘22 saw stepped up preparations especially in the backdrop of the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. The in and out movement outside of the country was banned and the one day COVID tests for reporters covering the event was increased to two days. The final announcement of the portfolios assigned to the new leaders was made public on 23 Oct, ’22, leaving many in shock and awe.
However, various predictions by scholars and experts with regards to the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) and Politburo (PB) were made ahead of the 20th Party Congress. As Li Keqiang was all set to retire this Party Congress, Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua were the top two contenders for the post of Premier. Wang, belonging to the same faction as Li, was not only excluded from the race to Premiership but was also forced into retirement. Hu on the other hand, who was member of the PB during the 19th Party Congress and was expected to rise to the PBSC could not even make it to the PB this Congress. On the other hand, all hopes for the candidacy of Li Qiang (former Party Secretary of Shanghai) for Premiership was lost after the poor handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai earlier this year. Surprisingly though, the COVID-19 fiasco in Shanghai, did not cost Li his career and he ended up becoming the new Premier of China, signifying that the only thing that matters in order to climb up the ladder in the Party is loyalty to Xi Jinping and following Xi Jinping’s thoughts to its core.
Three new members who made it to the PBSC, Ding Xuexiang (former Chief of Staff), Cai Qi (former Party Secretary of Beijing) and Li Xi (former Party Secretary of Guangdong) are all loyalists of Xi and have been assigned new portfolios of Executive Vice Premier, Head of the Central Secretariat and Head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), respectively. The appointment of Ding, who has zero experience of governing a provincial level economy to the post of Executive Premier, where as a part of his new job profile he would be assisting the Premier manage the country’s economy, further emphasizes on the good relations between him and Xi. Ding’s association with Xi dates back to 2007, when both of them started working together in Shanghai. Cai, on the other hand is considered one of the closest allies of Xi as both of them have worked closely for over a period of 2 years in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. While Li is not known to have directly worked under Xi, he has certainly succeeded in gaining Xi’s trust to have made it to the PBSC.
The only two candidates who were able to retain PBSC candidature from the previous Party Congress are Zhao Leji and Wang Huning – both of whom are close allies of Xi.
No female leader was appointed in the PB this Party Congress, which has not happened in China in decades
It was highly anticipated that Shen Yueyue might replace Sun Chunlan, the only female candidate in the 19th Party Congress PB who was retiring this Party Congress. However, no female leader was appointed in the PB this Party Congress, which has not happened in China in decades. The absence of any female leader at the top most positions in the Communist Party of China points towards the patriarchal hold of power within the Party.
Xi has successfully eliminated candidates from rival factions
Another shocking controversy unfolded on the closing day, 22 Oct, ’22, of the Party Congress, where former President Hu Jintao was escorted out of the meeting soon after it began which led to various speculations and became a topic of discussion on social media platforms. The manner in which Hu was escorted out of the ongoing meeting drew widespread attention, especially considering that the Chinese are very particular about formal protocols. Though the domestic media of China refrained from commenting on the issue, the Western media has reported heavily on it. Party mouthpiece, Xinhua, in an official report published later, quoted health issues due to which Hu was escorted out of the meeting. However, in a video that went viral, Hu can been seen saying something to Xi before being escorted out.
The top leadership of the Communist Party of China, which was announced on 23 Oct, ’22 indicates that Xi has successfully eliminated candidates of all rival factions and has filled the PBSC with his own trusted allies while paying absolutely no regard to age and tenure limits.
The newly elected members of the 20th Politburo Standing Committee in addition to Xi were: Li Qiang (63, Premier of PRC), Cai Qi (66, Head of Central Secretariat), Ding Xuexiang (60, Executive Premier), Li Xi (66, Head of CCDI), Wang Huning (67, Head of CPPCC), and Zhao Leji (65, Head of China’s NPC).
Xi succeeded in establishing complete control over the Party and the Country without any opposition providing enough evidence of his grip over the Party
In fact, before the Congress, various changes were made in the formalized rules of the Party and the unsaid two terms limit for top leaders set in place by Deng Xiaoping to restrict the accumulation of power in the hands of one individual. The results of the Party Congress reiterated the fact that the stature and power of Xi has grown phenomenally over the past decade and the face that he succeeded in establishing complete control over the Party and the Country without any opposition provides enough evidence of his grip over the Party. It is speculated that as Xi did not name his successor at this Party Congress, he might continue for a next term or two.
Xi has appointed various technocrats, like Ma Xingrui and Zhang Guoqing in the PB this time and the mention of the term ‘Science and Technology’ constantly during his closing ceremony speech at the Beijing Hall of People indicates that a lot of stress will be laid on ‘self-reliance’ and ‘self-production’ during the upcoming five years.
It is also expected that security concerns will be of top priority given the elevation of Chen Wenqing, another close ally of Xi, to Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (CPLAC), which oversees police, prison, national security etc. Additionally, the appointed of Wang Xiaohong and Liu Jinguo, further stresses on the point that security will be of top priority. Chen Yixin, who has good relations with Xi, is all set to take charge of the Ministry of Public Security.
Overall, this Party Congress was filled with various surprises ranging from the appointment of Li Qiang as the Premier to zero female representation to the PB. It would be interesting to see the new policy changes both inside and outside China that will happen in the next five years with the appointment of all close allies of Xi to the PBSC and PB.
Ipsa Prasun, completed her Master’s in Chinese Language from Centre for Chinese and South East Asian Studies (CCSEAS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She presently is a freelance journalist focusing mainly on political developments in China.
