Xi Jinping All Set To Enter Another 5-Yr Term, Know All About His Rivals Dropped From PSC

China's Communist Party laid the groundwork for its leader, Xi Jinping, to extend his rule into a second decade, pushing rivals into retirement and positioning loyalists for promotions, report says.

Premier Li Keqiang and Wang Yang were not elected to the new Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on October 22, 2022, news agency Reuters reported. Analysts have interpreted this as a sign that the next Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), the party's highest decision-making body, will likely be made up exclusively of Xi Jinping supporters.

Both Li, who will step down as premier in March, and Mr. Wang, who is in charge of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, are 67 years old, making them qualified to have served another five years on the standing committee in accordance with Chinese etiquette, Reuters reported. 

Additionally, the party concluded its twice-decade congress on Saturday by approving constitutional amendments that would strengthen Xi's position as the party's de facto leader and the primacy of his political philosophy. The new Central Committee will elect the elite Politburo Standing Committee on October 23, 2022, with Xi, 69, widely expected to secure a third term as leader, Reuters reported. 

A third five-year term would cement Xi's position as China's most powerful ruler since the People's Republic's founding leader, Mao Zedong.

According to the reports, "neither is thought to have close ties to Xi, who is expected to appoint four new members to the Standing Committee on Sunday. It is anticipated that current PSC members Wang Huning, 67, and Zhao Leji, 65, who are both seen as close to Xi, will be reappointed."

Two more PSC members are past the age of retirement. 

Who Are The Rivals Of Xi Jinping?

Premier Li Keqiang:

Premier Li Keqiang, China's No. 2 leader, was among the most notable absentees, having issued signals on economic policy that contradicted  Xi's views at times. 

Li's absence from the new Central Committee indicates that he is stepping down from the Politburo Standing Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. 

An economist by profession, Li was head of China's executive branch as well as one of the leading figures behind China's Financial and Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, National Security and Deepening Reforms. 

Through his involvement in the Communist Youth League, Li rose through the ranks. Li was the governor of Henan and the province's party secretary from 1998 to 2004. From 2004 to 2007, he was the Party Secretary of Liaoning, the province's highest political office. Li was the first-ranked vice premier under then-premier Wen Jiabao from 2008 to 2013, overseeing a broad portfolio that included economic development, price controls, finance, climate change, and macroeconomic management, as per China's National Online News Service. 

According to an Al Jazeera article titled "Li Keqiang: China's sidelined premier back in the limelight," Li is widely regarded as a political ally of former President Hu Jintao due to his Youth League experience. Initially considered a candidate for supreme leader, Li became premier in 2013, facilitating the Chinese government's shift away from export-led growth and toward a greater emphasis on internal consumption.

Furthermore, in May 2015, Li and his cabinet launched the Made in China 2025 strategic plan, according to China News Service.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Li, who is seen as advocating economic liberalisation, represents the more pragmatic and technocratic side of China's leadership. Some believe Li has been sidelined as a result of Xi Jinping's consolidation of power.

Wang Yang:

Wang Yang, China's No. 4 leader, who was once considered a contender for the next premiership, was also not re-elected to the Central Committee, WSJ reported. 

Between 2013 and 2018, Wang was one of four Vice Premiers of China in Premier Li Keqiang's Cabinet. He was the Communist Party secretary of Guangdong until December 2012. From 2005 to 2007, he was the Communist Party secretary of Chongqing, an inner-city municipality. Wang was also a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo beginning in 2007, The New York Times stated in one of its reports. 

Two other members of the outgoing Politburo Standing Committee were also absent, though some political analysts predicted that top lawmaker Li Zhanshu, 72, and Executive Vice Premier Han Zheng, 68, would step down due to age, WSJ reported. 

Hu Jintao, 79, who served as general secretary from 2002 to 2012, was seen being helped off his chair on the congress dais, where he sat next to Xi. Hu appeared reluctant or unable to stand up when an aide attempted to lift him out of his chair, according to a video by WSJ.

Hu then exchanged words with the incumbent leader and patted Premier Li on the back before walking off the dais with two men.

Hu's departure and whereabouts were unknown. As of Saturday afternoon, no mention of the incident had been made in Chinese state media. The State Council of China did not immediately respond to a request for comment, WSJ reported. 

(With Inputs From Agencies)