Xi Jinping strengthens his power

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At the annual meeting of the People’s Congress in Beijing on Sunday, the nearly 3,000 deputies who were not freely elected approved the appointment of further Xi’s confidants to the new government, completing the reshuffle. On Saturday, the party leader’s old political companion, Li Qiang (63), was appointed as the new prime minister and successor to the outgoing Li Keqiang (67), who belongs to a different political camp.

As expected, Parliament also voted in favor of the proposals for the posts of four deputy prime ministers and cabinet members at its annual session in the Great Hall of the People. Former chief of staff and longtime Xi confidante Ding Xuexiang (60) became the acting first vice premier. The economic expert He Lifeng (68) will take care of the economy and finances as another deputy prime minister. He plays the retiring Liu He (71), who led the trade negotiations with the United States.

Mixed reactions

General Li Shangfu (65), most recently influential head of weapons development in the military commission and head of the manned space program, will be the new defense minister. In 2018, the United States, under then-President Donald Trump, imposed sanctions on the general personally and on his arms development department. Like his predecessor Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu is the sole military representative in China’s cabinet.

The appointment of more of Xi Jinping’s confidants to the government has met with mixed reactions. “They’re pumpjacks, but they’re capable,” says Jacob Gunter of the Merics China Institute in Berlin. “There could be an echo chamber where no one like (outgoing prime minister) Li Keqiang has left, is able to dissent and add other perspectives, and maybe advocate for a moderate agenda.”

On the other hand, it can also be argued that a circle of close confidants “without factions” eventually leads to “fair discussion” in the management team, according to Gunter. This is necessary to tackle the many structural problems in the Chinese economy. However, he tends to be skeptical and concerned about the echo chamber, the Merics expert said.

What was surprising was that Xi Jinping retained key members of the old finance and trade teams. In times of economic uncertainty, this is apparently intended to boost confidence in the economy. Yi Gang, 65, whose resignation was expected, remains head of the central bank. Finance Minister Liu Kun (66) and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (58) also kept their posts.

Five percent growth expected

“It’s a pragmatic choice because the new leaders need professional experts to tackle complex economic and financial challenges,” said Zheng Zhiwei, chief economist at Bloomberg’s Pinpoint Asset Management, confirming financial officials. “Management knows that building trust is a top priority. This decision is a step in that direction.”

The People’s Congress ends Monday by approving the outgoing government’s work reports and budget with a sharp increase in defense spending of 7.2 percent. After the end of the strict zero-Covid strategy with extensive lockdowns and enforced quarantine in December, the government thinks the second largest economy will recover this year and expects growth of “around five percent”.

Xi Jinping was confirmed on Friday for an unprecedented third term as president. At the party conference in October, the 69-year-old had defied previously respected age and term limits: the 69-year-old had a permanent leadership role enshrined in the party statutes. He could even remain in office for life. In doing so, he links up with state founder and ‘eternal revolutionary’ Mao Tsetung (1893-1976), who, however, brought chaos to the country.

(SDA)

Source: Blick