Posted August. 21, 2001 08:49,
The selection process for the next seven Political Bureau`s Standing Committee members came to a close. Also the uncertain retirement date for the chairman of the People`s Representative Conference standing committee Li Pung was determined at the meeting, revealing the face of the new leadership who will step on the stage next Fall. The Political Bureau`s Standing Committee is the most powerful body in China whose government has a party rule system.
Leaders who will step down next Fall include Chairman Jiang, Committee chairman Li Pung, President Chu Leung Chi, Chief Secretary of the Party`s Disciplinary Investigation Committee Wei Chen Sing. The new members are Vice President Yuan Jia Bao, Head of the Party Organization Committee Jung Ching Hung, Minister of State Liu Kan, Vice Chairman Wu Pang Kua.
As the Chinese leadership experiences the changeover of four of seven members, the fourth generation will enter in place of the third generation.
Observers expect Jiang Zhemin to step down from the Party Chief Secretary and National Chairman position, but continue as the head of the Central Military and function as the highest ranking official in a similar fashion to the past Deng Xiao Ping.
This is supported by the fact that successors of Chairman Jiang outnumber other new Standing Committee members. Vice Chairman Hu has been a hand-picked successor from early on, Jung is known as Jiang`s right-hand man, Li Lan Ching is entered the Political Bureau in 92 with Jiang`s backing, and Shanghai division`s Woo Pang Kua is Jiang`s main successor. Jung had failed to enter the Bureau due to internal opposition in spite of repeated support by Jiang. In the Fall, he will be a Standing Committee member and simultaneously hold the position of National Vice Chairman, functioning as Jiang`s proxy. Although the Vice Chair position is currently fifth in the hierarchy, in the new leadership organization it will rank fourth.
Li Lan Ching, who appears to become the chair of the Political Consultation Committee, is on intimate terms with Chairman Jiang. Both men come from the same hometown of Jiangxiu, and when Jiang stayed at his home when Jiang moved to Shanghai after Deng Xiao Ping picked him in 1989.
Jiang`s right-hand man Wu Pang Kua is a central figure of the Shanghai division, comes from the same birthplace Anhui region as Vice Chairman Hu Chin Tao and also graduated from the same Ching Hua University. State-owned businesses made great progress under Wu`s management and although he lost the chairman position to Yuan Jia Bao due to Shanghai division`s restraint, he is expected to exercise great amount of influence as the new State Department Vice Chairman.
On the other hand, the new head of the People`s Representative Conference Li Rui Huan is Li Pung`s successor and along with Ministe of State Affairs Liu Kan will impose great amount of restraint on Chairman Jiang`s successors. Li has strengthened his position with the support of party elders and the Tai Ja Tang. Liu Kan, who was chosen for the Standing Committee with Li Pung`s direct support, is said to be the next Chief Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee.
Vice Chairman Yuan Jia Bao, who was criticized for being soft in suppressing the Tianenmen incident, regained his stature with his outstanding capabilities and will be the chief directing official for the national economy.