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How the Chinese Communist Party congress will affect our region
The United States — as China’s chief rival in the region — has been left behind in its engagement in Southeast Asia.
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The congress and Xi Jinping’s efforts to centralize his power are particularly relevant for our region. (AFP/Wang Zhao)
C
hina will convene on Oct. 18 the most important meeting in its political structure: the 19th Communist Party congress. Given that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the nucleus of the Chinese state, the upcoming CCP Congress is considered the most decisive convention for the country’s future.
The most anticipated result is the formation of the new Politburo Standing Committee (or the PSC, the highest body in the CCP’s hierarchy). Besides introducing the new members of the PSC, the 19th Congress will also solidify Xi Jinping’s rule.
Ahead of the 19th Congress, Xi Jinping has been consistent in his efforts to create a favorable situation for his success. The most notable move was the purge of several potential rivals in the name of an anti-corruption campaign, such as Zhou Yongkang, Xu Caihui, Guo Boxiong, Ling Jihua and Sun Zhengcai. The purge of these senior officials was seen as an effort to cement Xi’s grip on power.
Apart from the series of political dramas, Xi is also notorious for his attempts to strengthen his grip on the Party. Since last year, the CCP has revered him with the title of “core leader.” This title was previously used to refer to Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. The title also eludes to Xi’s immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao, who led the Party for ten years.
The title of “core leader” represents a shift from Hu’s collective leadership to leadership centralized on Xi. It also signifies that any move perceived as disloyalty to Xi will be harshly sanctioned
In short, since assuming the leadership, Xi has sought to reinforce his clout over the Party by discharging his (potential) rivals, allotting strategic positions to his allies and consolidating his core leadership.
What does the strategic congress mean for our region?
