Qin Gang, China’s erstwhile foreign minister, has officially been replaced by Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, in a surprise reshuffle that provided a sliver of clarity regarding Qin’s mysterious month-long absence. But many questions remain unanswered. On Tuesday, the standing committee of China’s National People’s Congress convened a surprise session. The brief readout of the meeting stated that Qin had been removed as foreign minister, stalling, for now, the career of a former rising star of the Chinese Communist party (CCP) and close adviser to Xi Jinping, China’s leader. Qin…
Tag: Hu Jintao
China’s Balloon Dispute Aims Attention at Xi’s Leadership
The Chinese balloon that bumbled its way across the United States has launched a thousand questions about its real intent. But it is also focusing the world’s attention on the prospect that the communications and control within Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government and his vaunted security apparatus may be less coherent — or even less functional — than the image he so confidently projects. The stakes today are high. Relations between Washington and Beijing have frayed, and competition between the two sides has intensified, fueling fears that the wrong move…
China’s Leader Emphasizes Unity at Jiang Zemin’s Funeral
China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, heaped praise on the late former president, Jiang Zemin, on Tuesday in a show of unity among the ruling elite just over a week after nationwide protests challenged Beijing’s authority. Despite its atheism, the ruling Chinese Communist Party sends off its deceased leaders with a near-religious solemnity, and its ceremony to commemorate Mr. Jiang, who died Wednesday at 96, was no exception. Mr. Xi delivered a 51-minute eulogy for Mr. Jiang that was full of accolades while avoiding hints of any personal and political differences…
Was Hu Jintao’s removal from China’s 20th party congress suspicious or not?
After eight days of China’s most important political meeting, in which the autocratic leader Xi Jinping’s precedent-breaking third term was confirmed, belligerent foreign policy reaffirmed, and the leader of the world’s largest population and second-largest economy announced through the next five years, one question was on everyone’s lips: what on earth happened to Hu Jintao and where is he now? The drama happened on Saturday morning. In a short window between foreign media being allowed into Beijing’s Great Hall and the start of the final public meeting of the 20th…
Hu Jintao argued about official papers before being escorted out of congress
China’s former leader Hu Jintao was arguing about official papers, moments before he was escorted off the stage at a key Communist party meeting in Beijing, new footage shows. Hu’s apparently reluctant departure from the stage at the 20th congress of the Chinese Communist party (CCP) was a rare moment of unscripted drama at what was otherwise a carefully choreographed week of political theatre. The new footage, shot by Channel News Asia but only released two days after the incident, captures about a minute of discreet, high-level manoeuvring before an…
New footage from China congress fuels questions about why Hu Jintao was hauled out – video
New footage from the Chinese Communist party congress shows a series of interactions related to a file held by Hu Jintao, before the former president was hauled out of the room. Outgoing politburo member Li Zhanshu can be seen pulling a file away from Hu, before Xi Jinping signals to some aides and gives them lengthy instructions. They then turn to Hu, and holding him by his arms remove him from the hall. Chinese media have reported that Hu was taken out of the Great Hall of the People in…
China: Xi Jinping passes constitution amendment as Hu Jintao escorted out – video
The Chinese president, XI Jinping, has cemented his grip over the Communist party by passing an amendment that will enshrine his ideas and status in the party’s constitution. The move by Xi elevates his status in the party which is expected to hand him a mandate for a precedent-breaking third term as president. He closed the congress with a call to the people of China to remain confident in their ‘history, exhibit greater historical initiative, and have the courage to fight and the mettle to win’. During the congress, former…