LAST week was the Climax of the People’s Republic of China’s National People’s Congress.
Xi Jinping apparently won and, from what I can tell, now has a solid grip on power.
The Congress’ highlights included some constitutional changes, domestic and international strategies for the next five years and, most importantly, changes to the Politburo Standing Committee.
However, those were not the most interesting part of the Congress. Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping’s predecessor, was led out of the Congress, and by led out, I mean that an aide was holding his arm and whispering to him, presumably asking him to leave.
Even more interesting was that Xi Jinping was next to Hu throughout the entire process. As Hu left, he said something to Xi. What it was, we can only guess.
Could this be a prelude for Xi purging the politburo? Maybe.
It’s important to remember that the National People’s Congress is a choreographed event. The actual politics happens weeks before, which meant that either the whole thing was staged or there was an unforeseen emergency.
The unforeseen emergency scenario involves Hu Jintao having a medical emergency of some sort.
Perhaps he was found to have contracted COVID. If that’s the case, then that would explain the event. I find this scenario unlikely though, because it would have embarrassed the China Communist Party officials.
The more likely scenario is that the event was staged, and without Hu Jintao’s knowledge.
Xi wanted to show everyone what he was capable of, and he made an example of Hu.
Did he do it to warn his rivals? Or was it an attempt to flex his muscles, to show what he can do?
In any case, Xi is power now. What he will do with that power is a big question for the next few years./PN
