Sep 24 2005
Power Dynamics in Chinese Leadership Circle
NYTIMEs article: “China’s Leader, Ex-Rival at Side, Solidifies Power”
Quotes:
Mr. Hu, …, and Zeng Qinghong, vice president and the man in charge of the party’s organizational affairs, have tackled the most delicate domestic and foreign policy issues as a team, governing as hard-liners with a deft political touch.
Mr. Zeng and Mr. Hu joined forces last year to push Mr. Jiang to retire.
Politburo Standing Committee, the country’s top governing body, that was expanded to include nine men, at least five of whom owed their promotions mainly to Mr. Jiang.
Mr. Zeng’s father was a revolutionary army commander and his brother is a senior military officer.
He has taken a greater interest in China’s ties with the United States than Mr. Hu has.
In one version of what followed, Mr. Zeng suggested to Mr. Jiang that he offer to resign ahead of the party’s annual planning session that September. He implied that the resignation offer, which he suggested would be rejected by Mr. Jiang’s loyalists on the Politburo, could clear the air and give Mr. Jiang a fresh mandate to retain his control over the military.
Mr. Jiang did something similar two years earlier, before an important party congress, and the tactic worked.
This time it did not. Mr. Hu, acting as vice chairman of the military commission, circulated Mr. Jiang’s resignation among the military brass instead of the Politburo. Many military officers wanted to see the leadership transition completed and rallied around Mr. Hu as their new civilian leader. Mr. Jiang’s resignation was then presented to the Politburo as a fait accompli.
Mr. Jiang, sidelined at his retreat in the Fragrant Hills outside Beijing, was described as furious and tearful when he realized he had been out-maneuvered.