Step down at the end of the two sessions in the second place in the power hierarchy
Emphasis on ‘growth’… Disagreement with ‘Distribution’ Xi Jinping
A shabby exit notice until the end
New Prime Minister Li Chang, representative of the close group
Premier Li Keqiang, second in power in China, effectively stepped down after giving a 54-minute work report at the National People’s Congress (NPC) on the 5th. While the National People’s Congress and the National People’s Political Consultative Conference (PPPC) are called together, the “Two Sessions” will be held until the 13th. Prime Minister Li disappears into the dark side of history.
Premier Li competed for the presidency before Xi Jinping took power. When President Xi strengthened the one-person ruling system after taking office, he did not show his presence throughout 10 years enough to be called a ‘ghost prime minister’. In particular, there was a report that the authorities were even censoring the video of his farewell message ahead of his retirement, and he made a shabby exit at the end.
On the 4th, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that various videos of Prime Minister Li giving farewell visits to government departments such as the State Council and the Ministry of Finance were deleted from social media and are being censored. He added that the surviving videos are being distributed through a virtual private network (VPN) outside the ‘Great Firewall’, which means the authorities’ censorship system.
In the video, he is welcomed by employees or taking a group photo, visiting the National Development and Reform Commission and saying, “The top priority is development, and its driving force is reform. Everything is in your hands.”
Prime Minister Li was a member of the Communist Youth League (Kongchengdan) and received a master’s and doctoral degree in economics from Peking University. He was favored by former President Hu Jintao, who was also from the Communist Party, and valued ‘growth’ as an economic expert. However, President Xi, who prioritized ‘distribution’, regulated business activities in every case by advocating ‘shared wealth’ (共同福裕 · Living well together), and Prime Minister Li’s presence faded.
In 2020, President Xi insisted that “it is possible to build a society of abundance without worrying about food, clothing, and shelter.” Then, Prime Minister Li countered that it was a hasty goal, saying, “The monthly income of 600 million people is only 1,000 yuan (about 190,000 won).” Prime Minister Li, who did not shy away from ‘bitter words’ like this, but in his last work report, he refrained from saying his convictions, citing President Xi, such as ‘the Central Party with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core’ 14 times.
In this situation, the fact that even his farewell message was subject to censorship shows the authorities’ intention to completely erase the “Li Keqiang color”. Former President Hu also left as if dragged away by an escort during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party (Party Congress) in October of last year when Xi’s third consecutive term was confirmed. Authorities also deleted the video and photos.
Li Chang, who will become the new prime minister, is the representative of Xi Jiajun, a group close to President Xi. Like President Xi, he served as Shanghai Party Secretary. Last year, Shanghai was the only one of China’s 31 local governments to record a negative (-) growth rate, but it rose to second place based on President Xi’s absolute trust.
Accordingly, the movement of ‘absolute obedience’ to President Xi by the Chinese elite is also expected to be strengthened. The British Economist diagnosed, “The time has come when only Xi Jinping’s subordinates are in the limelight.” The Financial Times (FT) said, “The Communist Party is strengthening its control over social and economic resources and opportunities. It has become much more important to be an ‘insider of the system’.”
During the two sessions, competition among national representatives to catch the eye of the leadership is also in full swing. In particular, there are overflowing with various unique proposals related to low birth rates. One committee member suggested limiting working hours to 8 hours or less, saying, “We need to guarantee young people time to fall in love.” Another member put forward a proposal allowing unmarried parents to register their births.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.