Jiang Zemin: Man who came in from the cold

Just a year ago, he was rumoured to be severely ill, and nearing death. But Jiang Zemin, the 86-year-old former party honcho, who left office a decade ago, has worked assiduously behind the scenes, voicing frustration with the record of his successor, Hu Jintao, and maneuvering to have his proteges dominate the party’s incoming ruling group.

Jiang’s goal, those insiders say, appears to be to put China back on a path to market-oriented economic policies that, he and his allies argue, stagnated under a decade of cautious leadership by Hu, a colourless party leader who favoured more traditional socialist programmes and allowed gargantuan state-owned companies to amass greater wealth and influence.

Many see Jiang, who brought China into the World Trade Organization and rebuilt ties with the United States after a breakdown in 1989, as favouring deeper ties with the West and more opportunities for China’s private sector.Jiang was able to outflank Hu to shape a new lineup for the Politburo standing committee, the top decision-making body that, at the moment, appears to have Jiang allies chosen for five of the projected seven seats, according to party insiders.

The most prominent is Xi Jinping, the designated heir to Hu as party chief and president. “Just look at the final seven people and you know who the big winner is: Jiang, or Jiang and Xi,” said an editor at a party media organisation. “The loser is Hu.”

MAO ADOPTED BEIDAIHE, a 19thcentury resort built by Westerners around 300 km east of Beijing, as a summer meeting site for the Communist leadership. The current president, Hu Jintao, called for an end to large gatherings there, but leaders still meet informally.

No Future for Party Poopers

Bo Xilai had been a contender for one of the party’s highest positions until his spectacular fall this year and still had support among some party members. Among the accusations against him are that he abused his power, took large bribes and hindered a police investigation into the death of a British businessman.

Bo’s wife was convicted of the Briton’s murder in August. Bo, who has been incommunicado since his detention in March, is expected to stand trial in the coming months. Another lesson in CCP politics: It never pays to be flashy.