China's top brass decided on next leader, MAC says

Chinese high-ranking officials appear to have reached a consensus that China's Vice President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) will be China's next leader, a report by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said.

International observers have long said that Hu is likely to become China's next president.

The MAC report, which reviews Chinese diplomacy over the past year and makes forecasts for the year ahead, said that Hu's five visits to European countries last November suggested that Hu was preparing to take power as the next Chinese leader.

Since the international strategic situation has changed significantly following the Sept. 11 attacks in the US, Hu's important role in China's foreign affairs is seen as a crucial factor in his rise to power, the report said.

According to the author of the report, Cheng Wei-chin (鄭偉靜), the visits suggest that he is being promoted domestically and internationally now that Chinese high-ranking officials have reached a consensus that he should become the future Chinese leader.

"Hu was received as a national leader while visiting European countries, which could strengthen Hu's status in the Chinese leadership," Cheng said in the report.

In addition, the report said, Hu has started to play a more important role in foreign affairs by establishing his own team to take charge of Sino-US affairs.

His assistants include Cheng Pichien (鄭必堅), vice president of the Central Party School, and Chao Chicheng (趙啟正), director of the State Council Information Office. Cheng said that the Sept. 11 attacks had provided China with opportunities and challenges, which have raised the profile of China's foreign policies.

"The incident provided a chance for Beijing to stabilize its relationship with the US, after last April's EP3 incident brought [Sino-US] bilateral relations to new lows," Cheng said.

However, he added, the Sept. 11 incident has also weakened China's status since US-Russian relations have strengthened after the attacks.