China trying to redefine the party

Zhu has recently declared that he will not serve another term, but he is actively advocating that the open-minded and economically well-versed Wen become his successor. A great deal of maneuvering is taking place inside the party over the election of the next premier. Not long ago, the left-wing stalwart Song Renqiong (宋任窮) published an article reiterating that the matter of revolutionary stance should be given consideration when successors are being groomed. This article has been seen as a rallying call for party conservatives. Now that Lin's report is out, the offensive is being taking to a new level.

The party's internal struggle is becoming a very complicated triangular balance of power between Jiang and his confidants, Zeng Qinghong (曾慶紅) and Vice President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), who also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission; Zhu and Wen; and the powerful conservatives represented by Li Peng, striving to direct the policies of China after next year's congress. Under these circumstances, it will be very interesting to see what kind of political reaction the mobilization of the left wing will bring.

Wang Dan was a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations in Beijing. He is a graduate student at Harvard University and a columnist for The Journalist magazine.

Translated by Perry Svensson