Even though he has consolidated his influence in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lineup, the reshuffling of key party posts shows that Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Kuo made the comments at a forum on the implications of the just-concluded 17th CCP Congress, held once every five years to study key appointments and set broad policy goals.
"Overall, the CCP will continue with its collective leadership. Hu has yet to become the leader who can decide and act on his own, as evidenced by the rivalry between Xi Jinping (
Xi, 52, who has more than 20 years of experience in the Communist Youth League, and Li, 54, Shanghai party secretary, were the two youngest members among the four newly appointed in the new nine-man Politburo, the party's highest body.
Xi is viewed as the candidate Hu favors to succeed as secretary-general of the party, while Lee is favored by Hu to be the next premier, Kuo said.
Kuo pointed out two key characteristics in the reshuffle -- the rising influence of the party's Communist Youth League and the continuing strength of the taizi dang (
"Three members of the Politburo are taizi dang because the CCP believes that relatives can help perpetuate the political dynasty," Kuo said.
Chen Teh-sheng (
If Hu is to realize the eight objectives he outlined in his economic development report, which would see per capita GDP quadruple from 2000 to 2020, China has to reject high-pollution and high-energy consumption industries, Chen said.
Another panelist Wang Kao-cheng (王高成), an associate professor at Tamkang University's department of international affairs and strategic studies, said that Hu's report showed that China would significantly increase its military budget in the next five years.
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