Li Keqiang is a name you might have never heard of, but you will hear it soon. When he steps down from power in March 2023, there will be a crucial reshuffle of power in the higher positions of the Chinese government. With his retirement, the fundamental roles will shift between the Politburo Standing Committee and more consolidation of power will occur under the leadership of Xi Jinping.
China’s elite will be greatly affected by the overwhelming control and power in Xi’s hands. The action of removing the constitutional term limit on his position has made Xi the most powerful leader, which will allow him to rule for life. He will regulate Chinese people and will have authority over its military, internet censorship, and cybersecurity.
Due to the heavy censorship and control of the state media in the country, the people can’t know what’s happening in China’s hall of power. An insider revealed that Politburo is the highest decision-making body in the Chinese Communist Party. Its top members are the ones who control the country despite the power high-profile billionaires hold.
Jack Ma, the founder of the famous e-commerce and tech company Alibaba, enjoys a high-profile life with a net worth of $62 billion in 2020. This made him the richest man in China, but when he disappeared, some said that he was deliberately lying low. He returned, but the government shut down Ma’s plans for Ant Group IPO.
The move made it evident that the ultimate power lies in the hands of the government. Let’s have a look at other influential people surrounding Xi. Chinese President Xi has immense power. Wang Qishan, who always surrounds Xi as his vice president, is the second most powerful person in china. Wang is Xi’s right-hand man, and helped him in his various projects. Li, premier of the People’s Republic of China and party secretary of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
During his tenure, he focused on managing the economy. He is also famous as an ally of Xi but was sidelined in favor of Xi. Li Zhanshu is another influential leader and a ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee. He is considered the third most powerful man in China. He experienced a setback in gaining power when he was sent off to the far north province as in charge of China’s rust belt.
Wang is also a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Party secretary of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He climbed through the local ranks of government to become the party secretary. He is famous for having a softer ground approach to advocating free markets. He is regarded as an ideological thinker who influences Xi the most.
Wang Huning is described as an insomniac, workaholic, and the mastermind behind Xi’s belt and road initiative. He is the secretary of the Central Secretariat of CCP. He is credited as being the mind behind fulfilling Xi’s dreams for China.
