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ARTICLE · 19 SEPTEMBER 1997

Jiang Tightens Grip With Key Personnel Changes

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
The 15th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress, which ended on 18 September, approved key personnel changes to the party's central committee proposed by President Jiang Zemin.

The changes will strengthen Jiang's position. Since the early 1990s he has held the three most important positions in the state (president, CCP general secretary and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)), but was perceived to be vulnerable to challenges from other senior CCP figures following the death in February of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. The reshuffle means that such challenges are now almost impossible.

The most significant personnel issues are:

  • Jiang's chief rival Qiao Shi, formerly leader of the National People's Congress (NPC - rubber-stamp parliament), failed to win election to the central committee. He automatically loses his Politburo position and is now powerless. His position as NPC leader will probably be offered to Li Peng, who is constitutionally required to step

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