For anyone interested in regional politics: This week China starts its week long congress where they are going to begin the once-in-a-decade leadership transfer process. Interesting stuff indeed...
So during the congress a new central committee is elected, and they then choose the Politburo Standing Committee, the highest decision making authority in the land.
The congress opened with the outgoing leader, Hu Jintao addressing the congress and stressing that the fight against corruption could ‘prove fatal’ to the party if not won. It is said that the committees are already known before the congress begins, many decisions being made through “backroom politicking”. Either way, what is important is what the leadership plans to do…and it definitely seems that holding on to power is one of their objectives (naturally).
The BBC reports a little more here, and says that in Beijing, more than 1.4 million volunteers have been brought in to help out with security for the congress. Wow.
China is the world’s second largest economy currently and is well on its way to becoming the world’s first. The eyes of the world will be on the communist nation this week more than ever…
What do you think? Where will China’s leadership take it? Their system has clearly worked for what they want to achieve so far…right?