Seven men and all his ducks in a row. Xi Jinping's third term has been rubber stamped and a new Communist Party leadership unveiled at a Congress that is set to shape China’s politics for much more than just the next five years. We ask about those promoted, like Li Qiang, the man in charge of Shanghai’s harsh Covid-19 lockdown. His biggest asset is loyalty.
Out with the likes of Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao. We ask why he was humiliatingly ushered out for all to see. More broadly, if the inner circle of Chinese power is only made up of "yes" men, does that make its president stronger or weaker when he faces the unexpected challenges that come with the job?
How the West handles an emboldened Xi is also crucial. Germany’s chancellor is raising eyebrows with his solo run to Beijing at the start of next month. At the other end of the spectrum, is the US right to restrict trade on semiconductors and other vital technology? As Europe faces a winter without Russian gas, must it now contemplate a future without Chinese imports?
>> All of Xi's men: Loyalty first for new Chinese leadership
