Posted on 08/23/2017 4:37:47 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Chinese history tells us: Never stop fighting till the fight is done
Sun's fate shows that life atop the CCP can be nasty, brutish and short
Observers of elite politics in China cannot miss a cruel paradox: Those closest to the apex of power are the most likely to fall. The latest example is that of Sun Zhengcai, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's politburo, and party chief in the large southwestern city of Chongqing.
Before his recent detention on unspecified corruption charges, 53-year-old Sun was a high-flyer. Promoted to the politburo at the CCP's 18th congress in 2012, he was seen as a potential candidate to succeed either the general secretary, President Xi Jinping, or Premier Li Keqiang when they retire in 2022.
This is not to be the case. As an alleged loyalist of a rival faction, Sun may never have stood a chance to become one of the top leaders after Xi successfully consolidated his power in record time. Nevertheless, even those skeptical about his prospects were surprised by his sudden fall from power. Sun could have been eased out of office and given a largely ceremonial position. His removal can only be understood in the context of succession politics inside the Chinese party-state.
According to an informal convention established in 2007, the CCP is supposed to anoint candidates to succeed the general secretary and the premier five years before they are expected to leave office. In 2007, Xi and Li were designated as successors at the party's 17th congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at asia.nikkei.com ...
P!
“Never stop fighting til the fight is done”......
I thought that’s what Elliot Ness told us.....
RLTW
It's an unstable position as this article makes clear.
Could be worse. Anyone considered a potential successor to Stalin ended up like good 'ol Comrade Kirov.
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