Hu’s China, Whose Army?

Forbes ^ | Jan. 12 2011 | Gady Epstein

[sukhoi-30mki]

Hu’s China, Whose Army?

Jan. 12 2011 - 9:34 am

Maybe my question, “Is Hu Jintao really the most powerful person in the world?” was the wrong one to ask. Today, with reports that his military may have tested a new stealth fighter without his knowledge, the better question is, “How much power does Hu Jintao really have?”

It is a relevant question for the U.S. to ponder, especially with Hu visiting President Obama at the White House next week, and the answer is not so straightforward. The story of China’s first test flight of its stealth fighter is a case in point: Many people have asked, incredulous at the media reports, Do you really believe China’s military would do that without telling their commander-in-chief, on the day he’s meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates? Here’s The Wall Street Journal’s account:

U.S. officials said President Hu appeared not to have heard of the test flight when Mr. Gates asked him about it in their meeting Tuesday, even after pictures and accounts of it had begun appearing online.

The moment had the potential for huge embarrassment for China’s top leader — who in theory controls the military as chairman of the Central Military Commission — just as Chinese officials anxiously try to clear a smooth path for Mr. Hu’s state visit to Washington next week.

If the military deliberately kept Mr. Hu in the dark, that would reinforce concerns that hawkish elements in the military are increasingly driving China’s foreign policy — including ties with the U.S. — and that they are trying to enhance their power in China’s domestic politics ahead of a leadership transition next year.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Hu Jintao: How much power does he have?

[Flag_This]

Hu’s on first?

[denydenydeny]

China and warlords. What an unexpected turn of events.

[Benchim]

Who?

[mewykwistmas]

“with reports that his military may have tested a new stealth fighter without his knowledge”

Says Hu? So they write an entire article based on a rumor or ‘reports’ ?

[Mike Darancette]

Real Commies don’t wear ties.

[goldstategop]

China’s Fourth Generation of Communist leaders are all technocrats. They have advanced degrees and significant private sector and public works experience. As long as they can keep the economy running, the Party faces no real threats to its rule. If it crashes, its days could be numbered.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Maybe my question, “Is Hu Jintao really the most powerful person in the world?” was the wrong one to ask. Today, with reports that his military may have tested a new stealth fighter without his knowledge, the better question is, “How much power does Hu Jintao really have?”

OK, so China's military doesn't consider itself subordinate to the Communist bureaucrats who make up the civilian leadership. A schism between a Communist dictatorship and a heavily armed expansionist military - gee, what could go wrong? Thomas Friedman would probably tell us this is another sign of Chinese superiority.

[PIF]

Hint: The guy in charge of the stealth program is scheduled to succeed Hu...