Jiang's man set for key politburo committee

Financial Times ^ | November 5 2002 | James Kynge

[Tailgunner Joe]

The closest political associate of Jiang Zemin, who is expected to end his 13-year tenure as China's Communist party chief this week, has won a place on the politburo's standing committee, according to official sources.

The ascent of Zeng Qinghong is of crucial importance in securing Mr Jiang's legacy and may help ensure continuity in key areas such as foreign policy, Beijing's attitude toward Taiwan and issues such as structural reform to the political system, one insider said.

Several official sources said Mr Zeng's influence within the new politburo could rival that of Hu Jintao, the vice-president who is expected to take over as general secretary of the Communist party and president. This is partly because Mr Zeng enjoys the support of Mr Jiang's power base and partly because of his own abilities as a deal maker.

The revelation came as China's leaders made final preparations for this week's 16th Communist party congress, with more than 400 members of the central committee gathered at a heavily guarded hotel in Beijing for a watershed event likely to see Mr Jiang step down and the elevation of several of his protégés to the all-powerful politburo.

Mr Jiang, 76, is expected to end his stint as general secretary of the Communist party and as president but may keep his post as head of the party's central military commission, at least for a time, officials said. He will not, however, retain a position on the politburo standing committee, they added.

Although Mr Jiang will exert influence over important decisions from his semi-retirement, the new politburo line-up will represent a significant shift in the personalities that run China. Mr Zeng is a protégé of Mr Jiang, but also has his own vision of China's future, sources said.

"He is an expert manipulator of the party apparatus," said one official. "Towards the end of Jiang's time in office, it was Zeng Qinghong who was making many of the decisions that were publicly attributed to Jiang anyway."

Mr Zeng's main job in the new administration is expected to be head of the secretariat of the Communist party's central committee, a key job currently occupied by Mr Hu.

From this post, he will have responsibility for personnel issues throughout the party, and by extension, the government. He will also hold positions on party "leading groups" responsible for foreign policy, national security and policy toward Taiwan, official sources said.

Mr Zeng has kept a studiously low profile during more than 15 years as Mr Jiang's confidante and personal assistant. Officials describe him as a lively man who presents a more natural persona than the rather wooden Mr Hu. His beliefs, sources said, are pragmatic and as such he is interested in how the Communist party might reform.

The son of a revolutionary hero, Mr Zeng is no closet liberal but can show a flexible approach to key issues such as Taiwan and policy toward the US.