BEIJING: If Shanghai Communist Party chief Li Qiang has been politically bruised by the city's struggle to tame a COVID-19 outbreak that has infuriated residents and caused severe economic damage, there is little sign of it.
A close ally of President Xi Jinping for decades, Li has long been seen as destined for the powerful Politburo Standing Committee this year, tracking a well-worn path from Shanghai's top spot that many analysts say appears safe despite the city's COVID-19 crisis.
Outbreaks have derailed the careers of some local Chinese officials. But they did not share Li's stature or history with Xi, under whom the boss of China's most populous city has risen steadily through the party ranks.
And while Xi may be China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, he needs a core of staunch loyalists on the seven-member Standing Committee.
To be sure, the opacity of Chinese politics and Xi's willingness to break with precedent - he scrapped presidential term limits - make predictions difficult for the once-in-five-years Communist Party congress this autumn that will determine Xi's next leadership lineup.
A close ally of President Xi Jinping for decades, Li has long been seen as destined for the powerful Politburo Standing Committee this year, tracking a well-worn path from Shanghai's top spot that many analysts say appears safe despite the city's COVID-19 crisis.
Outbreaks have derailed the careers of some local Chinese officials. But they did not share Li's stature or history with Xi, under whom the boss of China's most populous city has risen steadily through the party ranks.
And while Xi may be China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, he needs a core of staunch loyalists on the seven-member Standing Committee.
To be sure, the opacity of Chinese politics and Xi's willingness to break with precedent - he scrapped presidential term limits - make predictions difficult for the once-in-five-years Communist Party congress this autumn that will determine Xi's next leadership lineup.
Above is an extract from a CNA article, not sure who was the author. Not stated, likely from Reuters. The article highlighted 3 points that the typical West would like to smear the China. The first point was about patronage. The Party Chief of Shanghai, Li Qiang, is an ally of Xi, pally pally type of politics, your men, my men, unlike the transparent western political system, everything is so transparent and elected by the people. You must believe these are true. Trust me. The rise of western style leaders is not because of patronage, not that they are the kakis of their Presidents or PMs. Trust me. It is the democratic process that elected them to position of power. How true, indisputable truth of western democratic system.
The second point, Xi needs a core of staunch supporters, quite similar to the first point, political cliques working together to support each other. Such things would not happen in the democratic system. Trust me. Biden does not have staunch supporters, so did Trump. Their politics are so transparent and individual, no need for balls carriers and sycophants.
And the third point, Xi scrapped the presidential terms limits, ie changing the rules as he likes, on how many terms can a president stay in power. This kind of anyhow changing the rules is never heard of in a democratic system. Trust me. Democratic system respects the rules and never anyhow change rules to suit the interest of the ruling party. This kind of things cannot be allowed in a democracy. That is why a democratic system is superior to an authoritarian system. Trust me.
That is also why the Singapore political system is so good and so transparent unlike the Chinese system, anyhow changing the rules of the system. Not rules based order.
The handling of the surge in Covid cases in Shanghai has infuriated the residents and caused severe economic damage. Nothing of these had happened to Singapore or the US. Both were so well managed, no infuriated residents and no severe economic damages. The Shanghai party chief would have to take responsibility for not handling the crisis well. He may lose his job or affect Xi's position in the country for someone must take the blame, no free ride to the top, no free ride for a job not well done. There is accountability to the people in China.
There is also accountability in the US and in Singapore. But since both were so well handled, no one needs to be blamed. How many cases of infection were there in the US and Singapore? How many deaths in both countries?
In Singapore's case, it was so well controlled that there is a high chance that the MMTF would be rewarded for a job well done, accountability and recognition with medals to go with.
What do you think?
2 comments:
"In Singapore's case, it was so well controlled that there is a high chance that the MMTF would be rewarded for a job well done, accountability and recognition with medals to go with."
That statement is so realistic. No stones will be left unturned to ensure that at least one of them is fully rewarded.
And I personally believe that all the 3 of them will be rewarded in one way or another.
This is our system - the system of rewards, not punishment.
A strong system will reward those who have done well, while punishing those who have bungled.
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