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NOTES ON THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP
THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE POLITBURO
Jiang Zemin (63)
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, and member of the Politburo Standing Committee, appointed in June following the disgrace of Zhao Ziyang. Succeeded Deng Xiaoping as Chairman of the Party's Military Commission in November. Designated by Deng as the core of the future Chinese leadership. Has respectable credentials as economic reformer, and was previously in charge of Shanghai. He is, however, probably over-dependant on the Party veterans who put him in power and is likely only to be a transitional leader. Trained in the USSR. Speaks fluent English and in his previous positions impressed foreigners with his balanced and pragmatic approach. Said to be related to former President Li Xiannian (qv).
Li Peng (62)
Premier and member of the Politburo Standing Committee. With Yang Shangkun (q.v.), he was the most visible figure in the suppression of the democracy movement. He had been at loggerheads with Zhao Ziyang for some time because of his preference for a more gradual approach to reform and a greater role for central planning (in which he followed Chen Yun q.v.). Said to have been adopted as a child by the late Premier Zhou Enlai. Studied in the Soviet Union. Has close ties with the veteran, more conservative, Party leaders, and
to be their preferred choice for a future leader. Prior to becoming Premier, he had shown a talent for avoiding the blame when things went wrong. There were rumours being put about that might be removed at the National Peoples Congress in April 1990.
Congress in April 1990. This was never really on, but it does indicate some weakness in his position. By his own account he has visited Britain three times, most recently in 1986.
Qiao Shi (66)
Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo. One of the more enigmatic figures in the leadership. Wields considerable power within the Party machine, holding the key security portfolio. Very much a Party man, having spent virtually all his career in the Party apparatus. It looked briefly as though he might take over from Zhao as General Secretary, but for some reason (possibly including his own reluctance) he did not do so. Once seen as a reformer (and he has past career associations with the late reformist
leader Hu Yaobang), his stance is now much less clear cut. His son is studying at Cambridge and his daughter-in-law works for the BBC in London.
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