China unveils new leadership line-up as Xi Jingping strengthens his hand

China’s ruling Communist Party broke with recent precedent on Wednesday and revealed a new leadership line-up without a clear successor to President Xi Jinping, who has become arguably the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

Apart from Xi, Premier Li Keqiang was the only one to retain his spot amid sweeping changes on the Politburo Standing Committee. There is now speculation Xi could seek to stay on in some capacity beyond the end of his second term in 2022.

All seven Standing Committee members are in their 60s and, for the first time, no member was born before the 1949 Communist revolution.

The make-up of the committee, which has ultimate control over the world’s second-largest economy, appeared to be a compromise to include a broad range of voices from party elites.

The committee includes one person known to be very close to Xi - Li Zhanshu. Li, who often accompanies Xi on overseas trips, was named the third-ranked member, meaning he will most likely assume the role of head of the largely rubber-stamp parliament.
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