THE MAN expected to take over as China’s supreme leader later this year, Xi Jinping, has emphasised the purity of the Communist Party as Beijing seeks to contain the furore around the sacking of disgraced leading cadre, Bo Xilai.
Mr Xi, who recently visited Ireland, made his appeal for unity and collective wisdom in an article under the headline “Do a solid job in all kinds of work to maintain the purity of the party”, published yesterday in Communist Party magazine Qiushi, which means “Seeking Truth”.
“The purity of the party is the opposite of all corruption. Maintaining ideological purity is to guarantee the unity of the party,” he wrote.
“All decision-making must rely on collective wisdom and strict procedures.”
Beijing has been abuzz with speculation since Bo Xilai was fired on Thursday as party boss of the metropolis of Chongqing.
Mr Xi accused some party members of “a lack of principle, and corrupt behaviour not conducive to the purity of the party”. Although his speech was written before Mr Bo was fired, the timing of its publication is a clear indication the party wants to keep a lid on infighting.
Mr Bo’s sacking brought to an abrupt end the career of one of China’s best-known political leaders. He had looked a shoo-in for the standing committee of the Politburo, but his position became untenable after his protege and police chief Wang Lijun pitched up at the US consulate in Chengdu saying his life was in danger and that he wished to defect.
Mr Bo’s sacking exposed a serious rift at the top of the party between the traditional old-style Communist wing and those who favour political and economic reform. It’s still not clear whether Mr Xi is a reformer or a diehard. Like Mr Bo, he is a “princeling”, or a child of prominent revolutionary parents, but there are no indications whether he backs more reforms.
This autumn, Mr Xi will begin the process of becoming the head of the party at the 18th party congress in what will be China’s biggest leadership transition in a decade.
President and Communist Party general secretary Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other elders are due to retire and hand power to a younger generation headed by Mr Xi, who is vice-president.
