Following the Fourth Session of the 16th Chinese People’s Congress meeting, Hu Jintao took over the party and military power. How Hu would govern China became a hot topic in the international media. Well-known for his "soft revolutionary" image, will Hu become China's Gorbachev? Will China walk toward democracy? Or will the power-focused Hu become China's absolute governor?

Subtle Changes in Internal Affairs and Revolution/Diplomacy More Practical

Business Week reports that the wielding of power has significantly altered following the Congress meeting. However, Hu's rule will be accompanied by subtle changes in policy. It is predicted that Hu's government will operate more openly. This includes accepting criticism from Chinese citizens, making the policy-makers more responsible for their policies. The national people's representatives' law-making roles will probably be developed quite remarkably.

The report said that, with regard to diplomacy, Hu will no doubt increase China's global influence, especially with reference to issues such as North Korea's nuclear capability. In addition, with a more aggressive and open business environment and Asia's investment potential, Hu is hoping that China will take the leading role. However, as for the Iraq issue and southern borderland conflict, Hu will keep a low profile.

Building a New Image for the Chinese Communist

Business Week said that after the fourth meeting, Hu's power is now so focused that nobody can challenge him. Trying to design a new, more welcome image for the Chinese communist will involve eradicating the corruption and power abuse typically linked with communism, Hu will exhibit more energy in accelerating the process of correcting these problems.

International media recognize a document published by the Chinese central government "Chinese Central Government's decision to increase the party’s ability to govern" with Hu's image in it. This document indicates that ironing out corruption is intrinsically linked to the survival of the communist party.

Chinese President Hu Jintao(L) and Premier Wen Jiabao (R) at the National Party Congress. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

Also, Hu and Vice President Wen Jiabao will work on the disparity of wealth and the increasing problems between rich and poor. Solving the problem of 800 million Chinese farmers and a labor force that's migrating between cities and villages is their top priority.

This is markedly different from their prior government's major focus—developing the eastern coast. Hu and Wen will focus on the re-development of northeastern industrial regions and the relatively less-developed western region.

Hu will also increase government officials' specialization. Business Week quoted New York State University’s Hamilton College professor Li Chen as saying, "Compared to [Jiang Zemin's] official hiring policy being dependent on relationships, Hu will be more focused on building the system."

However, Far Eastern Economic Review thinks that Hu’s rule will not display any obvious changes from the previous one. At present, it is not certain that Jiang's resignation will make the rule of the Chinese Communist Party milder and more moderate.

Hu can do whatever he wants. He could launch a missile to anywhere in the world without being responsible to anyone.

Not Willing to give up the Rule of the Communist Party

Hu has been noted as a mild reformist, but Far Eastern Economic Review doubts that he is willing to give up the rule of the communist party.

CCP’s documents about strengthening the rule of the party do not show any signs that it is prepared to give up the dictatorship by one party and practice democracy. In fact, on the day before the end of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Hu stressed, “Western democracy cannot work in China.”

Far Eastern Economic Review reminds people not to forget the fact that Hu was elevated by Deng Xiaoping. It said that Hu is considered to be reformist only because he hopes that the government will be more transparent and more efficient in punishing corruption. In other fields, Hu will not break from the formal ideology of the party.

Humbly and Restrainedly Practicing the Strategies of Obscure Policy

A report in The Times of India expresses concern that the mild Hu will become "the oligarch" of the world, because he will possess power that nothing can restrain. The report said that Hu could do whatever he wanted. He could launch a missile to anywhere in the world without being responsible to anyone. In addition The Times of India thinks that the mild Hu could also be a hardliner. His suppression of the Tibetan Independence movement in 1989 and his strong attitude toward the recent Hong Kong democratic movement show that he has this tendency. Although his manner is humble and his tone is restrained, he probably just carries out the strategies inherent in the obscure policy that China has carefully constructed. So perhaps, despite the shifts in power in the CCP, the situation in most areas could remain virtually the same as before.