China’s state-run magazine, International Communications Magazine, confirmed in an article that the 18th National Party Congress would take place in October.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) typically reserves comment on the details of its activities and this year it remained vague when the National Congress would officially meet. Every 10 years, officials are selected through a secret internal process. Approximately two weeks ago, the CCP announced the full selection of delegates, but did not say how the arrangement of the top leadership would change.
Several state-run newspapers uncharacteristically published special edition issues about the 18th National Party Congress earlier this month. Such publicity usually does not occur until a week before the scheduled meeting.
Analysts speculate that the recent Wang Lijun and Bo Xilai scandal caused uncertainty in leadership selection. In February, Wang fled to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. Reports emerged that Wang had disclosed the crimes of his boss, Bo Xilai, to consulate officials, including details about a planned coup against current vice chairman and expected next head of the CCP, Xi Jinping, after he took power.
The regime typically travels to the seashore Beidaihe District in Hebei Province every summer for backdoor political dealings. Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on Aug. 26 that in recent Beidaihe meetings the Party’s top leadership decided to expel Bo from the CCP and to investigate his responsibility in Wang’s attempted defection.
Beijing’s security has tightened as the congress approaches. This year has not only had a major political scandal, but also major disasters and mass protests, which have raised unexpected considerations for choosing the next leadership.
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