Through Retirement Hu Jintao Seeks Victory

With a daring move outgoing head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Hu Jintao has sought to succeed in what had eluded him for 10 years: freezing former Party head Jiang Zemin out of power. Analysts say Hu’s move won’t make reform more likely or save the Party from failing.

Former Chinese regime head Jiang Zemin attends the 18th Party Congress on Oct. 15, 2007, in Beijing, China. The leadership appointments that emerged from the congress seemed to favor Jiang, but Hu Jintao's complete retirement may finally force Jiang into the political shadows. Feng Li/Getty Images

With a daring move, outgoing head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Hu Jintao has sought to succeed in what had eluded him for 10 years: freezing former Party head Jiang Zemin out of power. Analysts say Hu’s move won’t make reform more likely or save the Party from failing.

According to regime mouthpiece Xinhua News Agency, on Nov. 16 during an extended meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Hu Jintao officially handed over to new Party head Xi Jinping the chairmanship of the CMC—the command of the People’s Republic of China’s armed forces.