By Bo Zhiyue
Xi’s control over China’s former leaders suggests his is China’s most powerful leader since Mao.
September 30, 2015 marked a new beginning in Chinese politics — the start of a new era in Xi Jinping’s authority. On this day, the State Council hosted a dinner celebrating the 66th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. In contrast to the past, when retired senior leaders were invited to join the current leaders to partake in the celebrative banquet, most of China’s previous leaders were absent this time.
It is not that they were too old. Less than one month earlier, on September 3, almost all of former Politburo Standing Committee members had just appeared at a military parade marking 70 years since the end of World War II in Asia. The oldest former Politburo Standing Committee member present at the military parade was Song Ping, at 98 years old. Former President Jiang Zemin, who was stood next to Xi on the left, had just turned 89. Other octogenarians who were present at the military parade but absent from the State Banquet include former Premiers Li Peng and Zhu Rongji as well as Li Ruihuan, Li Lanqing, and Luo Gan.
Even many former leaders who are younger than 80 were also visibly absent from the National Day state banquet, including former President Hu Jintao, former Premier Wen Jiabao, and former Vice President Zeng Qinghong as well as Wu Guanzheng, Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin, He Guoqiang, and Li Changchun.
Read the full story at The Diplomat