Xi Jinping becomes China’s most powerful ruler since Chairman Mao

Xi Jinping confirmed his place as China’s most powerful leader since Chairman Mao by breaking precedent to secure a third term (Picture: Getty)

China’s President Xi Jinping has secured a historic third term as leader of the Communist Party, cementing his place as the nation’s most influential ruler since Mao Zedong.

Following a week of political manoeuvring, which saw him eliminate political rivals and further consolidate his power, Jinping secured his position as leader and unveiled the new members of the Politburo who will rule China for the next five years.

The Politburo Standing Committee is China’s equivalent of the presidential cabinet, and is considered to be the elite of the elite within the party.

Effectively handpicked by Xi, four of the six appointees are new to the team, and most, if not all, are seen to be Xi loyalists.

Taking to the stage in order of rank at a press event on Sunday, the team includes Li Quang, a trusted junior colleague and fierce loyalist expected to become the party’s new premier.

He was followed by Zhao Leji, a rising star within the party who at the age of 42 became the youngest person in China to become a provincial governor.

As the head of the anti-corruption body, Zhao is responsible for maintaining party discipline and has reported a number of senior officers for accepting bribes throughout the years.

Members of the new Standing Committee took to the stage on Sunday as Xi confirmed his historic third term as leader of the Chinese Communist Party (Picture: Getty)

Former Beijing mayor Cai Qi was a surprising addition to the lineup, having impressed Xi with his handling of the Winter Olympics during the pandemic.

A close Xi ally, Qi has called for absolute fealty to the leader during his time as mayor and his inclusion is thought to be a sign of how Xi values and rewards those loyal to him.

The same applies to Ding Xuexiang, who rose to power despite lacking experience due to his role as Xi’s private secretary and eventual chief of staff. One of Xi’s most trusted aides, he often accompanies him on foreign trips and is thought to have spent more time with him than anyone else in recent years.

Li Xi is another Jinping loyalist with close ties to the leader’s family, who impressed the party with his development of the tech industry and economic reform.

The team was rounded out by party stalwart and political theorist Wang Hunig, who is thought to be the brains behind the party machinery and has played a vital role in developing China’s ideology under a variety of leaders.

Willy Lam, Senior Fellow at US think-tank the Jamestown Foundation, called the appointment an ‘abnormally lopsided victory for one faction, which is rare in the tradition of the Communist Party’.

‘In the past there would be a rough balance of power, but now there won’t be any checks and balances,’ he added.

Xi has effectively given himself a mandate to become ruler for life (Picture: Getty)

After abolishing limits on the number of terms a leader can have in 2018, Xi has effectively paved the way to become a ruler for life.

Mr Lam says this will ‘exacerbate the personality cult surrounding Xi’, and warned the move could see ‘the party and country risk becoming a “one-voice chamber” where only one voice will be heard’.

‘The supreme leader has almost totally abandoned the institutional reforms started by Deng Xiaoping and largely followed by ex-presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao,’ he said.

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Earlier this week, 79-year-old former President Jintao was mysteriously escorted from the Politburo chamber against his will by security guards during the closing ceremony of the current Congress.

In a brief speech on Sunday following his confirmation, Xi said China must remain on high alert for challenges ‘like a student sitting for a never-ending exam’.

‘China’s development can’t leave the world and the world’s development also needs China,’ he said.

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Xi Jinping unveiled his top team on Sunday after cementing his historic third term as president.