Political confusion in China threatens to postpone the 18th Party congress to October. Rifts among Chinese Communist Party leaders worsen as everyone tries to scramble for a position on the Politburo Standing Committee.
A senior Chinese diplomat said that he is considering the option of postponing the once-in-a-decade selection of a new leader to shorten transition period. The gap between the appointment of Party leaders and power handover means an unclarity on who is leading the country.
There are no assurances of a smooth handover, especially with the fall of Bo Xilai, former Party Secretary, who has been vying for a spot in the top nine positions. The confusion caused divides among the party and could further exacerbate political turmoil in China. “China is in a period without authority, and no authority means everyone wants to be in authority,” Zhang Ming, a political scientist, told The Times.
