Xinhua Claims Top CPC Officials Offered To Quit

Certain top Chinese Communist Party officials voluntarily stepped down from leadership, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, apparently referring to the surprise retirements of Premier Li Keqiang and previous No. 4 Wang Yang, Tsukasa Hadano reported for Nikkei Asia.

Photo Insert: The departure of two leading figures outside Xi's circles shocked some in the party, who worried about the loss of checks on the president's consolidation of power.

The departures of Li and Wang from the Politburo Standing Committee, the party's top decision-making body, before the traditional retirement age of 68 had caused a stir, particularly with 69-year-old President Xi Jinping staying on as party chief.

Seen as proteges of former President Hu Jintao, the two have maintained a distance from Xi while serving on the standing committee.

Some have speculated that Hu was escorted out of the closing ceremony of the party congress Sunday because he objected to their absence.

The new leadership lineup stacked with Xi loyalists has spurred talks of his tightening grip on power. Xinhua may have sought to smooth over any potential discord within the party by reporting that some state and party leaders had "offered to retire to make room for their younger colleagues."

Li was one of those who bowed out, according to a party insider, who said Xi had tried to persuade the premier to stay on, arguing that he was "needed." Another Chinese government source said they had heard Wang also retired of his own accord.

Though constitutional term limits require Li to step down as premier in March, some predicted that he would remain in the seven-member Standing Committee. Wang, an economic expert, had been pegged as a candidate for premier.

The departure of two leading figures outside Xi's circles shocked some in the party, who worried about the loss of checks on the president's consolidation of power.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic