Xi looks set to keep right-hand man on

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to retain his righthand man, the graft-buster Wang Qishan, in a senior position at a key Communist Party Congress this month even though he has reached retirement age.

The fate of the 69-year-old Wang, who keeps a low public profile but is often described as China’s second most powerful politician, has been a source of speculation ahead of the Congress, which opens on October 18.

Twelve of the 16 people with ties to China’s leadership, including former officials as well as relatives and aides of current and former officials, said Wang was likely to retain a leadership role.

Wang could become one of two vice chairmen of the National Security Commission, set up in 2013 to increase coordination among the branches of China’s security bureaucracy and headed by Xi. Alternatively, he could become vice chairman of the Communist Party itself, if Xi resurrects the party chairmanship position, they said.

Under other scenarios, Wang could become premier — a role that traditionally includes management of the economy, or head of parliament.