China’s Xi reappointed with no term limits
Party congress OKs top leadership; critics fear new repression
BEIJING — China’s rubberstamp legislature on Saturday unanimously approved the reappointment of Xi Jinping as president with no limit on the number of terms he can serve.
The National People’s Congress also appointed close Xi ally Wang Qishan to the formerly ceremonial post of vice president.
At the Great Hall of the People, Xi, Wang and other officials took turns stepping to the lectern to place their left hands on the constitution and raise their right fists as they delivered an oath swearing loyalty to the constitution, the motherland and the people.
All 2,970 members of the National People’s Congress in attendance approved Xi’s reappointment, while Wang received just one vote against.
Xi, who leads the ruling 90 million-member Communist Party, was also reappointed as head of the government commission that commands the military. He is already head of an identical party body overseeing the 2 million-member force.
Xi, 64, is considered the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Last weekend, he was given the right to continue in office indefinitely after the legislature scrapped term limits for the president and vice president.
Chinese officials defended the move, saying it would bring the presidency in line with Xi’s other positions of head of the party and armed forces commander.
Critics say the move, which overturns a push to institutionalize China’s ruling practices dating from 1982, will likely lead to increased political repression and possible infighting among party factions seeking to promote their own candidates within the closed system.
Xi took office as president in 2013 and hasn’t said how many additional five-year terms he intends to serve. State media has said the removal of term limits will not alter conditions for retirement or create a president in perpetuity but has offered no details.