Former President Hu Escorted Out

Hu escorted out of the Great Hall of the People as Xi watched

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is wrapping up -- but not without some drama.

Sitting next to President -- or rather -- General Secretary of the Party Xi Jinping was his predecessor, former president Hu Jintao. 

One would think sitting next to the big guy would mean Hu was in Xi's good graces, but just the Chinese leader was about to give his closing remarks on the congress, a steward came by to tell Hu it was time to leave.

Hu has a word with Xi and Li before leaving

Hu, looking much older with his naturally greying hair, refused to move at first, and the steward practically had to hoist him up. Xi acted as if nothing was wrong as Hu was carted off.

China experts are completely agog at what happened, but it has been long known that Xi didn't think much of Hu's Communist Youth League, which is supposed to pick out and groom young people for the Party.

Xi has basically dismissed the CYL, saying that "All they [cadres] can do is just repeat the same old bureaucratic, stereotypical talk", thus curtailing Hu's influence.

And today seems like the final straw -- literally forcing him out of the room in front of everyone.

Other surprises are afoot -- Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Han Zheng, and even Wang Yang are not included in the new lineup of the Standing Committee.

There were predictions that Li Keqiang would stay on in the committee but would step down as premier in March, but looks like he's been completely shut out. He was pretty much sidelined the entire 10 years anyway. 

Li Zhanshu is 72, so well past retirement age.

Wang was to stay in Standing Committee

Han Zheng was Vice Premier of the State Council and Standing Committee, and is 68 years old which is time for retirement. He had been the leader of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs since April 2018.

Wang Yang at 67 years old was expected to stay on and not only was a member of the Standing Committee, but also Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He may have been ousted as he was a vice premier in Li Keqiang's cabinet?

This means Xi has kicked out more people he either doesn't like or trust, and will put in at least four of his own people, who will be revealed tomorrow.

The fact that this was all sorted out in August is quite the feat for Xi, and demonstrates his unchallenged power not only in the Party but also the country.

This does not bode well for China, as it means a continuation of zero-Covid at the expense of the economy, and could also further increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait which no one needs now, in particular Taiwan.