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Illustration: Sarene Chan

Plenum's lack of action on Zhou Yongkang suggests party divisions, analysts say

Lack of action on two key issues after the Communist Party's fourth plenum points to persistent differences within the party, analysts say

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That there was no announcement of the fate of disgraced former security tsar Zhou Yongkang or of personnel changes in the army leadership in the communiqué issued at the end of the Communist Party's fourth plenum indicates wide divisions within the party persist.

Both announcements had been widely expected.

"The absence signalled that the top leadership needs more time to prepare for a trial based on 'rule by law'," Hong Kong-based political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu said. "Given previous cases, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspections (CCDI) will need to transfer Zhou's case to the judiciary soon after they expel him from the party."

Lau said reforms by President Xi Jinping faced "strong resistance" within the party. "That's why many legal reform schemes that he plans to introduce, such as setting up administrative courts and further dismantling the politics and law committee, were also absent from the communiqué."

A formal investigation of Zhou, 71, was announced in late July. But almost three months later, the public is no closer to knowing how Zhou's case will be handled. The former domestic security chief and former Politburo Standing Committee member is the most senior party official to face a graft probe since the Cultural Revolution.

There were strong reasons to believe that a statement about Zhou would be made at this plenum. "Rule by law" was the main topic for the four-day meeting of senior leaders, and plenums have been used in the past to announce how cases involving high-ranking cadres would be handled. Former Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai , for example, was expelled from the party at the seventh plenum in 2012, so many speculated that a final decision on Zhou would be made during the lasted meeting.

However, Zhang Ming , a political science professor at Renmin University, was not surprised that no announcement was made.

"Zhou is no longer a member of the Central Committee, so according to convention a decision regarding his expulsion from the party should not be made during the plenum," which discusses affairs among members of the Central Committee, Zhang said.

Nevertheless, the plenum decided to expel from the party four of Zhou's protégés - Li Dongsheng , a former deputy public security minister; Jiang Jiemin , former head of the state assets regulator and chief of China Petroleum Corporation (CNPC); Wang Yongchun , a deputy general manager of CNPC; and Li Chuncheng , a former deputy party chief of Sichuan .

The Central Committee approved reports of investigations of the four and confirmed they will be expelled from the party.

"The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection [the party's anti-corruption watchdog] is likely to make the announcement on Zhou," Zhang said.

Meanwhile, the silence over the promotion of PLA generals Liu Yuan and Zhang Youxia to more senior roles in the Central Military Commission - the other announcement widely expected from the plenum - disappointed military observers.

"I am surprised and very disappointed as I had heard from my sources close to the PLA … that Zhang, who comes from a princeling background and fought with distinction in the border conflicts with Vietnam [in the late 1970s and 80s], was very likely to be promoted," Macau-based military expert Antony Wong Dong said.

 

Key points from the 4th plenum

The party has identified tasks to improve application of the constitution, ensure justice in the court system, and raise public awareness of the need for society to abide by rules - all as part of the greater push to govern by law.

The Communist Party retains its overriding role in the drive for "the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics".

The National People's Congress should play a greater role in overseeing the implementation of the constitution.

The Supreme People's Court will set up circuit courts, and look into establishing courts and procuratorates that cross lower-level jurisdictions. It will also seek to allow prosecutors to file class action-style lawsuits in the public interest.

A public record will be kept of officials who interfere in judicial cases.

The country will recruit more qualified lawyers and law experts to be lawmakers, judges and prosecutors.

The Communist Party will improve its internal rules.

The government will be more transparent in public policies and administration.

The central government will guarantee the practice of "one country, two systems" and promote national reunification in accordance with the law.

The administration will strengthen its capability in using legal means for dealing with foreign affairs, including protection of Chinese nationals and companies overseas, as well as to safeguard sovereignty.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Elephants in the room
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