Chinese politics may be in a calm before the storm

Although the National People's Congress was held earlier this month, no important personnel decisions came out of it. No new foreign minister was named, despite speculation that someone would be chosen to succeed Wang Yi, who was reappointed to the position in July 2023 due to the abrupt dismissal of Qin Gang.   This week's China Up Close argues that the silence reflects Chinese leader Xi Jinping's decision to beat political and economic headwinds by assuming a defensive crouch.   The NPC, China's parliament, also failed to deliver a bill on promoting the private sector -- expected to be a focal point of the session. This is likely a result of an internal conflict on whether the government should encourage private business activities or further strengthen state-owned enterprises.   With both personnel matters and economic debate having stalled, China's political situation appears eerily quiet, as though those involved are bracing for a major disturbance.