Xi Jinping kicks off a factional battle for survival

 

 Xi Jinping kicks off a factional battle for survival

This week   focuses on an unusual personnel change within the Chinese Communist Party's powerful Politburo. Earlier this month, media reported that Shi Taifeng and Li Ganjie swapped jobs, with Shi heading the Organization Department, in charge of personnel affairs, and Li leading the United Front Work Department, which plays a key role in Taiwan issues.
 
Heads of important organizations have traditionally stayed in their roles between the party's quinquennial national congresses. So the reshuffle was a surprise, coming two and a half years since the most recent congress. The Organization Department is widely regarded as higher in rank than the United Front Work Department.
 
President Xi Jinping's faction within the party has many influential groups, such as the Shandong faction, comprising those with connections to the province. Xi has promoted many from such groups to key posts, and as a result his faction has become bloated. Is the unusual reshuffle involving Shi and Li an outcome of a compromise between mainstream factions? At least it is the start of a survival race among Xi's aides.