Beijing doubles down on security amid slowing economy
The Chinese Communist Party’s early response to China’s gloomy economic outlook was doubling down on regime security.
POLITICS

Politics Watch: Decoding the State Council Institutional Reforms
◎ The 13th NPC deliberated a plan to reform State Council institutions on March 13.

Personnel Watch: An Updated Two Sessions Forecast
◎ We present an updated personnel list based on analysis using our unique research methodology and risk assessment model.

Politics Watch: The Factional Struggle Behind China’s Constitutional Amendments
◎ We believe that Xi’s motivation for driving reform measures is his life-and-death struggle with the Jiang faction.

Politics Watch: What 19 Provincial Procuratorates Implementing ‘Unified Management’ of Lower Procuratorates Might Mean
◎ Xi’s various judicial reforms and his strengthening the Party’s leadership are aimed at weakening the power of local governments and strengthening the central government’s control over the provinces.

Politics Watch: Chongqing Chief Talks ‘Political Pollution’ in the City
◎ Chen Min’er’s remarks at the Two Sessions shows that the factional struggle inside the CCP is still very intense.

Questioning the Discourse on Xi Jinping’s ‘Power Grab’
◎ A CCP Central Committee decision to remove term limits for the president and vice president sparked a huge outcry in the media and the China-watching community.

Politics Watch: Decoding Wang Qishan’s Seating at the National People’s Congress Session
◎ Wang Qishan’s political standing is akin to that of an “eighth” Politburo Standing Committee member.

Personnel Watch: We Correctly Predicted the National People’s Congress Leadership
◎ Nine of the 13 NPC leaders we forecasted on Feb. 18 were confirmed on March 4.

Politics Watch: Why the 2018 National People’s Congress First Session is 3 Days Longer than the 2013 Edition
◎ On March 4, state media announced that the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress would be held from March 5 to March 20, or a period of 15 and a half days.
