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China-Japan-Koreas
China goes beyond the party for key post
2007-06-30
ChinaÂ’s government has appointed a second non-Communist cabinet minister as the party seeks to burnish its reformist credentials before this yearÂ’s five-yearly congress and next yearÂ’s Beijing Olympic Games. French-trained scientist Chen Zhu, 54, was named health minister, handing him a difficult and sensitive portfolio at a time when the sector is debating extensive reform.

But the manner of Mr Chen’s appointment underlined the limits of his real powers, even as a minister – in theory, the top job in the health bureaucracy. In a puzzling move, Gao Qiang, the present minister, was retained both as a vice-minister and as the secretary of the ministry’s Communist party committee, meaning he will continue to outrank the minister.

Not being a party member, Mr Chen will be ineligible to attend the ministryÂ’s party meetings, creating a potentially awkward relationship with other officials.
Won't be awkward at all. He'll do as he's told.
Lacking party status and networks, he will also struggle to impose his own agenda on the ministry.
He won't have an agenda to impose.
Mr ChenÂ’s appointment follows that of Wan Gang, a German-trained engineer who worked at Audi for many years who was made science minister this year.

As the party and its 70m-plus members control every other significant government post in the country, the ministerial appointments represent a symbolic rather than a substantive change. But such appointments do point to the partyÂ’s rising sensitivity about its absolute monopoly on political power. The five-yearly congress, scheduled for late October, will choose the new top leadership, a process that has traditionally taken place out of sight of the public.
Is the Financial Times this clueless on the meaning of a 'figurehead'?
Posted by:lotp

#1  Not being a party member, Mr Chen will be ineligible to attend the ministryÂ’s party meetings, creating a potentially awkward relationship with other officials.

More Chinese opera theater of the absurd from Beijing. Pure window dressing for the outsiders in order to ensure the success of their Olympics tourism fest. How the hell is a "health minister" supposed to fulfill his duties if he's not permitted to attend party meetings?

One thing is patently clear; China's intentions of cleaning up its tainted exports are a complete and total sham. Chen Zhu's "appointment" is living proof of this.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-06-30 09:01  

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