China's Second Most Powerful Man Is 'Retiring'

Wang Qishan (center). Xinhua

South China Morning Post: He’s the anti-graft tsar about to leave China’s top leadership. So what will happen to Wang Qishan?

Wang Qishan, a key ally of President Xi Jinping, could be given position on powerful National Security Commission.

Wang Qishan, the feared anti-graft tsar billed as “China’s second most powerful man”, is likely to step down from the ruling Communist Party’s supreme Politburo Standing Committee on Wednesday, sources have told the South China Morning Post.

On Sunday, delegates to the party’s national congress in Beijing held closed-door meetings to discuss the lists of candidates for its elite Central Committee and anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Two sources who have seen the lists confirmed to the Post that Wang was not among the names, meaning he will step down from the Politburo Standing Committee.

Zhao Leji, the party’s organisation chief, appeared on both lists, confirming an earlier Post exclusive report that he is expected to take over anti-corruption responsibilities from Wang.

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WNU Editor: Wang Qishan is Chinese President Xi's closest ally in the Chinese government .... and they are saying that he is retiring because of his age and protocols. I have a different view .... he is leaving because one of the conditions that President Xi was given for him to stay on for another 5 years was the reassignment of Wang Qishan out of the powerful anti-corruption department and the installation of someone that would be more amicable to the elites that run China.