FEATURE: Xi Jinping and China's future

Xi Jinping is the man most likely to succeed Hu Jintao as China's President for the next decade.

As part of a stage-managed process to boost his appeal at home and introduce him to the world, Mr Xi has been visiting the United States.

But China Correspondent Huey Fern Tay says little is yet known about Mr Xi's plans for China's future direction.

Huey Fern Tay

Last Updated: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:57:00 +1100

During an election year in the United States, most pundits agree the levels of anti-China rhetoric always increase. One analyst I interviewed described this as "dragon slaying".

But this time Xi Jinping, the man who would be China's next leader, is in the thick of it.

His visit is being used by both countries as a get-to-know-you exercise and is a chance for President Obama to see who he'll be dealing with for the next four years if he wins another term and if China's leadership succession goes according to plan.

Mr Xi is just one step away from the top job as the leader of the world's second largest economy.

His promotion to the general secretary of the Communist Party and subsequently as chair of the Military Commission is almost certain barring a major upset.

However little is known about Mr Xi's stance on various issues, his leadership style or the direction he's likely to take China in.

Why? Because senior Chinese politicians like Mr Xi who are up for promotion do not publicly advocate for change or state their policy preferences. Continuity seems to be the key word especially at this critical juncture. We are just months away from the once in a decade leadership transition that begins in October.

But the lack of public pronouncements hasn't stopped veteran China watchers from speculating about how Mr Xi may lead China.

Some of the analysis is based on Mr Xi's family background and what he endured as a young boy during the Cultural Revolution. Mr Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun was a vice premier under Mao Zedong but he fell out of favour and was imprisoned.

Mr Xi Jinping was then sent to toil in the poor countryside for seven years where he ate bread made from corn husks and slept in a flea-infested bed.

His family connections proved to be a blessing later on. They enabled him to enter the prestigious Tsinghua University and were instrumental in his career progression.

Analysts say Mr Xi's experience of both hardship and privilege may make him better able to connect with the man on the street. But acknowledging the past may be a touchy subject as an American newspaper found out recently when it submitted a list of questions for Mr Xi to answer. The written replies did not answer a question about how he had been influenced by the troubles of his father.

Then there are also those observers who believe Mr Xi will give the military an even stronger voice because of his long connections with the Peoples Liberation Army.

Mr Xi will not be the sole custodian of power even after becoming President. The views of the other eight members of the Party's inner sanctum will have to be sought as they form China's top decision-making body.

Seven out of nine of them are due to retire this year and there's intense jockeying for these prized positions.

It's anyone's guess what the final line-up will look like.

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