How retired party officials make themselves heard in China
Under Xi Jinping, their influence is dwindling
Song Ping was too young in the 1980s to have been counted among the “immortals”—a jocular term used at the time to describe Communist Party veterans who were playing a big role in politics despite having retired. Perhaps he deserves the title now. At 105 years old, he is still going strong, making him the doyen of the 20 or so former members of the Politburo Standing Committee—the apex of party power—who are still alive. Those fit enough are expected to appear at a five-yearly party congress that starts on October 16th. How much do such elders matter today?
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Interfering elders”
From the October 8th 2022 edition
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