In the upcoming year, the world's strongest powers (USA and China) will be receieving new leadership. China's president, Xi Jinping, will become the Communist Party's head leader by taking Hu Jintao's leadership position.
On March 15th, the party chief of the southwestern region of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, was removed from office. His removal shows a certain sign of change for China. Bo Xilai seemed to be destined for leadership in the nine-member standing committee of the Politburo. Despite the fact that Bo Xilai's ideas while in office seemed rather extremist (with links to cracking down the Chinese "mafia" and following of Maoist beliefs), Bo Xilai's removal proves to show that there is something wrong with the Chinese political system. Bo Xilai focused on "red" and "anti-mafia" campaigns to discredit his opposition, Mr. Wang Yang, his predecessor in the Chongquing region. Yang has, however, come out on top in the competition with his somewhat liberal beliefs. Xilai's downfall does not come as a shock, as recently, Chongqing's corrupt affairs have been aired out for the Chinese public and the American consulate to see. His removal from office shows that China is moving toward less corruption and taking punishment on those who are firsthand in the corrupt affairs. According to the article, Chinese officials will still be able to get away with corruption, if it is brought out the correct way (without weapons).
The irony of the situation is that just a day prior to the sacking of Xilai, China's prime minister, Wen Jiabao, had said that without the upcoming reforms (removal of corrupt leaders), China may enter another "Cutural Revolution" phase.
Source: http://www.economist.com/node/21550309
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