Shanghai clique
Encyclopedia
The Shanghai clique or Shanghai faction is the name given to an informal group of officials in the Communist Party of China
, especially those who serve in the central government of the People's Republic of China
or the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
, who rose to prominence in connection to the Shanghai
municipal administration under former CPC General secretary, President Jiang Zemin
. It also includes other former subordinates of Jiang.
This popular phrase was used somewhat pejoratively to describe Jiang's efforts to promote people who previously worked, or were associated with, his administration in Shanghai
.
of the CPC Central Committee
.
Before his death, Huang Ju
(黄菊) was also a key member of the clique.
CPC General secretary
, President
Hu Jintao
and Premier
Wen Jiabao
are not members of the clique.
Upon Jiang's retirement in 2004, it is widely believed that he stuffed the cabinet with all his men, and is said to be making it difficult for Hu and Wen to carry out their own policies. The best evidence of this is in the recently concluded 5th Plenary Meeting of 16th National Congress
of the CPC
, when Hu's efforts to reshuffle the politburo
was blocked by members of the Shanghai Clique. Wen's macro-economic measures aimed at slowing down infrastructure growth and nationwide overheating in the property sector received great resistance from alleged members of this clique.
However, as Jiang has now retired from all of his positions at the 4th Plenary Meeting of 16th National Congress
of the CPC
, Hu is now the legitimate paramount leader
of the CPC. There are signs of important members of the Shanghai Clique defecting to Hu's camp, thereby strengthening Hu's position. In addition, in a bold move in September 2006, Hu acted to purge prominent rival Chen Liangyu
, former Mayor of Shanghai, for alleged corruption, thus strengthening his position both within the party
and in China.
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
, especially those who serve in the central government of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
or the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is the highest authority within the Communist Party of China. Its approximately 350 members and alternates are selected once every five years by the National Party Congress....
, who rose to prominence in connection to the Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
municipal administration under former CPC General secretary, President Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the People's Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2005...
. It also includes other former subordinates of Jiang.
This popular phrase was used somewhat pejoratively to describe Jiang's efforts to promote people who previously worked, or were associated with, his administration in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Membership
Important members of the clique include incumbent standing members of the powerful PolitburoPolitburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
of the CPC Central Committee
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is the highest authority within the Communist Party of China. Its approximately 350 members and alternates are selected once every five years by the National Party Congress....
.
- Jiang ZeminJiang ZeminJiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the People's Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2005...
(江泽民) - Wu BangguoWu BangguoWu Bangguo is a high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China. He is currently Chairman and Party secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a position that makes him China's chief legislator...
(吴邦国) - Jia QinglinJia QinglinJia Qinglin is a senior leader of the People's Republic of China. He is the fourth ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Chairman and Party secretary of the National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference. Jia's functions as...
(贾庆林) - Zeng QinghongZeng QinghongZeng Qinghong was the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China from 2003 to 2008. He became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee during the 2002 16th Party Congress. Although he was formally ranked fifth in the nine PSC...
(曾庆红) - Wu GuanzhengWu GuanzhengWu Guanzheng was the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, an anti-corruption body from 2002 to 2007.-Career:...
(吴官正) - Li ChangchunLi ChangchunLi Changchun is the Propaganda chief of the Communist Party of China. He is the 5th ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, China's de facto top power organ, and has been a member since 2002...
(李长春) - Liu QiLiu Qi (Communist)Liu Qi is the CPC Beijing Committee Secretary, first-in-charge of Beijing, and also a member of the CPC Politburo. He was the President of the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee.-Biography and Career:...
(刘琪) - Zeng PeiyanZeng PeiyanZeng Peiyan is a Chinese politician. He was a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 2002 to 2007 and was a Vice-premier from 2003 to 2008.-Early life and career:...
(曾培炎) - Zhang DejiangZhang DejiangZhang Dejiang is a current Vice-Premier and a prominent leader of the Communist Party of China, a member of its Politburo.-Biography:Zhang, a native of Tai'an, Liaoning, attended Yanbian University, where he studied the Korean language. Beginning in August 1978 Zhang attended Kim Il-sung...
(张德江) - Zhou YongkangZhou YongkangZhou Yongkang is a senior leader of the Communist Party of China who is currently serving as the 9th ranked member of the powerful Politburo Standing Committee, and the head of the Central Political and Legislative Committee, an organ directing central government legal policy and the legislative...
(周永康) - Hui Liangyu (回良玉)
- Hua JianminHua JianminHua Jianmin currently serves as one of the vice chairmen of the standing committee of the 11th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China...
(华建敏) - Chen ZhiliChen ZhiliChen Zhili is a senior female politician of the People's Republic of China, and the former State Councilor and Minister of Education of PRC. She currently serves as vice chairman of stading committee of 11th National People's Congress, vice chairman of organization commission of 29th Olympic...
(陈至立) - Chen LiangyuChen LiangyuChen Liangyu was a politician of the People's Republic of China from the ruling Communist Party, and the disgraced CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary, or the city's first-in-charge....
(陈良宇), expelled from Communist Party due to scandal
Before his death, Huang Ju
Huang Ju
Huang Ju was the Executive Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China. He joined the Communist Party of China in March 1966. He was ranked 6th out of 9, and was one of the least popular and most partisan members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Party...
(黄菊) was also a key member of the clique.
CPC General secretary
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of China , officially General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is the highest ranking official within the Communist Party of China, a standing member of the Politburo and head of the Secretariat...
, President
President of the People's Republic of China
The President of the People's Republic of China is a ceremonial office and a part of State organs under the National People's Congress and it is the head of state of the People's Republic of China . The office was created by the 1982 Constitution...
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
and Premier
Premier of the People's Republic of China
The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China , sometimes also referred to as the "Prime Minister" informally, is the Leader of the State Council of the People's Republic of China , who is the head of government and holds the highest-ranking of the Civil service of the...
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
are not members of the clique.
Upon Jiang's retirement in 2004, it is widely believed that he stuffed the cabinet with all his men, and is said to be making it difficult for Hu and Wen to carry out their own policies. The best evidence of this is in the recently concluded 5th Plenary Meeting of 16th National Congress
National Congress
-Parties:*Ethiopia - Oromo National Congress*India - Indian National Congress*Guyana - People's National Congress*Papua New Guinea - People's National Congress Party*South Africa - African National Congress*Sudan - National Congress...
of the CPC
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
, when Hu's efforts to reshuffle the politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
was blocked by members of the Shanghai Clique. Wen's macro-economic measures aimed at slowing down infrastructure growth and nationwide overheating in the property sector received great resistance from alleged members of this clique.
However, as Jiang has now retired from all of his positions at the 4th Plenary Meeting of 16th National Congress
National Congress
-Parties:*Ethiopia - Oromo National Congress*India - Indian National Congress*Guyana - People's National Congress*Papua New Guinea - People's National Congress Party*South Africa - African National Congress*Sudan - National Congress...
of the CPC
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
, Hu is now the legitimate paramount leader
Paramount leader
Paramount leader literally "the highest leader of the party and the state ", in modern Chinese political science, unofficially refers to the political leader of the People's Republic of China....
of the CPC. There are signs of important members of the Shanghai Clique defecting to Hu's camp, thereby strengthening Hu's position. In addition, in a bold move in September 2006, Hu acted to purge prominent rival Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu was a politician of the People's Republic of China from the ruling Communist Party, and the disgraced CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary, or the city's first-in-charge....
, former Mayor of Shanghai, for alleged corruption, thus strengthening his position both within the party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
and in China.
See also
- Politics of the People's Republic of ChinaPolitics of the People's Republic of ChinaThe politics of the People's Republic of China take place in a framework of a single-party socialist republic. The leadership of the Communist Party is stated in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China...
- 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China17th National Congress of the Communist Party of ChinaThe 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing, China, at the Great Hall of the People from 15 to 21 October 2007. The Congress marked significant shift in the political direction of the country as CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao solidified his position of leadership...
- Qinghua cliqueQinghua cliqueThe term Qinghua clique refers to a group of Communist Chinese politicians that have graduated from Tsinghua University . They are members of the fourth generation of Chinese leadership, and are purported to hold hesitantly pro-democratic or reformist ideas The term Qinghua (Tsinghua) clique...