Who Actually Holds Power in China? And It May Not Be Who You Think

In the People's Republic of China, politics operates within the framework of a single-party system, and the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) implements its policies through state institutions, including assemblies of people's representatives. This one-party state operates on the principle of unified state power, which means that the state has a single system of governance, and all power originates from the people, with the National People's Congress (NPC) as the main state organ of power, constitutionally established as the “highest state organ of power.”

Since 1949, the transfer of power in China has taken place under the conditions of a one-party state led by the Communist Party of China (CPC). Although the Constitution provides citizens with the right to vote and stand for election, the appointment of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, the country's most important political leader, takes place within the Party's internal political system and is formally carried out by the Central Committee of the CPC. In addition to the Chinese Communist Party, the Standing Committee of the Politburo and the Politburo also hold significant political power.

The Standing Committee of the Politburo: this narrow circle of top leaders — usually consisting of seven people — is the highest decision-making body in the country.

Politburo: a group of 25 members that determines the main directions of national policy and oversees regional and governmental power.

KEY LEADERSHIP ROLES:

General Secretary: the highest political position in the CCP, holding the most important position within China's political system.

Chairman of the Central Military Commission: a leading role in the armed forces.

President: the formal head of state, whose position, when held alongside the Party and military leadership roles, can contribute to the concentration of political power.

The Inner Circle: Who Really Makes the Decisions?

However, the current center of this system is Xi Jinping, who is the General Secretary of the CCP, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, which makes him the country's top political leader.

The President of China was constitutionally limited to two consecutive five-year terms until this restriction was removed during the first plenary session of the 13th National People's Congress in March 2018. The constitutional amendment removed the two-term limit for the presidency, allowing a president to serve additional terms.

In October 2022, Xi Jinping was re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China for an unprecedented third term since the death of Mao Zedong.

Many important people hold power in China, but it is Xi Jinping who currently holds the most powerful position at the head of the Communist Party.

So, Who Is Really in Charge?

Author: Anel Kalimova
Editor & Publisher: Lucía Lobato

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