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Asia: China: Hu Jintao solidifies rule as Chinese army chief resigns

China's army chief Jiang Zemin made a surprise decision earlier this month to step down from his post, and Hu Jintao was named to take his place. Hu is already the President of China and the head of the Communist Party, which along with the army chief are the top three positions in chinese government. There is some speculation over Hu's power and whether or not China can still be ruled by one man alone.

Hu's control over the People's Army will have a direct affect on relations with Taiwan. Taiwan's current president, Chen Shui-bian, is also gaining power in his country and is predicted to use this power to push for Taiwanese indepedence, possibly bringing the matter to a military confrontation. Hu is seen as slightly more lenient that Jiang on the subject of Taiwan and the One-China policy. China, of course, is limiting the democracy within recently seceded Hong Kong and still occupies Tibet. China's new economic partners still worry than China will become militarily aggressive in the wake of it's economic growth.

posted by fullcircle @ 9/25/2004 02:34:00 AM