Bitter power struggle in China

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sacked the neo-Maoist Bo Xilai from his post as head of Chonqing Municipality on Thursday. This is just the beginning of an internal power struggle before Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping takes over the leadership of the country in October, the left-liberal daily El País suspects: "The world is watching closely because two major political events that will take place in the world's two largest economies this autumn will affect all of us: the democratic election of the US president and a transfer of power to the next generation at the head of the authoritarian regime in China. … The competing factions in China have different visions for the country's future, and this is the cause of great uncertainty both within the country and in the global economy. Although it seems pretty likely that the transition will see the so-called Fifth Generation rise to power, with Hu Jintao being replaced by current Vice President Xi Jinping, … Bo's dismissal is a sign that there will be a bitter struggle within the regime in the coming months."

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