Radio Free Asia (October 28) published an article by Cheng Xiaonong, a Chinese political
commentator, on how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) selected its Central Committee
members for the 20th Party Congress. It claimed Xi Jinping started planning the candidate
selection work at the end of 2020. Three months later Xi held a Politburo Standing Committee
meeting and a Politburo meeting to launch the 20th Party Congress Cadres Evaluation Leading
Group officially, with him the head of the group. Xi allocated quotas to each province and
ministry. The CCP Central Organization Department started the cadres’ evaluations in July
2021. It sent out 45 evaluation teams, in three batches, to 31 provinces, 124 central and state
apparatuses and state-owned enterprises. The Central Military Commission also sent eight
evaluation teams to 25 central units and theatres. The evaluation results were presented to the
Politburo for review. Xi called six politburo standing committee hearings on the evaluation
report. In the end, Xi made the call on candidates. The list was finalized at the CCP politburo
standing committee on September 7. The vote had two steps. First, a 222-member list was
given to the 20th Congress representatives to vote for 205 positions. Second, the representatives
were given a 205-member list to vote for 205 members. It is not very clear whether the ballot
would still be valid if someone wrote any name on it that was outside the “official” list. But
that “off the list” candidate for sure wouldn’t be elected.
(Comment: The Xinhua had earlier on October 24 issued a release on the procedure followed
for selection of cadres to the CC and PB, which showed Xi Jinping involved at each stage.)
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