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Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
CHINA'S NEXT PM?
IN RECENT YEARS, EXECUTIVE Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji has been the dominant force in Chinese economic policy. As central bank chief, he pushed through key financial reforms before shedding the post four months ago. And his determined drive to tighten credit nationwide has helped cut the country's inflation rate from 23% last year to 11% last month. According to Asiaweek's sources, his achievements led to a recent consensus among China's top leaders that Zhu, 67, will succeed Li Peng as prime minister when Li's term ends early in 1998.
Zhu, whose no-nonsense style has irked many powerful cadres, is regarded in Beijing as the only official who can effectively manage the nation's unruly and rapidly growing economy. "Yet his lack of a personal power base means he is not a threat to other top leaders," says a political insider. "He has also pleased his senior colleagues in Beijing with his sustained efforts to tame 'economic warlordism' in the provinces."
Won't Zhu, who is the same age as Li, be too old to succeed the PM? "They want someone with both stature and a proven track record to be the next premier - and Zhu fits the bill," says the insider. The urbane vice-premier, of course, will go over far better with foreigners than Li, whose reputation has been irredeemably stained by his central role in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. Still, Zhu is no shoo-in, especially if the economy turns sour. And two years are an eternity in Chinese politics.
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