BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping locked in support for a historic third term in power at the Communist Party’s Congress on Saturday, but the dramatic removal of his predecessor from the event stole the headlines.

At the end of the week-long gathering in Beijing, China’s ruling party approved a sweeping reshuffle that saw a number of top officials — including Premier Li Keqiang — step down, allowing Xi to appoint new allies.

The largely rubber-stamp meeting of around 2,300 party delegates was meticulously choreographed, with Xi determined to avoid any surprises as he enshrined his leadership for the next five years.

However, in an unexpected move that punctured the proceedings at the Great Hall of the People, former leader Hu Jintao was led out of the closing ceremony.

Later on Saturday, state media said Hu was “not feeling well” when he was escorted out, but was doing “much better” after getting some rest.

Initially, the frail-looking 79-year-old seemed reluctant to leave the front row where he was sitting next to Xi.

A steward attempted to take a sitting Hu by the arm before being shaken off. The steward then tried to lift Hu up with both hands from under the armpits.

After an exchange of about a minute, in which Hu spoke briefly with Xi and Premier Li Keqiang, he was led out of the hall.

A seated Xi was filmed holding papers down on the desk as Hu tried to grab them.

Hu patted Li’s shoulder as he left, as most of his colleagues stared firmly ahead.

Later, state news agency Xinhua said on Twitter: “Xinhuanet reporter Liu Jiawen has learned that Hu Jintao insisted on atten­ding the closing session... despite the fact that he has been taking time to recuperate recently.”

“When he was not feeling well during the session, his staff, for his health, accompanied him to a room next to the meeting venue for a rest. Now, he is much better.” Hu’s exit came just before the 2,300 delegates at the Congress voted unanimously to endorse Xi’s “core” leadership position.

Xi is all but assured of being formally announced on Sunday as the party’s general secretary for another five years.

This will allow him to sail through to a third term as China’s president, due to be announced during the government’s annual legislative sessions in March.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2022