China’s Xi Jinping emerges but mystery remains

Vice-President Xi Jinping spent Saturday at the China Agricultural University in Beijing, where events were held to mark National Science Popularisation Day.

China’s transition to a new ­generation of leaders appears a step closer after president-in-waiting Xi Jinping emerged from an unexplained two-week absence.

A casually dressed Mr Xi was photo­graphed in Beijing on Saturday, ahead of what is expected to be a tense political week for the Chinese Communist Party.

Its sanctioning of anti-Japanese protests across China on Saturday has helped push relations between Asia’s two biggest economies to their lowest point in nearly three years.

Japanese missions were pelted with rocks, eggs and bottles in a highly choreographed effort to protest Tokyo’s purchase of contested islands in the East China Sea.

As the dispute escalated, Japan’s Foreign Minister, Koichiro Gemba, cut short his visit to Australia and returned home.

At the same time the party is looking to contain any fallout from Tuesday’s trial of Wang Lijun, the former police chief responsible for plunging China into its biggest political crisis in more than two decades.

Mr Wang fled to the US consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu in February, where he told diplomats how British businessman Neil Heywood had been murdered.

The revelation led to the sacking of top Party official Bo Xilai and saw his wife, Gu Kailai, convicted of murdering the Briton.

The sacking of Mr Bo exposed deep divisions within the party, as his allies struggled to maintain their influence and jockeyed for top positions ahead of this year’s leadership transition. Mr Wang has been charged with defection, illegal surveillance and taking bribes. The trial will take place in Chengdu, where Mr Wang is sure to be found guilty, although like Ms Gu he is expected to be spared the death penalty.

Charges are yet to be laid against Mr Bo, who was previously party secretary for the giant municipality of Chongqing.

Court officials said the trial was open to the public and media, although all seats had already been filled.

The trial of Mr Wang is seen as a further sign that officials are trying to clear away any issue which could disrupt the upcoming National Party Congress in Beijing.

A date is yet to be set for the congress, at which Mr Xi will be announced as president and general secretary of the party.

Mr Xi’s emergence, after an apparent illness, may see the party move quickly to set a date for the congress. The event, which only happens every five years, is expected to be held in mid-October.

Before visiting an agricultural university on Saturday, Mr Xi had not been seen in public since September 1.

His absence only became apparent however when he abruptly ­cancelled a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on ­September 5.

The official Xinhua news service made no attempt to explain his absence, nor did it comment on his health.

Mr Xi is thought to have suffered a serious, but not life-threatening, stroke or heart attack.

The Australian Financial Review