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One of the self-serving narratives of LKY and the PAP administration is that LKY had good, long-standing personal relations with Chinese leaders. They were “old friends”.
Well then, how come it seems that China’s leaders are not giving that much face to LKY (and S’pore) by only standing Vice-President Li Yuanchao?
True, he holds the second highest state post. But in the Chinese hierarchy of power, the CCP is more important than the state or government. It is even above the law. The standing committee of the politburo of the CCP is at the apex, with the secretary-general (and state president) Xi Jinping, right at the top.
Li Keqiang (also the PM) is the next highest ranking official on the standing committee. There are five other members.
The VP that is coming is not even in the standing committee of the politburo (as other VPs have been in the past) though he is somewhere in the 25 politburo (25 members).
If China wanted to give LKY (and S’pore face), it would surely would have sent the PM or any other less senior standing committee member. If Xi had come himself, it would be very serious face for LKY and S’pore, but even the ST in an article had conceded that his presence was unlikely.
As it is we only got the VP.
To be fair, I should point out that in a speech in China, the president praised LKY. A friend heard a broadcast of the speech yesterday.
What do you think. Was LKY that close to the Chinese leaders?
https://atans1.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/a-hint-of-chinas-real-view-of-lky/
Well then, how come it seems that China’s leaders are not giving that much face to LKY (and S’pore) by only standing Vice-President Li Yuanchao?
True, he holds the second highest state post. But in the Chinese hierarchy of power, the CCP is more important than the state or government. It is even above the law. The standing committee of the politburo of the CCP is at the apex, with the secretary-general (and state president) Xi Jinping, right at the top.
Li Keqiang (also the PM) is the next highest ranking official on the standing committee. There are five other members.
The VP that is coming is not even in the standing committee of the politburo (as other VPs have been in the past) though he is somewhere in the 25 politburo (25 members).
If China wanted to give LKY (and S’pore face), it would surely would have sent the PM or any other less senior standing committee member. If Xi had come himself, it would be very serious face for LKY and S’pore, but even the ST in an article had conceded that his presence was unlikely.
As it is we only got the VP.
To be fair, I should point out that in a speech in China, the president praised LKY. A friend heard a broadcast of the speech yesterday.
What do you think. Was LKY that close to the Chinese leaders?
https://atans1.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/a-hint-of-chinas-real-view-of-lky/
