Xi Positions Shanghai Chief as Next Premier After Messy Lockdown
- Li Qiang, a longtime Xi aide, set to head China’s government
- Chinese leader defied party norms to put allies in key posts
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Li Qiang’s rise to become China’s No. 2 official, months after overseeing Shanghai’s chaotic Covid lockdown, made clear the top criteria for Communist Party promotion: loyalty to Xi Jinping.
The Shanghai party chief walked out on Sunday directly behind the Chinese leader, as Xi unveiled a seven-man Politburo Standing Committee filled with his allies. Li, 63, is now set to become premier in March, despite never having served as vice premier -- a prerequisite for the post for decades.