This is deliberate humiliation of Hu Jintao by Xi Jinping. It was done in front of international news media and surely signals a hardening of Xi’s rule. Hu was the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party between 2002-2012 and Xi Jinping’s immediate predecessor. The general secretary of the CCP is China’s top ruler. Xi will be rubber stamped as general secretary on Sunday, making him communist China’s most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong. See this for more information: The new Central Committee on Sunday will choose the elite Politburo Standing Committee, with Xi, 69, widely expected to secure a third leadership term. ABN
UPDATE: If anyone thinks Hu is being led out because he is ill, the close-up below should dispel that idea. Note that Xi waited until just after international press were admitted to the hall to expel Hu. Notice also, the man to the right of Hu starts to stand to intervene or do something but the man to his right pulls on his coat to get him to sit back down. This exchange is clearer in the video below. The man who stands is Li Zhanshu, a Xi ally. The man who sits him back down is Wang Huning, who is an advisor to Xi Jinping. Notice that after Li sits back down Wang puts his hands on the table and signals Li to do the same. Kicking Hu Jintao out was a strong power display by Xi and a signal to the world. The video will be censored in China but that will only make it go more viral. It is also a strong signal to everyone in China. ABN
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