China’s President Xi Jinping designates some sidekicks

IT SEEMS almost quaint to focus on the officials elevated to leadership positions under Xi Jinping, China’s president. Mr Xi, after all, is now being called the Communist Party’s core, helmsman of the country and the people’s leader—all titles associated with Mao Zedong. Mr Xi’s thought has been written into the constitution, to which all members of the party must pledge allegiance. State media report on him in ever more fawning terms and pay less and less attention to everyone else.

Television news showed delegates to the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s ersatz legislature, weeping for joy when Mr Xi’s re-election as president was announced. His unusually bellicose speech to the NPC, on March 20th, in which he warned the world that “not one inch of the motherland’s territory can be carved off”, was rapturously received. Yet even a one-man show needs its stage hands. Mr Xi has assembled a new team, anchored by two officials who will go a long way to determining the success of his rule. One is known for his intellect, the other for his ruthlessness.