Chinese President Xi Jinping walks during a memorial ceremony. (Photo : Reuters)
In a year when President Xi Jinping's Beijing has committed to deepening reforms, a spotlight is now shining upon the cliques of China's ruling elite.
The new orientation forms part of Xi's mission to stamp out corruption among the Communist Party of China, as well as his nation's power structures, and overshadows the staging of the third session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Also known as factions, cliques in China consist of officials with shared political or economic interests, and have existed for many years even though they are technically outlawed.
As far back as the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, when the "Gang of Four" was accused of inciting the mayhem that ensued, the groupings have represented a form of collective leadership, whereby high-ranking leaders of equal status represent their own networks.
In the years after Mao Zedong's death, some CPC members have even credited factions with supporting the maintenance of a balance of power during a period of rapid societal and economic change.
However, the Chinese president's supporters say that they are pleased that the Party will finally be rid of illegal cliques that have been the cause of serious issues like infighting and scandals.
In support of Xi's focus on banishing China's political cliques, state media have identified some of the factions, including the "secretary clique," comprised of former senior aides; the "oil clique" of energy industry officials; and the "Shanxi clique" from Shanxi Province. The latter is the home province of Ling Jihua, who was a long-serving aide of presidential predecessor, Hu Jintao.
