From Asia Times:
In China, what promises to be a year rich in rumor has begun with a whopper: Vice President Zeng Qinghong will take over the presidency, one of three top posts currently held by Hu Jintao, the country’s No 1 leader. That may be signaled when deputies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) get together in Beijing this autumn for its biggest meeting since 2002.
Most rumors in the run-up to big party meetings in Beijing, such as this year’s 17th National Congress of the party and the first plenum of the 17th Central Committee, turn out to be hot air. There is little reason to suspect that the rumor about Hu being urged to cede his presidency to Zeng will be any different.[Full Text]