While most Chinese hearts soared with the launch on Wednesday morning of the spacecraft Shenzhou VI, which took two Chinese “taikonauts” into orbit, China’s leader was in no mood to celebrate. …
Hu’s absence, and presumably his ill-humor, bear out rumors circulating in the higher reaches of power in China: he suffered a major setback at the 5th plenary session of the central committee of the CCP, which ended after four days of closed-door meetings in Beijing on Tuesday.
Hu, the nominal military chief, is believed to be particularly unhappy with his top brass.
See also “New Five-Year Plan called ‘revolutionary‘” from Asia Times and “Hu Firmly Takes Wheel in China” from the Los Angeles Times.
