China in danger of reverting to cult-based politics

MUCH attention has been focused on what Premier Li Keqiang had to say about the slowing Chinese economy in his annual report to the National People's Congress, China's parliament, and about a lower "new normal" in economic growth.

Just as important, if not more so, is what his speech revealed about the state of Chinese politics and of a "new normal" in that realm.

Premier Li began his speech by giving credit to "the firm leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China headed by general secretary Xi Jinping".