Xi Jinping Relies More on Inner Circle as His Direct Ties to Wider Leadership Circle Decline
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Xi's direct personal connections in the party's Central Committee have fallen from 32% to 22% over the past 5 years, though he still has the widest network.
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Xi is relying more on trusted lieutenants like Premier Li Qiang to build relationships within the political elite.
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Other new Politburo Standing Committee members like Li and Cai Qi have more connections due to their regional work experience.
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Li Xi has the second most connections after Xi, possibly due to his family ties and shared regional work history.
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Despite Xi's dominance, there are still internal career ambitions that contribute to political dynamics among party leadership.