Party priorities decide China’s public appointments

Significance

The systems through which officials rise, especially to key positions, and the reasons for their progression, reflect the Communist Party’s priorities and its approach to governance. Understanding how the system behind official appointments works is important for navigating and attempting to forecast China’s policy direction and external engagement strategies.

Impacts

• Foreign governments will have to deal with more political hardliners and fewer independent-minded technocrats.
• Ideological priorities and perceived political risk will increasingly counterbalance economic goals.
• International businesses engaging with Chinese officials will find relatively fewer champions within the system.
• Sudden removals or replacements of officials make China less attractive for foreigners seeking to engage with it.