HONG KONG -- As top politicians in the Communist Party of China consult and confer with each other at Beidaihe during their annual seaside retreat, one key question facing them is whether 76-year-old President and CPC Secretary General Jiang Zemin will seek to extend himself in office.
More broadly, the main issues confronting them will be the long-heralded transfer of power from the third generation of CPC leaders to the fourth generation. The consensus that will be sought during this year's consultations at Beidaihe is particularly critical because it precedes the 16th Party Congress in the autumn, at which appointments for the next five years will be made.
The extent to which the third generation led by Jiang is seeking to retain power is obviously a key and potentially destabilizing issue. The extent to which it will be frankly discussed at Beidaihe is not known.