There was some suspense and a little drama, but the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), which was held last week, concluded very much as anticipated.
Xi Jinping secured his third term as general secretary, and having purged the leadership of all opposition and surrounded himself with loyalists, has emerged as the supreme leader, both literally and metaphorically.
Xi has been consolidating power for years, eliminating adversaries as well as other checks on his authority. Xi Jinping thought has been enshrined in the constitution. He has shifted power away from ministries and agencies to small leading groups that he often heads.