Introduction—Key to the Success of China’s Political System

I first addressed the whole Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the autumn of 2007. I stated that the Standing Committee had brought about a scientific approach to development and established a governing philosophy characterized by harmony. I noted that in this way, the Standing Committee had turned over a new page in Chinese socialism, and that its efforts were acknowledged and supported by all CPC members, all the servicemen and women of the People’s Liberation Army, and the Chinese people as a whole. Further, these efforts had won global attention and been applauded the world over. I also asked a series of important questions. How should the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau be run politically? How should a good Standing Committee be ensured? Through what kinds of processes does the Committee reach its decisions? According to what standards does it operate? What mechanisms are in place to ensure that the committee makes the correct major decisions? (Angang Hu 2007b).