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The Fifth Generation Chinese Leader’s Political Opponents Include Four Interest Groups

The fifth generation of Chinese leaders [Xi Jinping’s Administration] initiated reform with bold steps, far exceeding its predecessor, the Hu-Wen administration. As the reform has been advancing, a number of interest groups have been thwarting the effort with increasingly strong resistance. Four categories of resisters have gradually coalesced to become the political opponents of the fifth generation of Chinese leaders. 

The first category consists of powerful elite interest groups. Many of them are in high positions and have control of important political and economic resources. Many were once the main force of reform. However, as they became the established interest group, they turned toward resistance. For example, Zhou Yongkang, Ling Jihua, and their followers represent such groups. 

The second category is the interest groups that have formed a selfish departmentalism. These people ignore orders from the upper levels in order to defend their local interests in the implementation of the reform policies. 

The third category is the grassroots bureaucracy. Many local officials have developed a habit of taking a bite out of whatever is going through them. For example, by the time the disaster relief fund reaches the people who really need it, half of it has been siphoned off. 

The fourth category is the social intricacies of various pressure groups. This group is scattered and can gather as a group via the Internet. 

Source: original by Oriental Daily and reposted on Wenxuecity.com, April 10, 2015 http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2015/04/10/4178601.html