Leadership-related events in US and China

This week, the two most powerful countries on earth are holding top leadership-related events.

Tuesday, Nov. 6 is Election Day in the United States of America.

The US continues to be a major influence to Filipinos, with many of us having relatives there. Media outfits and individuals are monitoring the race, a number of them taking sides.

Reports said the presidential race is tight between Barack Obama, a Democrat who is seeking a second term and Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

China, on Thursday, Nov. 8 will hold its 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. Held every five years, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said there’s “a remarkable increase” of overseas journalists applying for accreditation for the event, compared to the number that covered the 17th Congress.

Unlike in the US, where no one can predict for sure whether Obama will continue for another four years in the White House or step down on January 2013, in China it is expected that Xi Jinping, 57, currently the vice president will succeed President Hu Jintao, 68, also referred as “paramount leader.”

Here’s excerpts from the media advisory of the Chinese Embassy :

“The congress is a very important meeting to be held at a critical time when China is building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, and deepening reform and opening up and accelerating the transformation of economic development pattern in difficult areas.

“The congress will hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, be guided with the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thoughts of “Three Represents,” and thoroughly carry out the Scientific Outlook on Development.

“The congress will review the Party’s work over the past five years as well as what the Party has implemented since the 16th CPC National Congress.

“It will summarize the precious experience the Party has gained from the historical process of uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups to carry on and advance the socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“The congress will thoroughly examine the current international and domestic situation and take into account of the new requirements for the country’s development and new expectations from the people.

“The congress will draw out the guidelines and policies that respond to the call of the times and fulfill the wishes of the people.”

For Filipinos who elect their leaders, almost like the Americans, the Chinese setup is somewhat complicated.

In a democratic setup that we have in the Philippines, there are three co-equal branches of government: the Executive headed by the President whom the people elect directly; Legislative composed of senators and representatives, whom the people also elect; and the Judiciary headed by the Supreme Court Justice appointed by the President but is independent from the two other branches.

In China, the three levers of power are The Party, The Army and the State.

Here’s a useful primer by Patrick Chovanec , a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management in Beijing on China’s Leadership transition:

“The National [Party] Congress (not to be confused with the annual National People’s Congress) has 2000 party delegates. It meets every 5 years and ‘elects’ the Party’s Central Committee of 300 members, but in reality simply ratifies members who have been put in place by the 24-man Politburo.

“The Politburo is in turn governed by the nine members of its Standing Committee. The members of this committee are ranked in order of influence 1-9, and are in essence the beating heart of the Chinese government. At present Hu Jintao occupies the number one slot and Wen Jiabao number three. Their expected replacements, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang, come in at six and seven respectively.

“The expectation that Xi Jinping will succeed Hu Jintao seems to come from matters of both precedent and powerful influence. Xi Jinping holds the two posts that Hu himself held before becoming President, or more importantly before becoming the General Secretary of the Party’s Politiburo Central Committee. “

Xi is described by media as “princeling,” the child of a prominent Party official. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who represented President Aquino at the Asean-China Expo, met with him in Nanning, China last September.

Wen Jiabao will remain as Premier after he steps down from the Politburo standing committee until taken over by Li Keqiang in March.

It’s important for Filipino officials to monitor closely the leadership transition in the U.S. and China and keep a close watch on new personalities in the power hierarchy.

But there should be no illusion of a major change in their foreign policy attitude towards the Philippines. Whatever party would be in power in the United States, whoever would wield the most power in China, they would all prioritize their national interest in dealing with other countries.

That should also be our policy.