“Anyone challenging Xi Jinping can now be seen as committing a political crime,” said Nicholas Bequelin, East Asia regional director for Amnesty International. While the exact makeup is not known, the new standing committee, which is the top echelon of political power in China, will further cement Mr. Xi’s control. Under Mr. Xi, the party has carried out an extensive crackdown on corruption that has seen more than 1.5 million officials investigated in the past five years, including 440 at the provincial level or above. Mr. Sun was seen as a possible candidate for elevation to the Politburo Standing Committee, at the party congress underway. But he disappeared from public view on July 15, just days after pledging his loyalty to Mr. Xi.

Source: New York Times October 20, 2017 07:52 UTC