China's Congress Selects New Leaders

Hopes of China aiming towards reform, ended on Thursday, as the Politburo named it's Standing Committee.

Rumors that the committee would be cut from nine members, down to seven, proved true.

But none of the seven chosen are considered reformers.

Xi Jinping, the new head of the party and head of the military, is the most reform minded, and he is at best a cautious reformer.

Many issues, across the country, face demanded from the people, for reform.

He will be made President in March, giving him all three of the top posts, in the country. 

Only Xi and premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang are going to stay in office for the normal ten years.

The other five members, of the Standing Committee, are at least sixty-four, and so will have to retire in five years, at the next Congress.