After party congress, no change in China's South China Sea policy

MUCH has been written about the recently concluded 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The general public impression appears to be that Xi Jinping emerged from it not only reelected as party secretary-general but also more powerful than ever.

Theoretically, the rank-and-file members of the CPC elect the local party officials who then elect the members of the party central committee, who then elect the members of politburo and its standing committee from whose ranks of seven members the party secretary-general is selected. On this basis, the CPC would seem to be a democratic organization.