Grappling in the dark

摘要

On His visit to America this week Chi na's vice-president, Xijinping, serene ly played the role his aides had scripted for him as the country's leader-in-waiting, charming his hosts but revealing little (see Lexington, page 33). At home, however, the Communist Party's plans for a sweeping shuffle of its hierarchy later this year were beginning to appear less orderly.