China: Rumor Mill Turns Around Leadership Reshuffle

Rumors have resurfaced on the future of Chinese leadership and, if any of them are to be believed, big changes are in the works. Conflicting sources have suggested a variety of prospects for Wang Qishan -- the anti-corruption czar who is widely seen as Chinese President Xi Jinping's closest aide -- and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The rumor mill was set turning by the secret gathering at the Beidaihe summer resort reportedly drew to a close last week. For decades, the annual beach meeting of senior Party officials and Communist elders around July and August has served as a metric for assessing the often-opaque Chinese political landscape, as well as key personnel arrangements. This is particularly true as China's Communist elites approach their landmark leadership transition in the upcoming 19th Party Congress, slated for early November....