Xi appointed to head nation's top security body

President Xi Jinping will head the National Security Commission, the country's top security policymaking body, the Party's ruling authority decided on Friday.

Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang were named deputy heads of the commission, according to a decision adopted at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Analysts said the appointments are a landmark for the commission, and are a powerful guarantee by the top leadership to fully coordinate all authorities and resources to meet looming challenges domestically and abroad.

Heated global discussion followed a statement issued on Nov 12 after the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee that China would establish the security commission.

Under the decision, the commission is "responsible for decision-making, deliberation and coordination on national security work" and in charge of "making overall plans and coordinating major issues and major work concerning national security".

As a policymaking and consultation coordinating organization, the commission will answer directly to the Politburo Standing Committee, the Party's highest decision-making authority.

Dong Manyuan, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the appointments present a powerful grouping of top leaders who will "strategically conduct top-level designs to deal with national security issues ranging from terrorist attacks to territorial skirmishes".

"Appointing the top leader to head the NSC is actually following international practice in allowing heads of state to chair such an organ," Dong said, adding that "some voices demonizing China's NSC are untrue".

In an explanation on Nov 15 of the Party's decision to comprehensively deepen reforms, Xi said the commission's main responsibilities include stipulating and implementing State security strategies, pushing forward the building of the rule of law system concerning State security, setting security principles and policies, and conducting research.

"National security and social stability are the preconditions for reform and development," Xi said.

Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the PLA's National Defense University, said China is facing an increasingly complex security situation and the "timely" appointments will boost its ability to handle crises or emergencies quickly.

"To deal with emergencies, including terrorist attacks, existing governing bodies are insufficient and may meet challenges over sharing information, communications and overlapping duties. The NSC will strengthen communication and integrate the resources of all relevant authorities into a unified power," Meng said.

Observers expect a detailed version of the commission's structure to be released soon.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn