Why becoming the ‘core’ matters for China’s communist leaders

In China’s world of opaque and delicate leadership status, holding a top party post does not necessarily signify authority. But being labelled “core” – a non-official title denoting a higher political status – is critical.

Four years after becoming the Chinese Communist Party’s general secretary, Chinese President Xi Jinping was anointed as the “core” of the party’s leadership on Thursday at the end of the Central Committee’s four-day sixth plenum in Beijing.

This sent a strong message that his authority is beyond challenge within the party that has ruled China for 67 years.

Here we take a brief look at history of some China’s communist leaders and their relationship between their titles and status.