China 15 years later

Deng Xiaoping died at 9:08 pm on February 19, 1997. He was the most important leader in China since Mao Zedong although his economic policies were at odds with the political ideologies of Chairman Mao Zedong. As a result, he was purged twice during the Cultural Revolution but regained prominence in 1978 by outmaneuvering Mao's chosen successor, Hua Guofeng. (photos: Xinhua and Asiaweek)


A few weeks after Deng´s death the magazine Asiaweek presented some articles regarding the Next Generation of leaders and probably coming stars in China. 

Now, 15 years later we are informed that one of these coming men, Bo Xilai, and considered a likely candidate for promotion to the nine-member Politburo Standing Committee in 2012, was dumped.


From The Economist I copy:
"Since the unexplained dismissal last month of the Communist Party chief of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, rumours had swirled about his family’s alleged wrongdoings. On April 10th the government broke its silence, accusing Mr Bo of “serious”, though still unspecified, wrongdoing and, more startling, making Mr Bo’s wife a suspect in the murder of a British businessman. The political career of Mr Bo, one of China’s most prominent politicians, appears to be over."


Looking back to the list from 1997 the other "forth generation" leaders career have been:  
Wu Bangguo is currently Chairman and Party secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a position that makes him China's chief legislator. 
Huang Ju died in 2007
Shi Yunsheng lost his positions in 2003
Cao Gangchuan was Minister of National Defense until 2008
Xu Kuangdi is vice-chairman of cppcc
Wen Jiabao  is the sixth and current Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet.
Jia Qinglin is the fourth ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Chairman and Party secretary of the National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference.


Maybe Bo Xilai will, as Deng, return to power sometimes in the future. He is still only 62 years old and age is not an disadvantage in this great culture.