In the latest Amendment to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, in the third paragraph of Article 79 of the Constitution, the sentence, reading “the terms of office for the President and Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China are the same as those of the deputies to the National People’s Congress; presidents and vice-presidents shall serve no more than two consecutive terms”, is revised to read “the terms of office for the President and Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China are the same as those of the deputies to the National People’s Congress”.
Thus, currently, there is no term limitation on the President of the People’s Republic of China. Some are saying that such amendment is aimed at keeping in line with the regulations and rules in the Party Charter as there is no term limit for both the leader of the Communist Party and Commander of the country’s armed forces. According to the Charter of the Communist Party of China adopted in 1982 and following amendments to the Charter, it only ruled that the term of office of each term of the Central Committee of the Party shall be five years, and there is no limitation on numbers of consecutive terms.
It is indeed one of the purpose of the amendment, but it is rather superficial. The original idea behind such amendment is to reflect and enforce the “three-in-one” leadership system in China by written form in Constitution.
The “three-in-one” leadership system means that one individual simultaneously takes the positions of the president of state, leader of the Communist Party and commander of the country’s armed forces. It is the successful experience that our Communist Party of China has gradually explored in the long-term ruling practice. After revising the provisions in the Constitution as to the consecutive term limits on President and make it in line with the provisions in the Party Charter, it will be propitious for keeping the uniformity of the leadership system in the Communist Party of China, the State and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Jiang Zemin once said that “the three-in-one leadership system and form is not only a must but also the most appropriate method for our Party and such a big country”. The position of national President gives leaders the status of being the representative of the country and enables them to conduct state affairs such as promoting diplomacy, state visits, and attendance at international conferences and meetings at the international level.
This amendment does not mean to change the retirement system of leading cadres of the Communist Party of China and the State, nor does it mean the tenure system of leading cadres. As it is clearly stated in the Article 38 of the Party Charter that all the leading cadres at all levels of the Party, whether elected by democratic elections or appointed by the leading organs, may not take life-long position, and their position may be changed or terminated. Cadres whose age and health condition are not suitable for continuing to work shall retire in accordance with the provisions of the State.
By promoting the “three-in-one” leadership system in China, it would be of great significance for ensuring the leadership of the Communist Party of China in the field of systems on economy, politics, culture, society, ecological civilization and the long-term stability of the society. As far back as in 2013, the Central Committee of Communist Party of China has promulgated its Decision on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms and stated the requirement of perfecting the leadership system of the Communist Party of China and the country, sticking to the democratic centralism and giving full play to the core leadership of the Party. The latest Amendment to the Constitution as to the cancelation on the terms of the President is aimed at improving the leadership system of the Communist Party of China and State, and it is to make institutional arrangements in the Constitution.