Tsinghua clique
The term Tsinghua clique refers to a group of Chinese Communist Party politicians that have graduated or have taught at Tsinghua University. They are members of the fourth generation of Chinese leadership, and are purported to hold powerful reformist ideas. Just like their predecessors, they attach great importance to socialism with Chinese characteristics. Their ascendance to power is likely to have begun in 2008 at the CCP's 17th National Congress.
Many Tsinghua graduates rise to political prominence. Among the 7 standing committees at the Politburo, there is one Tsinghua graduate; among the 25 Politburo committee members, there are three.
Key figures are reported to currently include:
Retired or deceased:
- Zhang Dongsun
- Zhang Junmai
- Luo Longji
- Fei Xiaotong
- Pan Guangdan
- Qian Weichang
- Peng Peiyun
- Kang Shien
- Wu Guanzheng
- Hu Qili
- Huang Ju
- Yao Yilin
- Song Ping
- Li Ximing
- Wang Hanbin
- Zhou Guangzhao
- Zheng Tianxiang
- Zhu Rongji
- Hu Jintao
- Wu Bangguo, although he is generally considered more loyal to Jiang Zemin's Shanghai clique
- Lin Wenyi, chairman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League
- Liu Yandong