China’s Xi looks to 3rd 5-year term as Communist Party meets

By KEN MORITSUGU
Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — On the eve of the opening of a key Chinese Communist Party congress, party leader, head of state and commander of the armed forces Xi Jinping has given no indication of stepping away from power or anointing a successor. Xi had given no earlier signs that he would develop into one of modern China’s most dominant leaders, or that he would put the economically and militarily ascendant country on a collision course with the U.S.-led international order. Those illusions have been all but swept away ahead of the century-old party’s opening of its 20th congress Sunday. What’s not clear is how long he will remain in power, and what that means for China and the world.