by Zheng Yongnian (East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore) & Zou Keyuan (East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore)

With the passing of the old generation of revolutionaries, China's politics is entering a new era that belongs to the Jiang Zemin-centered third generation of leadership. Will the new leadership be able to cope with the growing pressure and demand for further economic and political reform and meet challenges within and without the regime? This essay shows the reader what strategies Jiang Zemin and Zhu Rongji have employed to build a more efficient government to rule a country that is becoming increasingly difficult to govern.

• Consolidating Power by Exercising Power
• Separating Government from Enterprises
• Separating the Military from Business
• Campaign Against Smuggling
• Campaign Against Corruption
• Strengthening the Legal System
• Challenges in the Years Ahead
• Appendix: Major Political Events in 1998