The Shanghai clique is an informal name for officials in Chinese Communist Party especially central government of the People's Republic of China or CCP centre who rose to prominence in the Shanghai city administration under Jiang Zemin or used to be subordinates of Jiang. This popular saying was used somewhat pejoratively to describe Jiang's efforts to promote people who used to work for him or associated with Shanghai. Communist Party of China flag The Communist Party of China (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; pinyin: Zhōnggu ngchǎndǎng) is the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Shanghai (Chinese: 上海; pinyin: ; Shanghainese IPA: ; Lumazi: Zanhe) , situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, is Chinas largest city. ... Jiāng Zémín (born August 17, 1926) was the core of the third generation of Communist Party of China leaders, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the Peoples Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and...

Important members of the clique include incumbent standing members of the powerful politburo, such as Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Li Changchun or Wu Guanzheng. Other members include Liu Qi (刘琪 in Chinese)，Zeng Peiyuan (曾培源 in Chinese)，Zhang Dejiang (张德江 in Chinese)，Zhou Yongkang (周永康 in Chinese), Liu Yunshan (刘云山 in Chinese), Hui Liangyu (回良玉 in Chinese) and others. Senior ministers include Hua Jianmin (华建敏 in Chinese)，Chen Zhili (陈至立 in Chinese) and other figures. However, the President Hu Jintao and the Premier Wen Jiabao are not members of the clique. Politburo is short for Political Bureau. ... Wu Bangguo Wu Bangguo (Traditional Chinese:吳邦國 , Simplified Chinese: 吴邦国, Hanyu Pinyin: Wú Bāngguó) (born July 1941) is a Chinese politician. ... Jia Qinglin (Simplified Chinese: 贾庆林; Traditional Chinese: 賈慶林; pinyin: ) (born March 1940, Botou, Hebei Province) is the fourth ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Chairman of the Peoples Political Consultative Conference. ... Zeng Qinghong (曾庆红 Pinyin: Zēng Qìnghóng) (July 1939) became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee during the 2002 16th Party Congress. ... Huang Ju (黄菊, py: Huáng Jú) (born September 1939) is a Vice Premier of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Li Changchun Li Changchun (李長春) (born February 1944) is considered to be the propaganda chief of the Communist Party of China. ... Wu Guanzheng (吳官正) (b. ... The President of the Peoples Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国主席 pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó ZhÇ”xí, or abbreviated Guojia-Zhuxi 国家主席) is the head of state of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Hú Jǐntāo (born December 21, 1942) is the fourth and current President of the Peoples Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. ... The Premier ( Chinese: 总理 pinyin: zŏnglĭ), sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister, is the Chairman of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China and head of Central Peoples Government. ... Wen Jiabao (Simplified Chinese: 温家宝; Traditional Chinese: 溫家寶; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Wen Chia-pao) (born September 1942) is the Premier of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

As Jiang stuffed the cabinet with all his men, it is quite difficult for Hu and Wen to carry out their own policies. The best proof is in the recently concluded 5th Plenary Meeting of 16th National Congress of CCP, Hu's effort of reshuffle of politburo was blocked by Shanghai Clique. And Wen's macro-economy regulation aiming to cool down the overheat infrastructure received great resistance from members of this clique too.

However, as Jiang had to retire from all his positions in 4th Plenary Meeting of 16th National Congress of CCP, Hu is the legitimate paramount leader of CCP. There are signs of important members of Shanghai Clique defecting to Hu's camp, thereby strengthening Hu's position.

See also

• Politics of the People's Republic of China