Chinese President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, with former presidents Jiang Zemin, right, and Hu Jintao, left, attend the celebration to commemorate the 70th anniversary ...

Their influence in politics started in 1892 when the genro group picked a new prime minister following the sudden departure of Prime Minister Matsukata Masayoshi. They also forestalled any political deviation from reform and opening in the past 40 years. [threatened](http://cn3.uscnpm.org/model_item.html?action=view&table=article&id=28277) Jiang, saying that “whoever refused to reform will step down.” According to [Li Rui](http://157.7.135.42/books/%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB%C2%B7%E5%8E%86%E5%8F%B2/%E6%9D%8E%E9%94%90/%E6%9D%8E%E9%94%90%E5%8F%A3%E8%BF%B0%E5%BE%80%E4%BA%8B.pdf), who was closely connected to the power center, Deng was so worried about the trajectory of reform that he had even decided to depose Jiang. Xi’s constitutional amendment in 2018, paving the way for his incoming third term as CCP general secretary and China’s president, demonstrate that no senior figure can constrain Xi’s attempt to obstruct party norms. Thus, Deng believed that he must take action to stop Jiang and conservatives from reversing the “reform and opening up” process. The fall of Deng Liqun paved the way for Zhao Ziyang’s ascension. During the turbulent five years between 1987 and 1992, senior politics reached a new dimension: Seniors, especially Deng Xiaoping, played the role of kingmaker and king-breaker. [believed](https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20140317/cc17wuwei/) that rather than suppressing the movement, the party leadership should address student concerns and pursue democratic reform. The first generation of seniors emerged during the 1980s. They have historically played a significant role in Chinese politics by mediating elite conflicts, forging factional consensus, and setting the direction of policy. They played a vital role in personnel affairs by promoting followers, designating successors, and even deposing the top leader. Since the Deng Xiaoping era, these norms have been constructed and guarded by senior figures in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), who are the main stabilizing force within the Party.