Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pick of deputies in China’s national security commission and a reform-focused task force he heads is drawing scrutiny from analysts hoping to peek into the black box that is the Communist Party.

Premier Li Keqiang’s inclusion as Xi’s deputy in the two bodies, for instance, has surprised some. China’s premier typically does not have a hand in defence matters and Li was also not deeply involved in the drafting of the party’s reform blueprint.

The new national security commission will be headed by Xi, with Li and Zhang Dejiang – No. 3 in the party’s hierarchy and head of China’s Parliament – as vice-chairmen.

… Professor Li Mingjiang of Nanyang Technological University said legislature chief Zhang Dejiang could have been drafted as a deputy in the security body to enact laws or approve special powers in emergency situations.