TOKYO -- Beijing's political nerve center has been abuzz since last week with rumors of a bombshell whose implications could reach deep into the 2030s.
For the first time in months, perhaps years, the fate of China's future leaders has become the hot political topic. "The idea of appointing Chen Min'er as China's president and Hu Chunhua as the country's premier was supposed to have fizzled out," said a source who keeps up with the hubbub in the Zhongnanhai area, which houses the offices of China's leaders. "But it remains intact."
