Many Chinese political analysts concluded that the report was thorough, detailed, thoughtful, and reached out to the people.
Yet that is only one part of a larger shift under way in China's military, Western and Chinese analysts say.
Chinese analysts, in particular, seem to see them as direct responses to per-capita proposals.
Chinese and other analysts expressed concern that this conflict could lead to a civil war in Burma.
But many Western and Chinese analysts still believe that nothing is certain about China's succession.
"They are using his words against him," a Chinese analyst said.
"Running China is becoming a family business," said one longtime Chinese analyst.
By now, Chinese analysts know to expect the campaign treatment.
"The leadership needs to demonstrate that it can run China," the Chinese analyst said.
But Chinese analysts said the public anger was both predictable and avoidable.