This elder statesman has been planning state affairs for decades.
Tips
register
擘划 is a literary, formal word, common in editorials, government writing, and biographical prose. In everyday speech, 策划 (plan / scheme) or 规划 (plan / lay out) are far more natural.
mistakes
擘 has two readings: bo (the formal "thumb / great") and bai (colloquial "to break apart with the hands"). In 擘划 the reading is bo, never bai.
