Former President Jiang Zemin’s death amid growing public opposition to a “zero-crown” policy represents a new test for the current supreme leader, Xi Jinping.
State media reported on November 30 that Mr. Jiang, who was also the general secretary of the Communist Party, died at the age of 96. A few days earlier, there were protests across the country against the zero-corona policy, which Mr. Xi promoted as a standard-bearer to fully contain the novel coronavirus. Although the street demonstrations have calmed down, the movement to mourn Jiang’s death, which has promoted the opening of the Chinese economy, could give new impetus to criticism of Xi.
Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin dies
Students attending a memorial service for Hu Yaobang (Tiananmen Square, Beijing, April 22, 1989)
Photographer: Catherine Henriette/AFP/Getty Images
Chen Gang, deputy director and senior researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), said: “When such an important figure in Chinese politics dies, there will be comments and demonstrations. It is perfectly legal and permissible he said, adding, ‘If this situation continues, people will compare former leaders to current leaders. It will be sort of a headwind for the current administration. Maybe,’ he said.
Jiang Zemin is dead
Source: Bloomberg
In April 1989, people gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to mourn the death of former Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang. This turned into a demonstration of democratization by the students. Mr. Jiang was nominated by Mr. Deng Xiaoping, who was basically the most influential person at the time, to succeed General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, who was fired and deposed for showing understanding to the students. In June of the same year, the Tiananmen Square Incident occurred, in which the People’s Liberation Army forcibly suppressed protesters.
Alfred Wu, an associate professor at NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said, “The Communist Party is now facing a crisis. There is a lot of bad news and morale is low.” to the current management”.
Flags at half-mast in Tiananmen Square (December 1)
Photographer: Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images
However, Wang Dan, who was one of the student leaders of the Tiananmen Square protests, said at a press conference held on the 1st at the Japan Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Tokyo, “Today’s younger generation knows nothing about Mr. I don’t think I really admire that,” he said, adding that “it’s not enough to get young people to take action in the streets.”
Jiang’s funeral service will begin at 10:00 local time (11:00 Japan time) on Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV said, and will ask the public to observe a three-minute silence. The Central State Radio (CNR) reported that Mr. Jiang’s body was transferred from Shanghai to Beijing on the 1st.
Mourners for the Death of Deng Xiaoping (February 25, 1997)
Photographer: Forrest Anderson/Getty Images
Analyzing the impact of Jiang Zemin’s death
Source: Bloomberg
Original title:Jiang’s death puts Xi at risk at a difficult time in China (1)(extract)
