Posted on Nov 30, 2022
China's ex-leader Jiang Zemin, an influential reformer, has died at 96
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https://www.npr.org/2022/11/30/ [login to see] /jiang-zemin-former-chinese-leader-dies
Former Chinese leader and general secretary of the country's ruling Communist Party Jiang Zemin died at the age of 96, state news agency Xinhua announced. The cause of death was leukemia and multiple organ failure.
Jiang was a divisive and colorful figure at the forefront of political life for 15 years. Even after retirement, analysts say, he exercised influence — and in his last years, served as a counterweight to China's current leader, Xi Jinping.
Jiang got his break to be party leader in the aftermath of the chaos of the student-led protests centered on Tiananmen Square in 1989. China was a pariah. Jiang was tasked with restoring stability within a divided Communist Party — and rehabilitating the image of a government that had ordered the military to fire on its own citizens.
In a 2000 interview, CBS journalist Mike Wallace called Jiang "a dictator, an authoritarian." And Jiang objected.
"Very frankly speaking, I don't agree with your point," the Chinese leader said in English. "Your way of describing what things are like in China is as absurd as what the Arabian Nights may sound like."
Former Chinese leader and general secretary of the country's ruling Communist Party Jiang Zemin died at the age of 96, state news agency Xinhua announced. The cause of death was leukemia and multiple organ failure.
Jiang was a divisive and colorful figure at the forefront of political life for 15 years. Even after retirement, analysts say, he exercised influence — and in his last years, served as a counterweight to China's current leader, Xi Jinping.
Jiang got his break to be party leader in the aftermath of the chaos of the student-led protests centered on Tiananmen Square in 1989. China was a pariah. Jiang was tasked with restoring stability within a divided Communist Party — and rehabilitating the image of a government that had ordered the military to fire on its own citizens.
In a 2000 interview, CBS journalist Mike Wallace called Jiang "a dictator, an authoritarian." And Jiang objected.
"Very frankly speaking, I don't agree with your point," the Chinese leader said in English. "Your way of describing what things are like in China is as absurd as what the Arabian Nights may sound like."
China's ex-leader Jiang Zemin, an influential reformer, has died at 96
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I have a friend who has had leukemia for 2 decades. Over the last year he has lost a lot of weight. The infusions he gets on a regular basis strap him of his strength for a couple days. Leukemia, in his case, is a slow disease that appears to be getting more difficult for him to fight
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Jiang’s rule “feels more and more in the past”
As cloistered leader, Jiang was never a man of the people, but Zhang, the retired professor, believes Jiang will be remembered fondly.
“In retrospect, we feel his era was alright. We miss it,” Zhang said. “That is the tragedy of China. The country hasn’t changed for the better, so we miss the past.”
Increasingly, Jiang’s rule feels more and more in the past as the market-oriented, internationally minded China he presided over crumbles under current party leader Xi Jinping, who has rebuilt absolute party control over Chinese society.
Images of Jiang impatiently checking his watch and snoozing as Xi Jinping laid out his vision for a “new era” of China during the 19th Party Congress, a national gathering of party representative, went viral in 2017.
China analysts say Jiang’s political influence and health waned in his old age. In recent years, Xi purged Jiang’s loyalists, especially in the military, once one of Jiang’s political strongholds, through his controversial anti-corruption campaign.
Jiang was not present at the last party congress in October, where Xi secured a landmark third term in power. Rumors of Jiang’s death have circled for years, but each time he would reappear in public days later.
This time, however, the rumors were true."
..."Jiang’s rule “feels more and more in the past”
As cloistered leader, Jiang was never a man of the people, but Zhang, the retired professor, believes Jiang will be remembered fondly.
“In retrospect, we feel his era was alright. We miss it,” Zhang said. “That is the tragedy of China. The country hasn’t changed for the better, so we miss the past.”
Increasingly, Jiang’s rule feels more and more in the past as the market-oriented, internationally minded China he presided over crumbles under current party leader Xi Jinping, who has rebuilt absolute party control over Chinese society.
Images of Jiang impatiently checking his watch and snoozing as Xi Jinping laid out his vision for a “new era” of China during the 19th Party Congress, a national gathering of party representative, went viral in 2017.
China analysts say Jiang’s political influence and health waned in his old age. In recent years, Xi purged Jiang’s loyalists, especially in the military, once one of Jiang’s political strongholds, through his controversial anti-corruption campaign.
Jiang was not present at the last party congress in October, where Xi secured a landmark third term in power. Rumors of Jiang’s death have circled for years, but each time he would reappear in public days later.
This time, however, the rumors were true."
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