Government/Politics - 148. page

According to a blog that the Duowei website published, based on the latest personnel and media development, Wang Qishan will most likely stay within the party’s seven-member Politburo Standing Committee after the upcoming 19th National Congress. Wang is the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Xi Jinping’s right-hand man. He has been leading the anti-corruption campaign within the party since the 18th National Congress and assisted Xi to eliminate and replace the old faction within the party, the military, as well as at the municipal levels. The article listed two personnel changes that took place in the past week: Wang Shanyun, the party secretary of Gansu Province and Sun Zhengcai, the party secretary of the City of Chongqing were removed from their posts. Meanwhile Wang Qishan wrote two articles, a clear indication of Wang’s likelihood to be re-appointed to the Standing Committee: on July 17. Wang published a “bombshell” article in People’s Daily and stated that the inspection work shall continue following the 19th National Congress and to play its role as a “Sharp Sword” (in combating corruption); on June 5, Wang published a headline article on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection which stated that the anti-corruption campaign is still facing “serious and complicated” challenges and vowed to “strengthen the effort and fight the battle to achieve overwhelming victory.” The article stated that another possibility for Wang to remain in power is that Wang could be appointed to be in charge of the Supervision Committee, an extension of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. According to the article, on November 7, 2016, three regions including Beijing, Shanxi and Zhejiang were selected to participate in the Supervision system reform. Speculation indicated that Wang would be the perfect fit to lead that role if the supervision reform was to be carried out nationwide.

Sources:
1. Duowei News, July 18, 2017
http://blog.dwnews.com/post-962463.html
2. Wang Qishan’s article in reference
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2017-07/17/nw.D110000renmrb_20170717_1-02.htm

Duowei reported that Chinese political star Sun Zhengcai’s “bizarre disappearance” caused quite a stir in Chongqing’s officialdom. Since July 15, when Chen Miner took office in Chongqing, the municipal committee has held 11 important meetings.

On July 19, Chongqing Daily reported nine of those important meetings.

On July 15, the CPC Organization Minister Zhao Leji announced that the former Guizhou Provincial Party Secretary Chen Miner replaced Sun Zhengcai as secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee. Chen Miner said at the meeting that (the new leadership) will resolutely support Xi Jinping’s core position, “have a firm political stance, and adherence to political discipline.”

On July 17 and 18, Chongqing held 10 meetings. Those present at the meetings, repeatedly brought up the issue of eliminating the lingering toxic influences from the (sacked) Bo Xilai, (the former head of Chongqing) and Wang (Lijun), as well as the issue of the reinspection report from the Central Leading Group for Inspection Work.

The inspection group pointed out that the problems in the official circles in Chongqing included “weakening of the party’s leadership, the promotion of cadres with problems,” and other related issues. It also specifically singled out the problem that the remaining impact of “Bo and Wang” has not been completely removed.

Source: Duowei, July 19, 2017
http://china.dwnews.com/news/2017-07-19/59826245.html

According to articles that Radio Free Asia and Voice of America published, the body of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo was cremated on the morning of July 15 and his ashes were cast into the ocean right after the cremation. Six of Liu’s family members were at the funeral, including his wife. None of Liu’s friends were present. At 4:00 p.m. on the 15th, during the press conference that the Shen Yang Municipal office held, Liu’s brother read a written statement. He “thanked” the party and the government twice in his speech and also explained why they “chose” to cast Liu’s ashes into the ocean. Liu’s wife was said to be too weak to be at the press conference. Liu’s brother left after he finished reading the statement and didn’t answer any questions from the media. Liu’s wife and many of his friends received a warning from the security bureau not to attend the funeral. The photo taken at the funeral showed that most of the people at the funeral were government officials and members of the public security bureau. On the day prior to the funeral the spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters that China was against the Noble Peace Prize being awarded to Liu and asked the media not to make any prediction as to whether Liu’s wife will be allowed to travel to Norway to pick up the Nobel Peace Prize that Liu received in 2010. The Nobel Peace Prize committee chairman applied for a visa to come to China to attend Liu’s funeral. Her application was denied because she didn’t receive the invitation from Liu’s family. Ms. Anderson stated that Liu had passed away and she was not able to reach Liu’s wife.

Sources:
1. Voice of America
https://www.voachinese.com/a/liu-xiaobo-ashes-spread-at-the-sea/3945404.html
2. Radio Free Asia, July 15, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-07152017101602.html

BBC Chinese recently reported that China’s new NGO (Non-Government Organization) law that went into effect on January 1 resulted in disruption. A large number of NGOs suspended operations, cancelled activities, or lost sponsorship. The new law required that all NGOs, including those dedicated to environmental protection and charitable activities, must register with the police before they can operate. The police maintain a list of organizations that help overturn the government or support separatists. Financial and operations audits are needed before registration. It is estimated that there were around 1000 permanent NGOs in China and around 6000 NGOs working on short-term projects. So far only 139 NGOs have officially registered. Many NGOs refused media interviews, citing concerns about blockage from the police. Some anonymous NGOs mentioned “major bureaucracy” in the registration process. China’s Ministry of Public Safety refused to comment on this matter.

Source: BBC Chinese, July 7, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-40528289

According to an article in the Epoch Times, the recent frequent appearances of former prime minister Wen Jiabao suggests that Wen is trying to rally behind Xi for the upcoming 19th National Congress. The article reported that, on July 6, Wen was spotted visiting the China University of Geosciences. In April Wen went to Lu Liang of Shanxi Province. A couple of months later, in June, Xi Jinping also visited Lu Liang and a poverty stricken village in the region. Xi’s visit was interpreted as his using Wen’s political power to extend the influence of his new leadership. According to the article, Wen and former President Hu Jintao are considered Xi’s major allies. Wen assisted Xi in taking down a number of political opponents who are part of former President Jiang Zemin’s faction. Wen and Hu Jintao have often appeared in public during the critical timing when Xi took down members of Jiang’s faction during the campaign to combat corruption.

Source: Epoch Times, July 8, 2017
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/17/7/8/n9369270.htm

According to an article that Radio Free Asia (RFA) published, Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo is in critical condition because he has reached the late stage of liver cancer. Both Liu and his wife have continued to express their wishes to leave China to receive medical treatment overseas. Liu was sent to the hospital from Jinzhou prison where he was serving an 11 year jail sentence. Since June 7, he has been hospitalized at the First Hospital of China Medical University in the city of Shen Yang, Liaoning Province. On June 26, 2017, he was granted medical parole after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. The daily updates that the hospital has issued have never mentioned the family’s intent to have him seek treatment overseas. Based on an interview with RFA, a close friend of Liu’s wife told RFA that the official news release from Liu’s family has been strictly controlled by the officials; they could only say whatever the officials wanted them to say. The article also mentioned that Liu’s medical condition took a sharp turn in April after his wife disclosed the latest situation of his family members to him: his wife has been suffering from severe depression and her brother was sentenced to 11 years in jail.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-07072017101142.html