It has been reported that China’s former President, Jiang Zemin (江泽民) died yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 30th November) in Shanghai. He was 96 years old. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, it was reported that the politician died of leukaemia and multiple organ failure.
“Comrade Jiang Zemin’s death is an incalculable loss to our Party and our military and our people of all ethnic groups,” according to a letter published by the ruling Communist Party, parliament, Cabinet, and the military. Apparently, the former president has been rumoured to be suffering from an illness for quite some time. He was said to have been absent during the recent party congress back in October.
The announcement of his passing was met with comments by netizens, grieving for the former leader on China’s heavily-controlled social media platforms. According to posts on Twitter, netizens’ opinions are torn about the politician’s death with some reminiscing on the times he was in power while others criticised him for his past actions.
Current Chinese President, Xi Jinping (习近平) told the media yesterday, shortly after Jiang Zemin’s passing, that “China would turn our grief into strength”. The politician passed away during a turbulent time in China as the citizens are protesting the country’s Zero-Covid policy which has also evolved into demands for more political freedoms.
For context, the country has yet to abolish its Zero-Covid policy where the strategy involves using public health measures such as contact tracing, mass testing, border quarantine, and lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus as soon as it is detected.
More COVID Protests in China pic.twitter.com/yk7ReylKRR
— Shridas🇮🇳 (@ShridasMeena8) November 25, 2022
For your information, Jiang Zemin came into power back in 1989 as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. Deng Xiaoping, China’s revolutionary leader, chose him to lead the country following Zhao Ziyang’s dismissal after the Tiananmen incident.
During that time, it was said that Zhao, the third premier of the People’s Republic of China, had apparently opposed the extreme measures on the student demonstrations in the heart of the Chinese capital.
Sources: TheStraitsTimes, MalayMail, CNN, Guardian
