The official investigation of Zhou Yongkang

Reports of Zhou Yongkang being officially investigated is widespread. Most reports focused on the point that this is the highest-grade official being officially investigated since Gang of Four era. Some reports also pointed out that the word "comrade" was visibly missing when Zhou was mentioned. Some reports also stated that this was the result of consensus amongst the current leaders and retired leaders.

All these put together, it seems to suggest that Zhou's purge has received the blessings of former leaders like Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.

However, it was commonly reported that under the theory of factionalism, Zhou was the protégé of Jiang. The fact that Zhou was able to reach the standing committee position was also surely as a result of abundance blessings from Jiang, then Hu. Would they have completely no knowledge of Zhou's doing?

Should Zhou truly be vindicated, would he be willing to accept all blames and draw a clear line from his former benefactors? As Xi constantly sends the message that he will clamp down on both small flies and big tigers, would the senior retired leaders be fearful that after Zhou, who will be next?

China politics is getting more exciting as Xi has taken a path that no one expected at all before his ascension to the throne. Hence, everything could become a surprise. Xi might go beyond Zhou to hit on Zhou's previous masters, since most of these masters would have no more control in the administration. Alternatively, these could all be staged to demonstrate the determination of the Xi administration to be clean and transparent. If the latter is true, then more retired senior standing committee would live their remaining days in fear.

Opinion by Wong Teck Yenn

Report stated that Wang Qishan proposed demolishing “standing committee never to be criminalized” policy

In the current round of anti corruption actions, Xi Jinping and Wang Qishan targeted hundreds of cadres of deputy governors and higher ranks. With the major actions taking place, everyone in the officialdom are in danger. No one has the heart to focus on work.

It was revealed, “Wang’s anti corruption actions are implemented nationwide by the central disciplinary committee. Most local police and disciplinary committee are not even aware of the whereabouts of those arrested. In Sichuan, more than a hundred officials and businessmen were arrested and their whereabouts are unknown. Their family members are also not notified. There seems to be no legal procedures. This was more extreme than Bo Xilai’s anti-black acts. In Guangdong, a few hundred middle-ranked cadres were arrested.”

According to a report, it was Wang who proposed the cancellation of the age-old policy of “standing committee to never be criminalized”. This was approved by the current standing committee.

The report commented, “During Mao’s days of anti-rightist, there were some markers in implementing investigations. Today, anti corruption takes place anywhere desired.”

Here is a look at the definition of corruption:

Suspects associated with the following conditions will be investigated:

1.       To receive bribery of more than 5000 yuan

2.       To receive bribery of less than 5000 yuan, but (1) compromised society interest as a result of the act; or (2) make things difficult for investigating body; or (3) acquire properties by force.

“If the above is strictly implemented, which official can escape? Who is not fearful?” An insider commented. “Directors and above find it difficult to travel these days. Those who have children studying overseas, they have instructed their children to not return to China.”

Researched by: Wong Teck Yenn

Xi Jinping’s visit to South Korea embarrassed Kim Jung Un

Xi’s visit to Korea on 3 and 4 July was first announced by China’s foreign affairs on 27 June. North Korea’s defense committee proposed on 30 June to terminate mutual slander with South Korea on 4 July.

Xi’s previous 2 predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao both visited North Korea when they were newly ascended to their thrones before visiting the South. This round, Xi reversed the practice.

Dagong Net quoted a researcher from Shanghai’s Social Science Institute, saying China originally wanted to stick to original practice to first visit the North before proceeding to the South. However, it was quoted that the North did not cooperate with their requests. According to the original plan, Kim was supposed to first visit Xi in Beijing before Xi goes to North, then the South. Since the early 50s in the last century, Beijing has always deemed the North and fellow comrades bonded over war.

The Norths have their historical reasons for being unhappy about Xi’s move. In 1992, China established relationship with South Korea. In the same year’s July, China’s foreign affairs minister Qian Qishen visited North’s Kim II-Sung to elucidate the developments. The senior Kim said: China will decide their internal affairs. Qian recalled in his memoir that in the decade of relationship with the North, the senior Kim only briefly glanced at the gifts from China and then bid farewell. Qian said: that was the shortest meeting of Kim with Chinese officials, and that there were no functions to host the Chinese thereafter as per practice. This demonstrated the senior Kim’s unhappiness with China establishing contacts with the South.

Chaozhong news agency reported on 30 June that North Korea’s actions have been irregular, and got worse with Kim Jung Un’s ascension to the throne. For instance, Kim already called for termination to the mutual slander with the South during his New Year speech. This was already acknowledged by both the South and the North in February. However, within two months, the North’s propaganda organization started verbally attacking South’s president Park Geun-hye. The moment the North stopped chiding, they start to talk about how Korea should be united. Such action was deemed totally fickle minded.

After China reported on Xi’s visit to the South on 27 June, the North filed 2 missiles.

It was reported that North’s Kim was very unhappy about Xi’s visit to South and not the North. It was also reported that Xi has discussed with Park during the two days meeting in Seoul on the solutions to end nuclear warfare and unification of the peninsular. These two questions are the most dreaded by Kim.

It was also reported that within a short period, Kim would do something significant. He would likely make an official visit for the first time since his reign, not to China, but to Russia. Reports also stated that Kim has not connected with China’s leaders since his ascension. This makes him much inferior compared to his father. It was reported that since the death of Kim Jong-il in December 2011, the leaders of North and China have not had any official meetings.

Analysts also commented: China and South Korea would likely issue an official joint statement on 4 July with North Korea being a major concern. The North is playing with the stick of missile and carrot of peace in the peninsular and seems to be acting in a matured manner. However, be it carrot or stick, credibility is critical to effectiveness. To a country that is credit-bankrupt, no one is willing to believe in its words or deeds.

Wong Teck Yenn, John