Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cnforbiddennews Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews The death of former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Jiang Zemin has been widely reported recently. The CCP Foreign Ministry responded in a press release that the death cannot be confirmed. Contrary to its routine denial, what does this surprising answer entail? Let's take a look. At a regular press conference, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to a reporter's question regarding Jiang Zemin's death. She said, "It's the first time we've heard of the news, and it can't be confirmed," reported BBC Chinese. This particular portion of the Q&A; session, however, was omitted from the press release on the ministry's website. It is noteworthy that this is the CCP's first official response to rumors about Jiang's death without denying it China social issue researcher Zhang Jian: "Regardless of whether Jiang Zemin's death is real, this unprofessional tone of a Foreign Ministry spokesperson to openly humiliate a former leader proves that one, all CCP officials are anxious to take a stance. They are clear on Xi's psychology. Xi is targeting the bloody debt gang. Two, Jiang Zemin committed unprecedented crimes against humanity. The majority of people with a conscience would keep a distance from the bloody debt gang." Current affairs commentator Xia Xiaoqiang indicates the convention would be to deny it and label it as a rumor if Jiang were still alive. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson's answer says the approach is now different. Xia Xiaoqiang: "If Jiang Zemin is really dead, the CCP wouldn't hide it very long. The lack of release says that Jiang Zemin is still alive. There are reasons why the Foreign Ministry spokesperson gave the rare answer." As early as July 6, 2011, Hong Kong's Asia Television gave an exclusive report on Jiang's death. Xinhua News Agency denied the rumor with a brief English report 18 hours later. In a regular press conference the following day, the same question was brought up three times. With no direct answer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hong Lei just said, "Xinhua has released relevant information. Please consult the report." Xia Xiaoqiang: "It took place in 2011 when Xi Jinping had yet to conduct the siege against the Jiang faction. Zhou Yongkang had not stepped down, Jiang's crony in the military Xu Caihou had not been arrested, and the power of Jiang Zemin was still widely distributed. This time the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman's response reflects the true status quo of the Jiang faction. That is, Jiang Zemin has lost his power." The 88-year-old Jiang Zemin was last seen in public on May 20 when he met visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Shanghai. Japan's Tokyo Shimbun reported on Aug. 30 that Jiang was hospitalized with serious bladder cancer. His condition was deteriorating, added the report. Subsequently, rumors about Jiang Zemin's health have increased. Rumors of Jiang Zemin's death began last Saturday. Chinese social media such as Weibo and WeChat have both shown posts stating Jiang Zemin died of bladder cancer, citing sources from People's Liberation Army 301 Hospital. Pictures insinuating Jiang Zemin's death, such as a toad with legs straightened, went viral on the Chinese Internet recently. There are blogs stating, "Most importantly, everyone wants him dead! It is reflecting exactly what the people want. At this point, Jiang is more scared of being alive than dead." Zhang Jian: "The downfall of the Jiang faction is inevitable. It is not particularly important if Jiang Zemin is dead or alive. If he's still alive, he is a living dead; If he's dead, he's bound to hell and judged by justice." A poem on the Internet expressed the hope for Jiang's death: "An ugly breed created chaos in China, A three-legged toad was named the king. God of Death captured the ugly devil, Living beings celebrate and thank Heaven!" 《神韵》2014世界巡演新亮点 http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/

• published: 11 Sep 2014
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