Jiang Zemin

Background & Ascendancy

A native of Yangzhou, Jiangsu, Jiang grew up during the years of Japanese occupation. His uncle died fighting the Japanese, and he was given by his father to his uncle's family to become their male heir. His position as the son of a revolutionary martyr would later prove useful in his own political career.

Related Topics:
Yangzhou - Jiangsu

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Jiang was a member of the Communist student underground after participation in the nationwide university movement in 1947, achieving party membership in 1946. After graduation from Yangzhou Middle School in 1943 he entered the Nanjing Central University. In 1946 he transferred to Shanghai Jiaotong University and graduated there in 1947. A mechanical engineer, Jiang received his training at the Stalin Automobile Works in Moscow in the 1950s. He worked for Changchun's First Automobile Plant. He eventually got transferred to government services, where he began rising in rank, becoming the Minister of Electronic Industries in 1983. In 1985 he became the Mayor of Shanghai, and subsequently the Shanghai Party boss.

Related Topics:
1947 - 1946 - Yangzhou Middle School - Nanjing Central University - Shanghai Jiaotong University - Stalin - Moscow - Changchun - 1983 - 1985 - Shanghai

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Jiang received mixed reviews as mayor. Many of his critics dismissed him as a "flower vase", a Chinese term used to describe a decorative but useless person. Many credited Shanghai's growth during the period to Zhu Rongji.

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Jiang, fluent in Romanian and Russian, and somewhat capable of engaging foreign dignitaries with his grounding in Japanese, French, and English language and literature, had served as Ambassador to Romania.

Related Topics:
Romanian - Russian - Japanese - French - English language - Ambassador - Romania

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Jiang was elevated to national politics in 1987, becoming a member of the CPC Central Committee. In 1989, China was in crisis over the Tiananmen Square protest, and the Central Government was in conflict on how to handle the anti-openingpolicy protesters. (The openingpolicy, brought out by Deng Xiaoping, has been proved as a crucial and brilliant turning point in China's modern history,causing the econony boost in a world astonishing rate during the past decades.)In June, Deng Xiaoping dismissed liberal Zhao Ziyang, who was considered too conciliatory to student protestors. Jiang was chosen as a compromise candidate over Tianjin's Li Ruihuan by Deng Xiaoping, Premier Li Peng, Chen Yun, and the retired elders following the Tiananmen crisis. Although not directly involved with the crackdown, he was elevated to the Politburo Standing Committee, and finally General Secretary, after the protests in Beijing had ended, for his role in averting similar protests in Shanghai.

Related Topics:
CPC Central Committee - Tiananmen Square protest - Zhao Ziyang - Tianjin - Li Ruihuan - Deng Xiaoping - Li Peng - Chen Yun - Politburo Standing Committee - General Secretary

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