On August 12th, former member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee and former Premier of the State Council Zhu Rongji passed away in Beijing at the age of 98.
It can be said that Zhu Rongji’s passing comes at a very sensitive time. This is because it coincides with the Chinese Communist Party’s annual “Beidaihe time” and only two months away from the convening of the 20th Fifth Plenum in October this year.
Moreover, rumors have been circulating about the complex relationship between Zhu Rongji and Xi Jinping in his later years. Wang Qishan, who had a close relationship with Zhu Rongji, has also been rumored to be under soft detention from time to time.
Of particular note is the significant number of old subordinates left by Zhu and Wang in the financial system that have been systematically purged in recent years.
So, what impact does Zhu Rongji’s passing have on the current political situation? What is the true nature of his relationship with Xi Jinping? In today’s program, we will delve into these questions.