Commentary
Jiang Zemin’s death (1926-2022) is an appropriate occasion to reflect on his historical significance as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1989-2002 and as chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989-2004.
His rule defined the “third generation” of Party leaders. It was defined by great support for business, the emphasis on economic growth at any cost, endemic corruption, human rights abuses, including the persecution of Falun Gong, and religious and political freedoms more broadly.
Jiang was often perceived as a rather eccentric leader by the standards of the Chinese regime who started his career as a technocrat and mayor of Shanghai, elevated by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s to foster economic reforms, including the privatization of state-owned enterprises—all of which contributed to China’s growth….