The centenary celebration event of the founding of the Communist Party of China was hosted on July 1, 2021, according to the official state news. The picture attached is from the same event. The current political scenario of China and especially the internal relations and rifts within the Communist party can be concluded from this event. The two attached picture shows a side of the event that took place during the celebrations. The differences and struggles within the party members can be analyzed from these pictures.
The former Premier of the State Council, Wen Jiabao was present at the celebrations. An unfamiliar face was present at the celebrations, seated behind the former premier. He is identified as Bo Xicheng, brother of Bo Xilai who was a former Communist Party Secretary of Chongqing, convicted on treason against Xi Jinping’s government. Bo Xilai was deprived of all of his power and benefits within the party and was expelled from all the state welfares. His personal assets were confiscated by the state and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. His arrest was followed after Xi was appointed as the President of the state. Bo Xilai belongs to a family that has utmost loyalty to the party. He had potential and hope from the members of the party as a “core of the fifth generation” communist party leaders. Bo Xilai along with Zhou Yongkang, the Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission conspired together to oust Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang. They planned to bring out a drastic change in the political scenario of the party and created a major scandal that rocked the Chinese political circle.
As a result of this, Bo Xilai’s family became a threat to the integrity and sustenance of the communist party. Wen Jiabao, the Premier of the State Council then was nearing his retirement. In his address at the annual China’s National People’s Congress, he emphasized that the communist party of Chongqing and the town council should move forward cautiously by taking the tragedy of events that took place recently. Immediately after a few days, Bo Xilai was arrested and his interrogation began. Wen Jiabao’s political power and influence can be clearly inferred from this series of events.
The historic centenary celebrations saw important guests such as government officials and party members. Retired government officials and party members also attended the event. Bo Xicheng was neither of the two guest categories that were present at the event. Furthermore, his family is famed as the opposition against Xi’s communist party. The question arises as to why Bo was seated behind Wen Jiabao at such an important event. Wen Jiabao was one of the key people during the trial of Bo Xilai. He published an article remembering his mother a few months ago which contents an analysis of the current Chinese politics and indirect criticisms. The article was banned afterward. This clearly shows the differences between Xi Jinping and Wen Jiabao.
The other factor of this fallout was the absence of Jiang Zemin at the event. There were multiple reports of the health condition of Jiang Zemin but a substantial report of his health condition was still missing. His absence was analyzed as due to his old age. Second-generation Chinese leadership and retired politician Song Ping were present at the event. He is 104 years old and older than Jiang Zemin who is 95. This raises the question of whether Jiang Zemen’s absence was due to his health condition or some other factor.
Translated from Tibetan.
