Jiang Zemin- Biography
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Jiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician best recognized for his pivotal role in the Communist Party of China’s triumph (CPC). From 1989 to 2002, he was the party’s general secretary, and he was also the chairman of the ‘Central Military Commission.’ In addition, from 1993 to 2003, he served as President of the ‘People’s Republic of China.’ Jiang’s political rise was surprising, as he rose through the ranks as a “compromise candidate.” He rose to prominence following the 1989 ‘Tiananmen Square’ protests. Zhao Ziyang, the then-general secretary, was fired for his support for the student movement.
Jiang quickly assumed his place, and over the next few years, he demonstrated his strength as a political leader, transforming himself into a “paramount leader.” Under his strong leadership, the country progressed fast on both the social and economic fronts. Although he stepped down as general secretary of the ‘CPC’ in 2002, he continued to have an impact on the party’s operations until much later. He is currently the oldest living former president or general secretary, at the age of 91.
Jiang Zemin- Birth, Age, Ethnicity, Siblings, Education
Jiang Zemin was born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, on August 17, 1926. His ancestors came from Jiangwan, a Chinese province that had produced a number of renowned Chinese thinkers and statesmen. Jiang was born right after World War I, at the height of Japan’s control of China. His uncle, who was also his foster father, served in the Chinese army and was regarded as a national hero after his death during WWII.
Jiang Shijun, Zemin’s father, worked in the propaganda department of the Nanking Government, which was a Japanese puppet government. Shijun severed all links with his family as a result of this occurrence, and Zemin’s uncle took him into custody. Zemin and his family faced difficult times following the loss of his uncle during World War II. Shijun’s father was affluent, yet he never came forward to assist.
Zemin enrolled in the electrical engineering program at Nanjing’s ‘National Central University,’ but was later transferred to ‘National Chiao Tung University.’ He finally received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1947.
His political ambitions rose when he was at college, and he is claimed to have become a ‘CPC’ worker while he was there. He acquired his training at Moscow’s ‘Stalin Automobile Works.’ He frequently changed jobs before being appointed to the ‘Central Committee of the Communist Party in 1983 as the ‘Minister of Electric Industries.’
He was offered the role of ‘Mayor’ of Shanghai, one of China’s busiest metropolitan cities, in the mid-1980s. At the time, his reign was thought to be very feeble. His detractors claimed that, while he appeared to be useful, he was largely an “empty vessel.”
Despite his turbulent early political career, Jiang was regarded as an excellent orator who spoke multiple other languages, including Russian, Romanian, and English. These abilities aided him in becoming famous among foreign delegates and celebrities that visited China.
Jiang Zemin- Relationship, Married Life
In 1949, Jiang Zemin married Wang Yeping. Jiang Mianheng and Jiang Miankang are the couple’s two sons.
Jiang Zemin- Professional Career
Zemin first entered national politics in 1987, when he was elected to the ‘Politburo’ of the CPC Central Committee. His seat, however, was not earned because it was customary to have a seat allocated for the ‘Party Secretary’ of Shanghai. Soon after, violent protests erupted in Tiananmen Square, and the central government was unsure how to deal with the demonstrators.
Zhao Ziyang, the party’s general secretary, was a liberal. He did not adhere to the principles of the ‘CPC.’ He sympathized with the protesters. Deng Xiaoping, the party’s paramount leader, was forced to look for a replacement. Jiang had shut down the newspaper ‘World Economic Herald,’ which was a bold move. Deng observed this, and Jiang, who was the ‘Shanghai Party Secretary’ at the time, was appointed general secretary of the ‘CPC.’
Despite being handed the highest position in the party’s leadership, Jiang was not given significant influence. Over time, he gained the trust of the party’s seniors and became an outspoken opponent of liberalization. He added that in order for the ‘CPC’ to preserve its grip on the country, modernization and economic changes would have to be implemented.
In 1993, Jiang established a “socialist market economy,” which was a step ahead of the existing socialist economy toward a government-regulated capitalist market economy. With his excellent policies, he gained Deng’s trust and weakened the ‘Central Advisory Committee.’ He ran in the ‘Presidency’ elections of 1993.
He was elected as the fifth President of the ‘Republic of China’ in March 1993. Following economic reforms in the 1990s, the country confronted various difficulties relating to corruption and unfair wealth distribution. It also contributed to the country’s rising unemployment rate. People were migrating from rural to urban areas in large numbers, and the country as a whole was on the edge of collapse.
Jiang proposed changes to provide stability to China in 1996, determined to change the course of events. He took advantage of the media, which was primarily controlled by the state. He also conducted interviews with foreign media outlets and effectively halted the activity of practically all of his political opponents. This enabled him to seize entire control of the country, and Deng Xiaoping’s death raised his status even higher.
Knowing the importance of a strong economic wave in the country, he delegated economic supervision to his close ally Zhu Rongji, and they survived the Asian financial crisis of 1997. However, throughout time, China developed into a strong economic nation with an annual GDP growth rate of 8%, eventually becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
China eventually became the fastest-growing nation in terms of per-capita GDP, and its quick growth raised eyebrows all across the world. China’s phenomenal rise enabled it to become a powerhouse in less than two decades. Membership in the ‘World Trade Organization’ and, later, China’s success of the bid to host the 2008 ‘Olympic Games’ in Beijing bolstered China’s worldwide standing.
Jiang ultimately stepped down as general secretary of the ‘CPC’ in 2002, but remained head of the ‘Central Military Commission.’ He resigned from that position as well in September 2004, ceding all official control in the party. He remained, nevertheless, a prominent player and advisor to the party’s new leadership. Jiang has always been a divisive figure in Chinese politics. During his time as president and general secretary of his party, he was accused of multiple counts of corruption and inefficiency. Jiang’s administration has also experienced a lot of turbulence as a result of the quick implementation of economic reforms.
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