Economist Podcasts Square dealing: Jiang Zemin dies
Dec 1, 2022
James Miles, a China writer at large for The Economist, and Anna Nichols, managing editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit, delve into Jiang Zemin’s controversial legacy. They discuss the stark contrast between Jiang's vibrant leadership style and Xi Jinping's more reserved approach. With ongoing protests in China, they explore political repression alongside economic reforms. The duo also highlights promising advances in Alzheimer’s treatment and examines global rising costs of living, including insights into the world's most expensive cities.
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Jiang's Passing
- Jiang Zemin, China's former leader, died at 96.
- The Chinese flag was lowered to half-mast in Tiananmen Square, the site of 1989 protests.
Jiang's Rise
- Jiang Zemin was a technocrat with experience in Moscow and Shanghai.
- His crackdown on dissent in Shanghai might have appealed to Deng Xiaoping after Tiananmen.
Tiananmen's Impact
- The Tiananmen Square protests highlighted divisions in the Chinese leadership.
- These divisions allowed the protests to gain momentum due to the government's delayed response.