China Power

Jang Song-Thaek, Zhou Yongkang Lose Power Struggles

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China Power

Jang Song-Thaek, Zhou Yongkang Lose Power Struggles

Plus, Chinese leaders praised in Western media, U.S.-China perceptions, and China’s smog problem. Friday China links

Jang Song-Thaek, Zhou Yongkang Lose Power Struggles
Credit: CCP file photo

As was widely reported yesterday (including by The Diplomat), Jang Song-Thaek has been executed by North Korea. Jang, up until last week, was widely considered the number two man in North Korea, second only to his nephew Kim Jong-Un. Then he was unceremoniously removed from his post at vice chairman of the National Defense commission, carted off by guards, and (as we now know) executed. The North Korean media report of his execution left no doubt that Kim considered Jang a threat to his power. Jang was accused of “attempting to overthrow the state by all sorts of intrigues and despicable methods with a wild ambition to grab the supreme power.” The upheaval in North Korea is being followed closely by China’s leadership, especially given rumors that North Korea’s ambassador to China (a close Jang confidant) is likely to share his mentor’s fate.

In another startling fall from political grace, China’s former Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang is under strict monitoring as the Party investigates him for corruption, Reuters reports. Ever since the arrest of Bo Xilai, seen as a close Zhou ally, there have been rumors that Xi Jinping and his government were maneuvering to target Zhou as well. Adding to the speculation, in September the Party announced an investigation of Jiang Jiemin, the head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and former China National Petroleum Commission (CNPC). Jiang was another of Zhou’s protégés, stemming from their time together at CNPC.

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