Former Chinese party and state chairman Jiang Zemin (江泽民) appeared live on television this morning (local Beijing time), in a celebration of the Xinhai Revolution’s 100th anniversary.
China’s ex-President Jiang Zemin has appeared in public for the first time since rumours spread that he was dead,
reports the BBC.
Aged 85, he looked frail, but was smiling as he chatted to his successor on the live TV broadcast.

Jiang Zemin attends Xinhai Revolution 100 anniversary celebration (click picture for video)
CCTV showed Jiang entering the Great Hall of the People’s (人民大会堂) auditorium hall, with an aide to his left, but apparently walking on his own. According to Xinhua news agency, Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinlin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinpin, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang, Zhou Yongkang and other senior leaders attended the ceremony.
The Xinhai revolution is a topic in Chinese history books, as it put an end to China’s imperial form of government and struggled for a national Chinese awareness. But ceremonies like the one today are most probably organized and attended by top officials with Taiwan on their mind, rather than for its historic weight.
October 10th will be a national holiday in Taiwan, as “Double-Ten”, also to commemorate the Xinhai Revolution. The currently ruling KMT was based on political concepts attributed to Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙), and Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China (RoC), the state founded by the KMT, and initially led by Sun Yat-sen.
____________
Related
» Jiang not Dead, Leung Ka-wing Resigns, Sep 6, 2011
» Taipei 101 Fireworks, January 1, 2011
» Nanjing: Paying their Respects, Nov 12, 2010
Updates
» Hu urges “unification”, CBS, Oct 8/9, 2011
» Sun Granddaughter: China distorts sanminzhuyi, CNA, Oct 2, 2011
____________
Like this:
Like Loading...
Probably true. Besides, the only objects people in a totalitarian country can choose for their anger without much risk are…