So Nervous: Where Art Thou, Zhou Yongkang?

Zhou Yongkang, a member of China’s ruling Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) and head of the country’s 1.5 million-strong police force, is the latest and most senior leader to fall in the battle for control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) if rumors of his downfall have any substance,

Chris Stewart wrote in an article published by the Asia Times (not sure when). And:

It was certainly a fall foretold.

I might read on to find out how it was a fall foretold once the rumors of his downfall turn out to have any substance.

Rumors fly, the Want China Times wrote three days earlier, on March 24, as Zhou Yongkang misses major party meeting.

Well, anyone who was seriously worried which new directions social management might take may now put his or her mind at ease: Zhou Yongkang is “back”.

Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang on Monday called for improved work by political and legislative departments and stressed the Party’s leadership.
Zhou, secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the comments as the first term of training classes began for officials from political and legislative organs from around the country,

People’s Daily (in English) reported on March 26.

Anyway, JR has sensational news for you today: there are unconfirmed rumors that Jiang Zemin may still be with us. Not even the Nanjing Massacre of finance has necessarily dealt the old man’s heart a final blow.

And while I have long believed Bo Xilai to be a very unpleasant man, I suggest that we take allegations that he was less than human with a pinch of salt. It’s an old Chinese rule that people turn out to be monsters, once they have been toppled. And while that’s a particularly popular custom in China, it isn’t an unknown one to Europeans either.

I mean, seriously, who would have thought that Gaddafi might be evil? Or that the Syrian opposition’s mask would come off and reveal a true face of terrorism?

This is a world full of surprises. Fortunately, the media never sleep, and keep us prepared.