Anti-Corruption Drive Enters Final Stage?

The anti-corruption drive started with the Maoist/rightist (far-left to Westerners) elements. Neither the corrupt, the liberals or the wealthy want Maoists back in power, so the takedown of the ambitious Bo Xilai was easily secured. The move against his network was basically complete with the arrest of Zhou Yongkang.

The next big target was a senior aide to former President Hu Jintao, who is still being investigated. China probes former senior aide to Hu Jintao over graft

The real power lurking in the background is not Hu Jintao, but Jiang Zemin.


China atwitter over next ‘tiger’ to fall in corruption purge

As China’s two-year-old anti-corruption campaign rages on, an article attacking a long-dead Manchu prince from the late 19th century has prompted frenzied speculation over the fate of one of the country’s most powerful Communist party elders.

For centuries Chinese politicians have used abstruse historical allegory to attack rivals without confronting them directly.

So when China’s top anti-corruption authority published an article on Wednesday afternoon detailing the evil deeds of “Prince Qing”, the internet went into overdrive with theories over who the real target could be.

By far the most popular guess is Zeng Qinghong, vice-president of China until 2008, right-hand man to former President Jiang Zemin and one of the most powerful politicians of modern China.

...The Chinese character in Prince Qing’s name is the same “Qing” used in Zeng Qinghong’s.

Several of the details highlighted in the article appear to be veiled criticisms of Mr Zeng and that is exactly how many on the internet have interpreted the piece.

If Jiang Zemin's network is hobbled, Xi will have effectively consolidated power. The anti-corruption drive will continue, but it will be a mop up operation from that point on.

Previous coverage:
The Battle For China Continues On All Fronts
More Turf Battles in China As Reformers Expand Reach
Political Battle Behind the Scenes Still Ongoing in China; Economic Reform Isn't Solely Economic Reform
Socionomics Watch—The battle for China
Leadership succession battle in China goes public as Wen slams Bo Xilai on Wednesday; Communist party fires Bo Xilai on Thursday
Wen Jiabao's revenge
Major financial reforms begin in China
China's New Age of Reform
Political reform in China taking place through economic channels