JIANG Zemin, the former general secretary and president of the People’s Republic of China, passed away last November 30, 2022, from leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai, at the age of 96, Chinese state-media reported.
(In honor of his memory, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said it has put up a ‘Mourning Room’ and placed a ‘Book of Condolences’ where those who wish to express their condolences and sympathies can do so at the Embassy’s address at 1235 Arcacia Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City from December 2 to December 6, 2022.
The announcement added that those interested may coordinate with Ms. Wu Erchao at 0945-396-1902).
Contributions to PH-China relations
Under Jiang, the relationship between China and the Philippines was further strengthened. He was the first Chinese president to visit the Philippines in 1996, during the term of President Fidel Ramos, since the formal signing of the two countries’ diplomatic relationship on June 9, 1975, during the term of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
At the time, Jiang, who was Communist Party of China (CPC) general secretary and president from 1989 to 2002, assured the Philippine government that China would protect the welfare and interests of some 200,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hongkong, which was scheduled to revert to China from British rule less than a year later, in 1997.
Jiang was in Manila at the time to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which the Philippines hosted and decided to stay further in order to have a talk with Ramos and other Philippine leaders.
Jiang was also the Chinese leader who welcomed Ramos during his state visit to China in April 1993 and President Joseph Estrada during his state visit to China in May 2000.
Significantly, it was under Jiang’s tenure that the Philippines and China laid down the long-term policy guidelines in their relationship based on “good-neighborliness” and mutual trust and agreed on “shelving disputes and going in for joint development” in the South China Sea.
In 2000, China and the Philippines signed the ‘Joint Statement Between China and the Philippines on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the Twenty-First Century,’ which confirmed that the two sides will establish a long-term and stable relationship on the basis of good neighborliness, cooperation, mutual trust and benefit.
It was also under Jiang that the biggest monument of the Philippines’ national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, was built and inaugurated in Siongque Village, Jinjiang City, Fujian province on January 13, 2003. The monument, made of the world-famous Jinjiang granite stones, stands at 18.61 meters high, which is taller than the 12-meters high Rizal Monument in Manila. It was built on a five-hectare park named in Rizal’s honor, making it the biggest Rizal Shrine outside the Philippines.
Unfortunately, while China has always been known to uphold any agreement it has signed, the same cannot be said of the Philippines where under Pres. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino Jr. (2010-2016), their relationship sunk into an all-time low.
‘Outstanding communist leader’
Xinhua, China’s state news agency, reported that the Chinese government and the CPC described Jiang’s passing as an “incalculable loss to the party, the army and the people of all ethnic groups in China.”
Born in the city of Yangzhou (Yanchow) Jiangsu Province, Eastern China on August 17, 1926, Jiang has a degree in electrical engineering and join the CPC while still a college student.
Jiang, according to various news sources, was CPC general secretary from 1989 to 2002 and as president of China from 1993 to 2003, rising to the top of leadership from his post as the CPC head of Shanghai.
Unfortunately, while China has always been known to uphold any agreement it has signed, the same cannot be said of the Philippines where under Pres. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino Jr. (2010-2016), their relationship sunk into an all-time low.
“Comrade Jiang Zemin was an exceptional leader of high repute among the Party, the Army and all Chinese ethnic groups,” the statement read, describing him as “a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat,” who led China on to the path of “the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” according to the report filed by Guillermo Abril for MSN, a US news agency on December 1, 2022.
Other Western media outlets, notorious for their distorted reports on China, had to recognized Jiang’s immense contributions to the growth of China as a global economic power and world leader.
Both CNN International and the Associated Press credited Jiang for his contributions in holding China together and further boosting its economic growth in the aftermath of the 1989 ‘Tiananmen Square Incident.’
In the aftermath of that incident where China appeared politically isolated, Jiang was picked by then paramount leader, Deng Xiao Ping to lead the CPC as general secretary.
Under Jiang’s policy of developing China’s “socialist market economy” that includes allowing businessmen – ‘bourgeoisie’ in Marxist lexicon—into the CPC, China experienced unprecedented double-digit economic growth for over a decade that propelled the country to where it is today—the second biggest economy in the world.
Leaving behind the scars of Tiananmen, among China’s notable achievements under Jiang include: the reversion of Hongkong back to China in 1997, the return of Macau from Portugal to China in 1999 and China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 and China’s successful bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Also under Jiang, China eliminated the threat to its stability coming from the ‘Falun Gong’ religious group movement where he reminded the CPC of the need for “stability above all else.” In 2002, China also successfully defeated the spread of the Sars-Covid virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome). The lessons learned from this experience also helped China defeat the virus’ more deadly variant, Covid-19.
While Jiang finally retired from public service in 2004 after retiring as chairman of China’s Military Commission, Western observers point to his continuing influence in the crafting of CPC policies. Jiang was succeeded to the post by Hu Jintao and in 2012, by President Xi Jinping.
The CPC’s aim of eliminating absolute poverty in China (that it accomplished 2021, see also, Pinoy Exposé, March 1, 2021) and in building a “modern socialist country in all respects” laid down during the 20th CPC Congress last October 16, 2022, were referenced to Jiang’s exhortation that:
“The Communist Party of China should represent the development trends of advanced productive forces, the orientation of an advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people of China.”
As a further show of the global respect to the contributions of Jiang, the United Nations (UN) Security Council, meeting on the day he died, offered a minute of silence in his name.
“Former president Jiang Zemin will be remembered by the international community for his dedicated contribution to global peace, security and development and for his role in China’s reforms, its opening up, modernisation and economic development,” said Ghana’s UN ambassador Harold Agyeman, who chaired the meeting.
Jiang left behind his spouse, Wang Ye Ping, whom he married in 1949 and two sons.