The death of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin poses yet another challenge for current Chinese President Xi Jinping, providing a potential rallying point for people disillusioned by stringent ¡°COVID zero¡± measures and a flagging economy.
Jiang¡¯s death at the age of 96, which was announced by state media Wednesday, comes days after people took to the streets to challenge virus curbs in China¡¯s most widespread protests in decades. While the demonstrations have since subsided, efforts to mourn the fallen leader who took steps to open the Asian nation to the world could provide a fresh impetus for gatherings that turn into a platform to criticize Xi.
¡°After the death of such a big figure in Chinese politics, some people may write articles, people may have gatherings, and this would be totally legal and allowed,¡± said Chen Gang, an assistant director and senior research fellow at National University of Singapore¡¯s East Asian Institute. ¡°If such activities continue, people can make the contrast between the previous leader and the current situation. That may have a kind of backlash effect upon the current administration.¡±
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