Beijing
Zhu Rongji, the man behind China’s economic transformation to a market economy, stepped down as prime minister this week, in the country’s most peaceful Communist power transfer. His successor, Wen Jiabao, is a quiet, unassuming person, a stark contrast to the forceful, dynamic Zhu. “It is generally believed that I’m quite mild-tempered,” Wen said. “But I am also someone with principle, with determination.” As a party official, Wen accompanied a superior on a sympathetic visit to striking students in Tiananmen Square in 1989, shortly before the government began killing the protesters. His boss was jailed for the incorrect behavior, but Wen was not disciplined.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How the FCC’s ‘equal time’ rule worksIn the Spotlight The law is at the heart of the Colbert-CBS conflict
-
What is the endgame in the DHS shutdown?Today’s Big Question Democrats want to rein in ICE’s immigration crackdown
-
‘Poor time management isn’t just an inconvenience’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
