Jiang Zemin Dead? Local [Chinese] Censors Don't Want Any Speculation

[Cereal Kyller]

Source: HuffPost World

BEIJING -- Rumors that retired Chinese leader Jiang Zemin was dead or dying raced through China's Internet on Wednesday, sending censors into overdrive to excise them and in turn spurring people to craft ever more cryptic and inventive postings.

Searches for "Jiang Zemin" in Chinese or simply "Jiang" – which means "river" – drew warnings on Sina Corp.'s popular Twitter-like service that said the search was illegal. In response posts began appearing about former leader "River" in English.

The Internet cat-and-mouse game over the possible death of a former leader underscores how secretive China's Communist Party leadership remains – and the difficulties of maintaining that secrecy in a well-wired society.

Rumors about the 84-year-old Jiang's ill health have percolated for months and resurfaced anew after he did not appear at Friday's celebration for the 90th anniversary of the party's founding. Other current and former leaders – a 94-year-old revolutionary veteran among them – were shown by state media in prominent attendance in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/jiang-zemin-dead-local-ce_n_891091.htmlHuffpost World

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President Hu and Prime Minister Wen are to be replaced soon, as well. The names of their successors are already known: You can google them.

[Pterodactyl]

1. They just need a picture of him reading a recent newspaper.

It works for Castro!

[Renew Deal]

2. Why would an 84 year old in a large country not showing up be a big deal?

And why would the death of said 84 year old be too controversial to announce?

[David__77]

3. Well..

They wouldn't want his death to coincide with the current campaign to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. Also, they do not want extended speculation on an unhealthy leader's status, as this may detract from the "aura" they wish to collectively project. Instead, they prefer to have an orderly death announcement without much prior focus on the individual's health.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Serious news report on this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vOvf5DM6Wo