China's Jiang Creeps Back From Political Oblivion

By REUTERS | The New York Times
July 19, 2006

BEIJING (Reuters) - Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin has quietly emerged from retirement, an apparent attempt to influence leadership changes due next year and safeguard his own legacy, political sources and analysts said.

While many of his peers have faded from view, Jiang has kept an invisible hand on power since he was replaced by Hu Jintao as General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party in 2002, relying on loyalists in the Politburo Standing Committee.

Sources said he is anxious not to lose that leverage at the party's 17th congress next year, when the Standing Committee will be reshuffled and Hu will almost certainly be reappointed as party chief, further consolidating his power.

Hu is also expected to name an heir at the congress.

``Jiang wants to influence the 17th congress but whether he can do so is another matter,'' a retired party official who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

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