The Leading Princelings

Vice President Xi Jinping is due to assume the supreme-leadership of China in one year. Many cited words such as confidence as their first impression, but it could be simply arrogance in disguise.

Other leading Princelings do not fare much better either.

Bo Xilai, the Governor of Chongqing Metropolitian, had been finding his way to the top by revitalizing the Great Cultural Revolution under his absolute reign of the Southeastern city. Thousands of people were persecuted and jailed without going through legal system, some executed despite national outcry. On February 6th, his henchman the police chief Mr. Wang Lijun walked in the US General Consulate in Chengdu seeking asylum protection from Bo himself. The move effectively marked the end of his political ambition.

General Liu Yuan, son of former President Liu Shaoqi who was persecuted to death in the Great Cultural Revolution, had an unusual hurdled path in his political ascending. It seemed the overwhelming national sympathy on his father's tragic political farewell was not enough to propel him at any level in the past 30 years. Liu had to be moved across the board each time to get a promotion. He had been the Governor of a Province, Commander of Paramilitary Troops, Party Boss of a university before being named a Lieutenant General in the Logistical Corp.

Liu made quite a few splashes in what used to be a quiet-on-the-surface pool of political affairs in Beijing one year before the once decade power transition. A deputy of his, Lieutenant General Gu Junsheng was removed from duty under fraud investigations, echoing his vows made last month to fight corruptions in the army. Liu also backed his advisers to make voice on state issues. For example, he ordered the Army to publish a book authored by his adviser Zhang Musheng.

As a matter of fact, both the outsider world, as well as people in China with opposing political views are having great expectations on the new leadership, partially because of the current core's seemingly weakness when facing interest groups.

Xi himself does not have a clean record:

• Xi divorced his wife, then married a young pop star Ms. Peng Liyuan;
• Xi was the Governor of Fujian Province when the 'largest smuggling scandal' broke out;
• Xi was the Governor of Zhejiang when the corruption of Leqing County took place, which ultimately led to public execution of a Village Head Qian Yunhui;
• Xi ordered to use a girl with better appearance to act in voice of another non-presentablegirl at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic;
• Xi obtained a J.D. from Qinghua University without attending a single lecture in classroom nor writing a single line on paper;
• Xi interfered to sentence business woman Wu Ying to death so that some local officials in Zhejiang could take her fortune.

After a long waiting, The Princelings are ready to set off conquering the world, but are you ready for the manner it would be executed?

One More Death of Chinese Students in a Kansas College

Emporia State University was a regional public institute, with an 'average' international population composition among its peers in Kansas.

Last October, it has been hit with a disproportional high share of tragedies when two Chinese students, Fan Yawei and Lin Zheng, were found dead of house fire. Fan and Lin came to ESU in Fall 2009 and fell in love. The duo planned to return China to get married.

There was no smoke detector installed in the apartment they rent from Mr. Tony Wang the owner of a restaurant where Lin worked part time. Police determined the cause of fire was combustibles being placed too close to a floor furnace.

Life hardship was evident. On the night of fire, it was 25 degrees outside. Yet that was the first night in the winter the furnace was turned on in the apartment building shared by Chinese students. Fan sometimes made money by taking international students who didn't have cars to the airport.

The tragedy made its strike before anyone could realize what was happening. The furnace was turned on around 11 pm. Life was as normal when Lin made a call to her friend at about 11:20 pm. Before midnight, Ms. Cang Lan, a tenant living downstairs smelled smoke. She was about to call the fire department, but a passer-by told her he already did. She also knocked on the doors of Fan and Lin, but there was no response. knowing the couple was taking students to the airport, she thought they had already left.

According to department log, the fire department received a call at 12:18 and arrived at 12:22 am. Lin was brought out naked and life-flighted to Wichita, where she would die a few hours later. Fan was found dead at the scene.

Police reported another student Yang Alex Mingxuan was found dead in a car at a crash scene on January 10, 2012. Initial report was not clear on the cause of death. Later it was said, a call was made to the 911, in which the caller alerted the police a traffic accident. When police reached the alleged crash scene just after 4 pm, they found Yang in a crashed car with a gunshot wound. They also found a note, which appears to be a transcript of the previous 911 call. Police decided Yang must have made the call himself, reading from the note. Then Yang drove to the pre-determined location, fired a shot to himself and crashed the car.

All three students came from Dalian, Liaoning Province in Northeastern China. Fan and Lin came to the US through an exchange program with Liaoning Normal University in Dalian. Fan was a sophomore in Chemistry, Lin was a graduate student in English. Yang transferred to ESU from University of North Texas in Denton, and was working on MBA program. Yang was involved with the Chinese Students Association and attended services at the 12th Ave Baptist Church and also at First Presbytarian at the 12th Ave.

Chinese media reported Yang had been under economic pressure. He worked at restaurants, but later quit because of hardship of the work.

Over 200 Chinese students study in Emporia State University.

What would link Emporia State University the Dickinson State University is a Disney program, which was highly criticized for the chaos in the state college in North Dakota where 400 Chinese students were admitted without proper background and subsequently awarded degrees without meeting required academic standards.

Among the regional Regents Universities in Kansas, ESU was about average in terms of international students composition. Its sister school, the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) boasts a 36% of international students population. FHSU became the first American University to offer dual bachelor's degrees in China, and started offering courses through partner schools since 2000. According to FHSU official websites, in Fall 2009, FHSU is serving 3200 students at partner schools in China. However, a Wikipedia page indicated that 'to date, no one international students at SIAS has earned the FHSU degree,' FHSU's main partner in China.

Dean Found Dead in a State University Charged on Fraud

Douglas LaPlante, the Dean of College of Education, Business and Applied Sciences of Dickinson State University in North Dakota was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday February 10, 2012.

The Dickinson State university is ranked 63rd in the Midwest Region by US News & World Report. With an undergraduate enrollment of 2,668 and an endowment of $10 million, the public university has been seen struggling with shrinking state funding, which was compounded by a booming local oil industry that drew high school graduates away. Its four year graduation rate is 12%.

Hours earlier on the same day, the university made public the result of an audit which confirmed accusation that many students had been awarded degrees before completed their course study. Of 410 degrees granted to Chinese students in the past four years, 400 of them did not meet qualifications to graduate. In addition, of 144 degrees granted to Russian students in the same period, none meets graduation standards. The program at issue is titled 'Join, Top Up and Disney'. International students were promised an US degree after 6 months of Disney experience and 7 months of on campus study.

LaPlante was a strong supporter for the University's Confucius Institute, a Chinese cultural center fully funded by the Chinese government. Dickinson officials announced on Wednesday evening that they would scrap a plan to implement the Institute. A Chinese representative from partner school Taiyuan University of Technology, Professor Mei Hao, will pack and go.

Connecting Dots

Wang Lijun's whereabouts between Monday 2/6/2012 and Wednesday 2/8/2012 might never be confirmed by either Chinese or American government. We may never know what happened inside the US Chengdu General Consulate. Having that said, below is one most plausible plot:

In the months leading to the final show down, Wang should have already sensed Bo's malice. Because of Bo's absolute power in Chongqing, as well as his political clot in the nation, Wang has no chance at all to fight back. Judging from Bo's track record, it was logical for Wang to believe Bo would harm him and very possibly his families and friends. Therefore, it amounted to a duty and obligation for Wang to strike back.

The US consulate is picked perhaps because it is the only place in the southeastern China where Wang can have a direct and uninterrupted communication with central government in Beijing. Wang was under tight monitoring long before he had been stripped off Police Chief duty. He was not allowed to travel. If he try to flee on foot, he might be immediately arrested, or quietly killed as a fugitive.

Wang jumped on an opportunity when he was arranged to inspect a local university as a stage-show to tell the public everything had been normal. He fled in disguise and drove an unmarked car to the capital city Chengdu of neighboring Sichuan Province, where he scheduled a meeting with the US consulate. The Consulate arranged him to sneak in the US General Consulate in Chengdu. However, Wang was identified by a security agent working for the central government.

What happened in the next 24 hours was not clear. Wang might left some important evidence to prove Bo's involvement in crimes. Wang might discusses refuge or asylum status issue with US officials. Wang might spoke to some senior officials in Beijing. Wang might had a talk with his boos Bo.

In the end, outside the consulate there was an armed stand-off between paramilitary troops equipped with heavy equipment from Chongqing and local police who are reinforced by security forces belonged to central government. Bo tried to take Wang back to Chongqing by force, but was pushed back by Beijing.

The US General Consular was not in the consulate at the time on Tuesday night. He went out for unknown reason but could not come back because of road blocks and a man-made traffic jam. Wang received a call from a commander outside the consulate. Wang was told if he did not walk out, then police would break in using the excuse that there might be a bomb inside the building. Wang contacted the General Consular again, and was told he did not know when could he get back to the consulate. Wang decided to walk out. Spokesperson of the US State Department said Wang walked out in his own volition. She also stated there was no threat to the Chengdu Consulate, and US did not request increased security to the consulate.

While Wang walked out, he shouted to police surrounded the building that he had collected evidence of crimes committed by Bo Xilai. Bo was taken by the security forced loyal to the central government, and flown to Beijing within hours.

Now that it had become an international incident. The central government will have legitimate excuse as well as a procedural obligation to launch an investigation against Wang's charges against Bo. It is revealed that a high level delegate had stationed the Jinniu (Golden Bull) Hotel in Chengdu since the incident, and that there was no sign they were leaving anytime soon.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand of Words

Because of online censorship, the above emoticon posted on the micro-blog Weibo run by Sina told a following fictional story:

Last night, an individual walked in the US Consulate in Chengdu of Sichuan Province seeking refuge protection. The Consulate was subsequently surrounded by troops enforced with over 70 APCs from neighboring Chongqing, a province-level Metropolitan, led by the Mayor of Chongqing Mr. Hong Qifan. More local police and central government security forces rushed to the scene. After negotiations, the US Consulate released the man. There was an armed standoff between paramilitary forces from Chongqing and security forces loyal to Beijing. In the end, the person was taken by security forces from the central government and flew to Beijing via Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

Rumor has it that the man in the above story is Mr. Wang Lijun. Wang was released from the position of Police Chief of Chongqing a few days ago. Wang had been credited for his heavy hand measures in cracking down organized crimes, but was also criticized for human rights abuse in the process.

The portrait to the far right was an official picture of Wang in his new assignment, the deputy Mayor of Chongqing in charge of education. It was discovered by the online community that the picture was a Photoshop job of a dated portrait of Wang (left) when he was the police chief. A suit was laid on top of his uniform, and a pair of glasses was added to fit his new role.

Rumor has it that Wang had been placed under tight control for an unknown period. Up to 11 deputies and aides of Wang had been arrested by the Chongqing Governor Bo Xilai. The new post of Deputy Mayor was only a cover for investigation before Wang would be formally prosecuted. Wang already lost freedom, and was in no position to shoot another 'official' photo. The propaganda department had to Photoshop a new 'official portrait' to make people believe it was yet another normal day. Wang jumped on the opportunity, when Bo ordered Deputy Mayor Wang to inspect a local university as a staged show of harmony, to disguise as another person and flee to neighboring Sichuan Province.

Wang Lijun had been acting as Bo's henchman in Bo's bid for higher power, but also became a political burden. It is said that Bo, sensing dangerous, decided to get rid of Wang.

Bo Xilai, the Chongqing Governor, is known for his Great Revolution style approach, which was a outlier today, even in communist China. Wang's defection is seen as a major setback for Bo's ambition for a higher post in the upcoming Party's National Conference. The 18th CCP National Conference which is expected to be held later this year will decide the Politburo, government and cabinet for the next 10 years.

Today, the office of the Chongqing Government released a brief micro-blog regarding the incident. In a literal translation, it said Wang was placed under a 'vacation-style therapy', a phrase troubled reporters from BBC and CNN alike, trying to figure out an accurate translation. After all, there was no such phrase in Chinese, never before.

A Disturbing Picture

A volunteer for the orphanage Children's Hope Foundation of China posted a disturbing picture. Posting a picture of this nature online probably crossed the legal boundary in many countries, therefore it will not be included in this post. However, here is a brief description: a 4 years old child (Yiyi) was laying on a bed, with her chest open top-down. A gloved hand was also in the picture, taking an organ (the heart or the livers) out of her chest.

Now, the questions:
1. The child was laying on a flowered quilt, and the background of the room showed shattered dirty cartoon boxes. The lighting was deem. It could not be a scene of an E.R., or any operating room. It could not be in a coroner's office. Where was it then?
2. There was fresh blood on the child's face. Lots of them. Is there a reason to perform autopsy minutes after the death?
3. The secene was positioned to show the child's face, body, and the organ in one composition. It is in good resolution. What is the purpose of taking such picture (except to prove the owner of the organ that was just taken out)?

About the whistle blower: Ms. Wu graduated from Capital University of Medical Sciences. She volunteered in many charity organizations. She also operated a medical equipment company, Beijing Shangdeguangye Medical Equipment Ltd.

Wu also posted a picture showing the child, Yiyi, playing with her a few months ago at the orphanage. After she learned of the child's death, she contacted the Children's Hope Foundation for information but her requests had been repeatedly denied. Another person, Shanghai based also posted she had been served an order to seal regarding this case.

Reader may follow Wu Xuxin's weibo account to check out the image. However, be warned that it is unbearable graphical. And be warned again. It may also be found here before it is censored.

While the head of the Foundation Ms. Zhang Wen responded more time would be needed before all information could be gathered and confirmed, notable writer Xu Zhirong, with online nicker Routangsen or Fleshy Tang Monk, revealed that he learned the Children's Hope Foundation charges adopting families from the US $19,150 plus RMB 35,000 for each child adopted from the orphanage. Also, the foundation has a contract with a linked travel agent that all adopting families must use. Xu demanded the Foundation a candid answer on how much money it made in the child trafficking process.

According to its website, the Children's Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization, which has started providing service to more than 4600 needed children since 1992. It was officially chartered in on 3/29/2010.

Blessed Chinese Intellectuals Sworn to Keep the Caste System

When Chinese intellectuals warned interest groups had become obstacles of China's further development, they didn't mean themselves being one of the most stubborn one.

Admittedly, China's school evaluation system, in particularly the college entrance examination, is very fair on its face value. Despite sporadic and isolated cheating incidents which were extremely rare, a student must take the same exam sheet at the same time with all other kids of his age under prison level monitoring. The exam will then be graded by layers of reviewers also under absolute isolation and heavy monitoring. A high score can usually equate to a better student. However, any extension or stretching from that could be dangerous.

A most heated Online incident, which spanned through the most celebrated holiday in China, the Chinese Spring Festival, was ignited when some questioned whether a popular writer and race car driver Han Han wrote his works by himself. Led by Fang Zhouzi, a PhD in Bio-chemistry, many 'elite intellectuals' mocked Han Han for being a high-school drop-out. They asserted Han, being a 17 years old kid, would not be able to write a best seller novel. They even claimed Han would not be able to read hundreds of books as he said himself at one occasion. Then they drew the conclusion that Han must be a puppet who rely on other people to write articles. One 'public intellectuals, Ms. Peng Xiaoyun even suggested to place Han under criminal detainment to apply criminal interrogation. They deeply believe, having scored higher grade in the examination system, they have the exclusive rights to claim intellectual superiority. And, they have the ultimate obligation to suppress any outlier of this system.

The interconnected online world had captured some of these crusade against outliers.

In 2002, a Chinese student from Harvard posted on the MITBBS. He claimed to be an admission committee member who have access to application materials. He was angered when reading one application from China and notice she did not go to college immediately after high school, but rather earned the degree through self paced learning and then passing examinations. The Chinese reviewer was so angry that he not only threw the application out from Harvard, but also published her information online so that Chinese reviewers in other schools could be alerted.

That girl was admitted to PhD program in CS at UIUC, and graduated a few years later with excellent grade and research.

Last year (2011), a Google Chinese employee did exactly the same when he saw an applicant earned her degree through self paced learning. Even though the girl passed all Google interview sessions, he publicly touted in a post on the MITBBS that unless the girl gave him some 'remedy', he would talk to the HR to kick her out.

There are many reasons a person could fail in an examination system. In Han Han's example, he totally lost interest in the test-driven education system, where all students did nothing but preparing for exams. In the latter two cases, both were from poverty families who could not afford to go to college immediately after high school. But, many elite intellectuals refused to recognize there could be persons, who although scored not as high, are better humans.