Xinhua dismisses Jiang Zemin death as “rumours”
The media frenzy originated from Hong Kong television channel ATV, which interrupted broadcasts with news of the death of the leader, president from 2003 to '93. Jiang is very ill and his influence is strong in the choice of the new generation of leaders in 2012.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - News of the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin is "pure rumors" Xinhua news agency said today. The simple communication does not even mention the "foreign media" at the origin of the media frenzy that has polarized the information on China and shut down internet for hours.
Last night the ATV channel in Hong Kong gave the news that Jiang had died, citing as evidence the fact that he was not present at any of the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on July 1st. ATV also announced that later in the evening it would air a special on the life of the former president, but then cancelled the program.
Jiang was president from 1993 to 2003 and secretary of the CPC from 89 (right after the Tiananmen massacre) to 2002, passing the baton to Hu Jintao.
Yesterday, as word spread of his possible death, search engines in China have blocked every search on his name or similar names ("jiang" also means "river").
The 84 year old statesman is very sick (cancer and diabetes), but it is still very powerful within the leadership. Several analysts think that - if still alive - he will have a great influence on the new leadership of the Fifth Generation, which will emerge from the next Party Congress in 2012.
Last night the ATV channel in Hong Kong gave the news that Jiang had died, citing as evidence the fact that he was not present at any of the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on July 1st. ATV also announced that later in the evening it would air a special on the life of the former president, but then cancelled the program.
Jiang was president from 1993 to 2003 and secretary of the CPC from 89 (right after the Tiananmen massacre) to 2002, passing the baton to Hu Jintao.
Yesterday, as word spread of his possible death, search engines in China have blocked every search on his name or similar names ("jiang" also means "river").
The 84 year old statesman is very sick (cancer and diabetes), but it is still very powerful within the leadership. Several analysts think that - if still alive - he will have a great influence on the new leadership of the Fifth Generation, which will emerge from the next Party Congress in 2012.
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