Chinese Intrigue Runs into the Wall of the US Consulate General

Chinese Intrigue Runs into the Wall of the US Consulate General
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
April 13, 2012

Summary: The Bo Xilai scandal may involve more twists and turns. But Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao have taken charge of the investigation of Bo Xilai's wife, who is suspected of murdering a British businessman. This is considered a smart move. One. It avoids the ugly stereotype of a Chinese Communist Party power struggle. It reduces the backlash. Two. It shatters the leftist "Chongqing Model" myth in the minds of the public. Three. It strikes a blow against the rampant corruption of "second generation officialdom" and the "princelings," and gives them fair warning.

Full Text below:

The Bo Xilai scandal may involve more twists and turns. But Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao have taken charge of the investigation of Bo Xilai's wife, who is suspected of murdering a British businessman. This is considered a smart move. One. It avoids the ugly stereotype of a Chinese Communist Party power struggle. It reduces the backlash. Two. It shatters the leftist "Chongqing Model" myth in the minds of the public. Three. It strikes a blow against the rampant corruption of "second generation officialdom" and the "princelings," and gives them fair warning.

Mainland China may be the factory of the world. But politically outsiders still find it hard to penetrate the halls of power. So far Beijing has been able to keep a lid on the Bo Xilai scandal. The key factor was Wang Lijun, who sought asylum at the US Consulate General in Chengdu, and exposed Bo Xilai's secrets. He spent nearly thirty hours inside. This alarming scandal provided everyone with a glimpse of what goes on behind the opaque curtain. It forced the CCP Central Committee to respond to what the world had just witnessed. It could not reveal the truth only to the US, while keeping the Chinese people in the dark.

Chinese Communist Party politics has long been opaque. Chinese society is obsessed with individual heroes. Bo Xilai and his Chongqing myth was made possible by these two conditions. Now that Bo Xilai has been removed from office, stories about his family's sex scandals, wanton conduct, and rampant corruption have emerged. They are so numerous the public is incredulous. Even assuming only 20% of the rumors are true, they can hardly be reconciled with his image as a hero who "sang the praises of socialism while striking out against corruption." Even more ominously, Bo's wife and bodyguards are suspected of murder, They successfully hoodwinked the public. This forced Wang Lijun to seek asylum at the US Consulate General. Bo even mobilized the army and the police, and surrounded the consulate general. The treacherous situtaion was straight out of a spy thriller. Such a scenario is unimaginable on Taiwan or in the United States.

The Bo Xilai scandal involves diplomatic, political, and judicial issues. This makes the problem even pricklier. Fortunately on the diplomatic front, Washington kept mum. This gave Bejing an opportunity to deal with the problem. The consulate general began by not granting Wang Lijun asylum. Instead, it turned him over to Beijing. Washington revealed nothing about the scandal afterwards. For the Obama administration, this constituted a gesture of goodwill. This was proof positive that US diplomatic personnel abroad are well trained. They know when to hold, and know when to fold.

A lowly consulate general in Chengdu could precipitate a prickly dispute between two governments. The United States clearly has comprehensive and effective standard operating procedures, Personnel stationed abroad know what to do at all times. They know whom to notify. They know how to respond. This shows that the US has established regulations that officials and the public can refer to. This is definitely easier and more effective than relying on the wisdom of a coterie of charismatic leaders. It also helps maintain social stability. This is something we cannot ignore when discussing the Bo Xilai scandal.

Politically, Bo Xilai used "striking out against corruption" to expand his "singing the praises of socialism" offensive. He created a realm of his own. Essentially he thumbed his nose at the path taken by the Chinese Communist Party. The socialist path Bo championed went far beyond the thinking of either the Old Left or the New Left. It even glorified the Cultural Revolution. This irrational development was a dangerous reaction to current developments on the Chinese mainland. Most paradoxically of all, Bo Xilai and his family wallowed in luxury. They abused their power. Their conduct was diametrically opposed to the leftist sentiments he trumpeted. Will Wang Lijun's bid for asylum at the US Consulate General shatter this populist myth? Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao may need to clean up this mess before leaving office. At the very least, they must ensure that the political progress they made during their 10-year reign are not wiped out overnight.

How many more undisclosed secrets does Bo Xilai have? How should they be dealt with? The CCP Central Committee must deal with them cautiously. This includes what Wang Lijun disclosed to Washington. Is Gu Kailai is the mastermind behind the murder of British businessman Neil Haywood? If so, Bo Xilai knew about it and covered it up. This alone would mean he has no chance of a comeback. If Bo is guilty of other disciplinary violations or engaged in other incidents of corruption. he should be fairly investigated and publicly tried. The truth must be made public. This will minimize concerns about political purges and political persecution. This will provide everyone on the Mainland, from top to bottom, with an object lesson in the rule of law.

The Bo Xilai myth has been shattered. He may have gotten what he deserved. Sadly, a political hero so many people worshipped was so vulnerable. In any case, the scandal has provided political leaders on the Mainland an opportunity for reflection and reform. It stripped away the mask from leftist politicians. It allowed the public to appreciate the importance of a system of checks and balances. The Chinese Communist Party should thank the United States for not making the matter public. This enabled Beijing to shatter the Bo Xilai myth on the walls of the US Consulate General.
  
當中國祕辛撞上美領事館圍牆
【聯合報╱社論】
2012.04.13 01:28 am

不論薄熙來事件未來還有多少發展，胡、溫這次選擇從司法調查切入薄妻的英商謀殺案，稱得上是舉重若輕的聰明之舉：一則避開了中共宮廷權鬥的醜陋窠臼，降低反彈；二則以民眾易於理解的方式破解了「重慶模式」的左傾神話；三則為打擊「官二代」和「太子黨」的囂張腐敗立威示警。

儘管中國在經濟上已是世界工廠，但在政治上，外界要穿透它層層疊疊的權力帷幕，仍有很大的困難。這次薄熙來事件之所以能處理到這個地步，最主要因素，是王立軍帶著薄熙來的祕密投奔美國駐成都總領事館，逗留了近卅小時。這個驚天的跨界一闖，撞開了中國森森的政治內幕，迫使中共中央必須以合乎國際視聽的作法作出回應；不能真相留給了美國，而中國人民卻仍被蒙在鼓裡。

中共政治一向透明度不足，而中國社會則迷戀個人英雄，薄熙來和他的重慶神話就是在這兩種條件交互作用下造就的。在薄熙來遭免職後，坊間關於其家族淫、亂、貪的故事，已多到令人難以置信的地步；就算其中僅有兩成屬實，那些描述，又如何和近年炙手可熱的「唱紅打黑」英雄形象合而為一？更可怕的是，薄妻谷開來和內勤涉嫌殺人，竟能一手遮天蓋掉，逼得王立軍奔赴美國領事館尋求庇護，還出動軍警包圍領館。其間血腥凶險，較電影情節猶有過之，這豈是台灣或美國這樣的社會所能想像？

薄熙來事件夾纏了外交、政治、司法三股因素，因而清理起來更為棘手。所幸，在外交上，美國方面對此保持完全靜默，讓北京有充裕的空間和時間處理此事。從最初領事館作出「不留人」的決定，將王立軍送交北京，到事後不透露一絲風聲，不僅在在表現了歐巴馬政府的善意，更能看到美駐外人員的訓練有素及進退有方。

試想，只是駐成都的領事館，都能將一起可能引起兩大國外交糾紛的事件處理得進退有據，可見美方必有一套完善而有效的標準作業程序，讓駐外人員隨時遵循、通報及應變。也可見，政府建立起讓官員和人民可資依循的法令與制度，絕對比仰賴少數人的英明領導或魅力更省事而有效，也更有助於維護社會的安定。這是談薄熙來事件，不能忽略的一個面向。

在政治上，薄熙來近年藉著「打黑」來擴大他的「唱紅」攻勢，不僅形式上營造了「自成一國」的氛圍，實質上也對中共的發展路線構成挑釁。不僅如此，他標榜的紅色路線，其實已遠超過「老左」或「新左」的思維，開始頌揚起文革的精神；這種非理性發展，對當前中國大陸的發展當然是一種危險的反動。更吊詭的是，薄熙來和家人的種種浮奢、濫權作為，其實也與他高唱的左傾熱潮全然背道而馳。這個民粹迷思，若能藉王立軍事件的「闖館」衝擊將其一舉打破，恐怕也是胡錦濤、溫家寶在交班前希望完成的任務，至少，可確保兩人的十年治理成果不會一夕躍退。

薄熙來事件還有多少不為人知的內幕、要處理到什麼地步，仍需要中共中央的謹慎拿捏，這也和王立軍究竟向美方透露了多少訊息有關。事實上，若谷開來果真是英商海伍德命案的幕後主使，薄熙來知情並為之掩蓋，僅此一案，他就不可能有翻身機會。倘若他還涉及其他風紀、貪瀆問題，最好都能透過公正調查及公開審判，將真相向社會揭露，一則降低政治清算及打壓的疑慮，再則這也將是給中國大陸上上下下一課重要的法治教育。

薄熙來傳奇的破滅，或許罪有應得；遺憾的是，那麼多人崇拜的政治英雄，竟如此不堪一擊。無論如何，這次事件給了中國政治一次反省與調整的機會，除戳破了左傾政客的虛假面目，也讓人們看到制度建立及權力制衡的重要。中共應該感謝美國在此事的不張揚，讓北京自己有機會把薄熙來的神話撞出美國領事館的圍牆。