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China Puts a Tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, on Probation for Criticizing Policies China Puts a Tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, on Probation for Criticizing Policies
(35 minutes later)
BEIJING — Chinese Communist Party officials have put an outspoken property tycoon who is a party member on a one-year probation for writing online comments criticizing President Xi Jinping’s propaganda policies, according to reports published on Monday by Chinese news websites.BEIJING — Chinese Communist Party officials have put an outspoken property tycoon who is a party member on a one-year probation for writing online comments criticizing President Xi Jinping’s propaganda policies, according to reports published on Monday by Chinese news websites.
The probation means the tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, could be expelled from the party, which has more than 85 million members, if he steps out of line again. The news was announced on a public holiday by party discipline officials in the Xicheng district of Beijing, a sign that the party wanted to get the news out quietly, perhaps because of Mr. Ren’s popular online presence.The probation means the tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, could be expelled from the party, which has more than 85 million members, if he steps out of line again. The news was announced on a public holiday by party discipline officials in the Xicheng district of Beijing, a sign that the party wanted to get the news out quietly, perhaps because of Mr. Ren’s popular online presence.
Mr. Ren wrote comments on his microblog in February questioning a major announcement that month by Mr. Xi that Chinese news organizations must serve the party. Mr. Ren wrote on his main microblog, which had nearly 38 million followers, that the Chinese news media should serve the people and not the party.Mr. Ren wrote comments on his microblog in February questioning a major announcement that month by Mr. Xi that Chinese news organizations must serve the party. Mr. Ren wrote on his main microblog, which had nearly 38 million followers, that the Chinese news media should serve the people and not the party.
Mr. Ren had a reputation for posting contentious statements, which had earned him the nickname “the Cannon.” Censors quickly deleted his posts on Mr. Xi’s new policy, and a website managed by the Beijing party committee’s propaganda bureau said Mr. Ren had “lost his party spirit” and taken up “opposing the party.” Mr. Ren had a reputation for posting contentious statements, which earned him the nickname “the Cannon.” Censors quickly deleted his posts on Mr. Xi’s new policy, and a website managed by the Beijing party committee’s propaganda bureau said Mr. Ren had “lost his party spirit” and taken up “opposing the party.”
Then officials at the Cyberspace Administration of China, which controls Internet content, decided to muzzle him by deleting his main microblog account, which had been hosted on the Sina Weibo platform.Then officials at the Cyberspace Administration of China, which controls Internet content, decided to muzzle him by deleting his main microblog account, which had been hosted on the Sina Weibo platform.
The Internet control agency took the unusual step of issuing a long statement explaining its move. A spokesman, Jiang Jun, said in a written statement issued on Feb. 28 that “Internet users have reported that Ren Zhiqiang’s account had been continuously publishing illegal information, and the impact was vile.”The Internet control agency took the unusual step of issuing a long statement explaining its move. A spokesman, Jiang Jun, said in a written statement issued on Feb. 28 that “Internet users have reported that Ren Zhiqiang’s account had been continuously publishing illegal information, and the impact was vile.”
The censure of Mr. Ren came as a surprise to his friends and online followers, and some liberal Chinese rushed to his defense. Zhang Xin, another prominent real estate developer, posted news of the deletion of Mr. Ren’s Sina Weibo account the day it happened. Some Chinese scholars, journalists and party insiders wrote commentary criticizing the censure.The censure of Mr. Ren came as a surprise to his friends and online followers, and some liberal Chinese rushed to his defense. Zhang Xin, another prominent real estate developer, posted news of the deletion of Mr. Ren’s Sina Weibo account the day it happened. Some Chinese scholars, journalists and party insiders wrote commentary criticizing the censure.
The public pushback gave a window into the growing frustration among intellectuals over the broad crackdown by Mr. Xi on freedom of speech.The public pushback gave a window into the growing frustration among intellectuals over the broad crackdown by Mr. Xi on freedom of speech.
Many Chinese businesspeople such as Mr. Ren see party membership as useful in part because of the access it allows to officials and the party elite. Many Chinese businesspeople such as Mr. Ren see party membership as useful, in part because of the access it allows to officials and the party elite.
Mr. Ren did not answer calls made on Monday evening to his mobile phone.Mr. Ren did not answer calls made on Monday evening to his mobile phone.
Some political analysts also noted that Mr. Ren was a friend of Wang Qishan — the powerful head of the party’s anticorruption agency and an ally of Mr. Xi, who has made the fight against corruption in the party into a touchstone policy. Some political analysts also noted that Mr. Ren was a friend of Wang Qishan — the powerful head of the party’s anticorruption agency and an ally of Mr. Xi, who has made the fight against corruption in the party a touchstone policy.
The analysts said there had been signs for months that there may be tensions or a power struggle underway in the top party ranks between Mr. Wang and Liu Yunshan, the overseer of the vast propaganda apparatus. Both men are on the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, the top governing body in China. The analysts said the attack by censors and the Internet agency on Mr. Ren might have been a swipe by Mr. Liu and his allies at Mr. Wang.The analysts said there had been signs for months that there may be tensions or a power struggle underway in the top party ranks between Mr. Wang and Liu Yunshan, the overseer of the vast propaganda apparatus. Both men are on the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, the top governing body in China. The analysts said the attack by censors and the Internet agency on Mr. Ren might have been a swipe by Mr. Liu and his allies at Mr. Wang.
Elite party politics in China continues to be opaque under Mr. Xi, and there is often speculation of where the major players stand and who wields greater power and influence.Elite party politics in China continues to be opaque under Mr. Xi, and there is often speculation of where the major players stand and who wields greater power and influence.