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| Gu Kailai murder charge is exercise in damage limitation for China authorities | Gu Kailai murder charge is exercise in damage limitation for China authorities |
| (4 months later) | |
| As China prepared to hand power to a new generation of leaders for the first time in a decade, what party leaders had wanted, above all, was stability. Then came April's bombshell announcement that Gu Kailai was suspected of murdering Neil Heywood. | As China prepared to hand power to a new generation of leaders for the first time in a decade, what party leaders had wanted, above all, was stability. Then came April's bombshell announcement that Gu Kailai was suspected of murdering Neil Heywood. |
| "The elite leaders are meant to live in a moral universe that is unimpeachable. This shows the groggy side," said Kerry Brown, head of the Asia programme at international affairs thinktank Chatham House. | "The elite leaders are meant to live in a moral universe that is unimpeachable. This shows the groggy side," said Kerry Brown, head of the Asia programme at international affairs thinktank Chatham House. |
| "But the game is holding up surprisingly well. If anyone was breaking ranks or shouting their mouth off, there are so many vested interests from the top to the bottom of this small, tight, compact elite, that [it could go] – bang! I don't think there are any signs of that." | "But the game is holding up surprisingly well. If anyone was breaking ranks or shouting their mouth off, there are so many vested interests from the top to the bottom of this small, tight, compact elite, that [it could go] – bang! I don't think there are any signs of that." |
| An alleged murder by the relative of a senior political figure would be sensitive in any case. But Gu's husband, Bo Xilai, has been a hugely divisive figure. As the "princeling" son of a party veteran, he enjoyed powerful connections. And as a leader in the north-east and then in south-western Chongqing, he won mass support with populist campaigns – but alienated liberals and colleagues who feared him as a potential strongman and rival to the heir apparent, Xi Jinping. | An alleged murder by the relative of a senior political figure would be sensitive in any case. But Gu's husband, Bo Xilai, has been a hugely divisive figure. As the "princeling" son of a party veteran, he enjoyed powerful connections. And as a leader in the north-east and then in south-western Chongqing, he won mass support with populist campaigns – but alienated liberals and colleagues who feared him as a potential strongman and rival to the heir apparent, Xi Jinping. |
| Gu's indictment shows authorities are keen to draw a line under the affair, as expected. | Gu's indictment shows authorities are keen to draw a line under the affair, as expected. |
| "It's pretty clear that they wanted to get the Gu Kailai case out of the way before the party congress [which will unveil the new leaders]," Joseph Fewsmith, an expert on Chinese politics at Boston University, told Reuters. | "It's pretty clear that they wanted to get the Gu Kailai case out of the way before the party congress [which will unveil the new leaders]," Joseph Fewsmith, an expert on Chinese politics at Boston University, told Reuters. |
| It also underlines the attempt to separate her case from that of her husband. No mention was made of Bo or the party's internal disciplinary investigation into him. | It also underlines the attempt to separate her case from that of her husband. No mention was made of Bo or the party's internal disciplinary investigation into him. |
| Some think that is because any hint of a connection between a leader and a murder would sully the reputation of the party as a whole. | Some think that is because any hint of a connection between a leader and a murder would sully the reputation of the party as a whole. |
| But Professor Steve Tsang, director of the China policy institute at Nottingham University, argued: "I think this probably confirms that they can relatively easily agree as to what to do with her – but have not yet fully agreed on what to do with him." | But Professor Steve Tsang, director of the China policy institute at Nottingham University, argued: "I think this probably confirms that they can relatively easily agree as to what to do with her – but have not yet fully agreed on what to do with him." |
| Other analysts point out the party faces a dilemma in terms of public perception: Go too easy on Gu, and it could be taken as yet more evidence that powerful figures get an easy ride. Come down hard, and it could look like a political vendetta. | Other analysts point out the party faces a dilemma in terms of public perception: Go too easy on Gu, and it could be taken as yet more evidence that powerful figures get an easy ride. Come down hard, and it could look like a political vendetta. |
| While few believe that Communist party leaders sought to be tainted by a scandal such as this, many think Bo's opponents were keen to see him toppled in some way – and still want to ensure he cannot rise again. | While few believe that Communist party leaders sought to be tainted by a scandal such as this, many think Bo's opponents were keen to see him toppled in some way – and still want to ensure he cannot rise again. |
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