Posted on 02/09/2012 6:38:42 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Mystery deepens over high-ranking Chinese deputy mayor and his supposed defection to the U.S.
Reuters Feb 9, 2012 – 9:40 AM ET | Last Updated: Feb 9, 2012 9:42 AM ET
By Michael Martina
The United States said Thursday a former Chinese police chief rumoured to have tried to defect had visited one of its consulates, fuelling a political intrigue analysts say may signal a power struggle in China.
The mysterious consular incident in southwest China has cast an unwelcome spotlight on Bo Xilai, a former commerce minister jostling to join the Communist Party’s inner circle, but muted reaction in state media suggests officials are eager to play down the incident — at least for now.
The city of Chongqing said on Wednesday deputy mayor Wang Lijun — seen as a close ally of the ambitious city Party Secretary Bo — had taken sick leave, fanning rumours he had been purged and had sought asylum at the U.S. consulate in nearby Chengdu.
The visit to the consulate was an “isolated incident” that had been resolved, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said, adding that it would not affect a visit to the United States by Vice President Xi Jinping next week.
The rumours swirling around Wang’s movements could blot Bo’s prospects of joining China’s standing committee, the party group responsible for key policy decisions.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...
Curious.
The U.S. embassy in Beijing declined to comment on the rumours that Wang had sought asylum, saying only that he had gone to the consulate in Chengdu for a meeting and left “of his own volition”.
So he did try to defect, and State Dept. got a cold feet and kicked him out.
That’s my initial take on this too. The US consulate probably made a panic call to the China Desk @ the State Department an the would-be defector was sent packing! Can’t tick off the country holding our mortgage dontcha know?
I am sure Wall St. will praise them for showing “admirable prudence.” Wall St. has been setting parameters for U.S. foreign/defense policy for quite a while. State Dept. is happy to be on board, because it naturally fits their view. Result? U.S. let potential problems fester and become big problems which can be only solved at prohibitive cost. The prime example is China.
Given that obama favors the Chinese Communist governing style, it's extremely curious why this fellow would believe for a moment he's safer under obama's regime.
Usually a defector has something of value. After being reminded that the US gave everything they know to the Chinese then the China-man had to rethink his position.
Would this guy be of any value to the US? I mean he’s not a humanitarian case - he’s after all a ChiCom who fell foul with his boss. I’d feel different if the guy was a Human Rights campaigner or a case of economic or religious persecution.
In this case, I have a feeling that the US had little to gain from taking the guy in and a lot to lose, especially if Bo does end up in the CCP Standing Committee. This way, the moderate GuangDong guy’s camp gets a one up against Bo’s more hardline group in the power intrigues within the CCP.
[ Given that obama favors the Chinese Communist governing style, it’s extremely curious why this fellow would believe for a moment he’s safer under obama’s regime. ]
Nailed it, he would have been FAR better off defecting to someplace like India.
There are almost 1,000 Chinese students on campus here. I don’t think he had to defect.
Thanks TigerLikesRooster.
Yep. The State Department says “Hands Off”. Don’t want to create an incident. Par for this administration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.