SUMMARIZED BELOW ARE some of the main points in a recent article by Zhang Tianliang, a Chinese political commentator that produces a column for the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, and is known for appearing on Voice of America’s commentary programs, among others. He speaks fast, understands Chinese politics to an uncanny degree, and always has something to say worth listening to.
The first few paragraphs in the piece are excluded here because it just rehashes the news we know already (Bo Xilai ousted, Gu Kailai implicated in Briton Neil Heywood’s death, etc.). The translation is by Michelle Yu; I added the number system and went over it slightly.
1. It is curious that Wang Lijun, former Chongqing police head and Bo’s right hand man, would venture to enter the U.S. consulate to report the Bo family’s suspected involvement in murder. If the matter was simply about Bo screening his wife’s crimes, Wang could well have gone through the normal procedure and reported to Bo’s supervisor, also his own boss, Zhou Yongkang, a Politburo Standing Committee member who heads China’s Political and Legislative Affairs Committee. Wang’s life-risking choice to by-pass Zhou fully reflects Zhou’s profound involvement with Bo. Undoubtedly, Bo’s situation will determine Zhou’s political future.
2. The Xinhua report says, “Bogu Kailai, wife of Comrade Bo Xilai, and their son were on good terms with Heywood. However, they had conflict over some economic interests, which became intensified.” I found this hard to believe. With Bo’s level of corruption, he could easily collect billions of yuan by framing entrepreneurs and confiscating their assets. He couldn't care too much about the amount Heywood could possibly have had his hands on, not to mention commit murder for money. Furthermore, Heywood was on such “good terms” with the Bo family, and, being a foreigner, relied on the powerful family to make his own fortune. How could he choose to offend Bo for money?
3. No doubt Xinhua’s “conflict over economic interests” is a cover-up for enormous political interests. Zhou Yongkang’s common political interests with Bo is the only explanation for why Zhou has been defending Bo against other senior leaders.
4. Wang Linjun’s role is even more ambiguous. It is obvious Wang lost the Bo family’s trust as early as last November when Gu apparently had Heywood killed without calling for Wang’s help. (Previously Wang had helped Bo to eliminate many people.) At that time Wang may have been investigated by the central government, and may have cooperated to some extent with Bo’s enemies.
5. A more curious factor is that Xinhua’s report mentioned Bo’s son, Bo Guagua, though he was not officially charged or investigated. It's very likely that none of Bo’s family will escape the disaster.
6. The CCP also held urgent Party member meetings at colleges and universities to announce the decision on Bo shortly before it was published. This can’t have happened if this was simply a criminal case. It is certain that Bo's case will involve more people, and more secrets will be publicized after Bo and Gu’s arrest.
7. Particularly worth paying attention to in this connection is the movements of Zhou Yongkang, who is tied tightly to Bo.
