Jiang Zhongyu

Jiāng Zhōngyǔ
江终于
Jiang in May 2008
Chairperson of the State Presidium of Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong
In office 21st May 2005 – 19th November 2016
Prime Minister	Han Guanzheng Yuan Xiannian
Deputy	Qiao Jianxing Lu Yangliang
Preceded by	Yang Zhengming
Succeeded by	Yuan Xiannian
Minister of Finance
In office 18nd May 2000 – 21st May 2005
Prime Minister	Han Guanzheng
Preceded by	Meng Chungwu
Succeeded by	Yu Dexiong
Personal details
Born	(1952-12-27) December 27, 1952 Baiqiao, Huayuan Prefecture, Xiaodong
Political party	Righteous Harmony Association
Spouse	Peng Xuehong
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Rongzhuo
Occupation	Politician Economist

Jiang Zhongyu (Xiaodongese: 江终于; fuhao: Jiāng Zhōngyǔ) is a former Xiaodongese politician currently on trial for treason, sedition and corruption. He previously served as Chairperson of the State Presidium from 2005 to his resignation in 2016 and Minister of Finance from 2000 to 2005.

Jiang was one of the young technocrats that came to prominence during economic and political reform in the 1980's as a member of the moderate-conservative Righteous Harmony Association. In 2000 Han Guanzheng, then Premier of Xiaodong, promoted him to the position of Minister of Finance as part of a push to promote younger members to high government posts. As Finance Minister he was marked by a strongly pro-free market direction encouraging public-private partnerships, privatising state-owned enterprises and encouraging economic development. He was credited for successfully managing the 2005 Euclean financial crisis for Xiaodong, endorsing a large bailout and streamlining public expenditure.

In 2005 Jiang in an alliance with Yuan Xiannian and Xi Yao-tong were able to oust the old guard of the regime after assembling a majority of party and state institutions in their favour over the formalised political party structures in an event known as the Anti-Bureaucratic Movement (反官僚运动). Jiang was appointed State Chairman, Yuan Premier and Xi Vice-Premier with the three of them considered to be governing in a triumvirate. Initially Jiang as the most senior of the three was considered to be the main figure in Xiaodongese governance between 2005 to 2011 thanks to his Righteous Harmony Association being the largest of the three factions and his alliance with Yuan marginalising Xi's supporters.

As State Chairman Jiang took a renewed interest in foreign policy. Considered to be more reformist then Yuan but less so then Xi Jiang distanced Xiaodong from strategic arms negotiations with Senria and instead promoted much stronger ties between ROSPO nations. Jiang did however support a strong role for Xiaodong in multilateral institutions and maintained cordial relations with Gaullica and Narozalica in his term.

In domestic policy Jiang was seen as a "conservative reformist", supporting greater free-market reforms in the economy but being more conservative in regards to political reform. Under his tenure Jiang largely focused on the effects of the 2005 crisis pursuing demand-side economics to maintain growth whilst continuing the economic reform agenda of privatisation and deregulation. Under Jiang Xiaodong enjoyed record economic growth continuing the so-called "supply side miracle" during the entirety of the 2000's. Jiang also expanded the Shujichu and was seen to introduce stricter surveillance over civil society.  

Jiang was initially hesitant to approve Operation Eastern Protection which led to a decline in his popularity. He was seen to lose influence following the operation as Yuan, Xi and general Ren Shaokun stacked the government with Yuan's allies in the Righteous Harmony Association over Jiang's faction. As a result Jiang was active in opposing the policies of the Yuan government leading to conflict between the Premier's Office and the State Chairman with Jiang vetoing more legislation than any prior State Chairman.

In October 2016 Jiang was implicated in the Dianfu Banking Scandal which triggered the 2016-17 Xiaodongese Protests. Initially sending police units to repress the protests Jiang's actions led to a backlash and a greater expansion of the protests undermining Jiang's public image. After his political support in the government and the military collapsed on the 19th November 2016 Jiang announced he would resign from all state positions, handing power over to premier Yuan Xiannian. He continued as Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Righteous Harmony Association but was forced to relinquish that post as well when the organisation was dissolved by the Judicial Council.

In 2017, as part of Normalisation Jiang was accused of being connected to a plot by rogue members of the military and the Righteous Harmony Association that would have overthrown the Xiaodongese government, as well as colluding with foreign powers and engaging in corruption. As such Jiang was imprisoned and is currently on trial for sedition and corruption.

Jiang's tenure is mainly remembered for large-scale economic reforms especially from 2005-2008 that continued the privatisation and liberalisation policies of the Economic Reorganising Programme. The high economic growth Jiang presided over has led to some to comment that under his stewardship Xiaodong significantly increased in wealth as well as seeing large-scale technological modernisation especially after the more national-security focused atmosphere of the 1990's. However he has been accused of overseeing massive corruption and after initial reforms through the Anti-Bureaucratic Movement largely maintained the same political structures of his predecessors. Recent critics have also stated that Jiang's government saw an expansion of the deep state which helped lead to Normalisation.

Early life

Jiang was born in the city of Heping the first son of Jiang Xingjian and Ma Ling in 1949. Jiang Xingjin was a veteran of the Senrian-Xiaodongese War prominent politician serving variously as Chief Minister of the Huyuan prefecture from 1934-1946, Minister of Development and Energy in the governments of Ma Renzhong and Chen Xuechang from 1946-1959 and as Minister of Defence and Military Planning from 1959-1965 in the government of Li Zhaozheng. His mother Ma Ling worked as the deputy editor for the East Sea Daily, one of the propaganda outlets for the regime.

Views

Jiang is seen as a conservative politician in Xiaodong being supportive of economic liberalism, managed democracy and a foreign policy focused around the International Forum for Developing States. Political scientist Hu Guxiang identified him with the nationalist, anti-Senrian and pro-market wing of the Regeneration Society.

Democracy

Jiang has supported the idea of a "Xiaodongese approach to democracy". According to Jiang, Xiaodongese democracy differs from liberal democracy in that citizens have "fundamental responsibilities to the state just as the state grants them fundamental rights." The concept of "Xiaodongese democracy" that Jiang promotes has also been promoted by former First Ministers Qian Xingwen, Han Guanzheng and Yuan Xiannian.

In a speech made upon becoming State Chairman in 2005, Jiang explicitly ruled out the emergence of a western style democracy in Xiaodong, rejecting constitutional republicanism, a presidential system and separation of powers. Instead, Jiang proposed an strong government that requires the approval of the people and approved the idea of a form of "democratic centralism" as an efficient way of conducting Xiaodongese politics.

Senrian Genocide

Unlike other prominent Xiaodongese officials Jiang has not denied the deaths of many Senrians during the Senrian Genocide. Jiang stated in 2013 that the "actions of units in the Senrian territories could be seen to constitute a form of mass murder" and that Xiaodong "apologises profusely to the Senrian people" over the actions of the 1930's. However, Jiang said that there was "no policy of genocide" and that the massacres were the brainchild of occupation authorities rather than the central government at the time. Jiang later clarified this statement by saying accusations of ethnic cleansing were overexaggerated.