Jiang Zhongyu

Jiāng Zhōngyǔ
江终于
Jiang in May 2008
Chairperson of the State Presidium of Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong
In office 21st October 2009 – 19th October 2016
Prime Minister	Yuan Xiannian Xi Yao-tong
Deputy	Qiao Jianxing Lu Yangliang
Preceded by	Yang Zhengming
Succeeded by	Lu Fangliang (acting)
Council of Ministers Constituency Ruqiang Second Minister In office 30th September 2005 – 21st October 2009 Prime Minister Yuan Xiannian Preceded by Yuan Xiannian Succeeded by Xi Yao-tong Minister of Finances In office 30th September 2005 – 21st October 2009 Prime Minister Yuan Xiannian Preceded by Meng Chunwang Succeeded by Sun Chunjuan Minister of Justice In office 2nd February 1997 – 30th September 2005 Prime Minister Han Guanzheng Preceded by Li Huang Succeeded by Yu Dexiong
Personal details
Born	(1949-12-27) December 27, 1949 Baiqiao, Huayuan Prefecture, Xiaodong
Nationality	Xiaodongese
Political party	File:孝共和黨.pngXiaodong Regeneration Society
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 2009-2016, Second Minister and Minister of Finance from 2005-2009 and Minister of Justice from 1997-2005.

Born a princeling to a political dynasty, Jiang was one of the young technocrats that came to prominence during economic and political reform in the 1980's. In 1997 his close friend Han Guanzheng, then First Minister of Xiaodong, promoted him to the position of Minister of Justice. It was widely expected until the 2002 Xiaodong Regeneration Society plenum that Jiang would eventually succeed Han as First Minister - however in 2002 Yuan Xiannian became Vice-Regeneration Society Chairman blocking Jiang's political ambitions. In 2005 he was appointed Second Minister and Minister of Finance after Yuan became First Minister, after which he began a power struggle against Yuan that would last 12 years. In 2009 Jiang became State Chairman weakening his political influence stepping down from the role when his term expired in 2016. As State Chairman Jiang was active in opposing the policies of the Yuan government leading to conflict between the First Ministers Office and the State Chairman with Jiang vetoing more legislation than any prior State Chairman.

In 2017, as part of Normalisation Jiang was accused of being connected to a plot by the Righteous Harmony (Yundong) Movement 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 set to face trial sometime in the summer of 2017.

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 moderate politician in Xiaodong, especially compared to former First Minister Yuan Xiannian 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 2009, 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 existence of the Senrian Genocide during the Senrian-Xiaodongese War. Jiang stated in 2013 that the "actions of units in the Senrian territories could be seen to constitute a form of ethnic cleansing" 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.