Han Guanzheng
Han Guanzheng | |
|---|---|
| 韩冠正 | |
 Han in 2004 | |
| 25th Premier of Xiaodong | |
| In office 18th July 1997 – 30th March 2007 | |
| President | Yang Zhengming Jiang Zhongyu |
| Deputy | Qiao Jianxing Jiang Zhongyu Luo Wenjing |
| Preceded by | Mao Zhukang |
| Succeeded by | Yuan Xiannian |
| Vice Premier of Xiaodong | |
| In office 5th May 1994 – 18th July 1997 | |
| Premier | Mao Zhukang |
| Preceded by | Mao Zhukang |
| Succeeded by | Qiao Jianxing |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 9th June 1998 – 14th March 1993 | |
| Premier | Li Jingyao |
| Preceded by | Mao Zhukang |
| Succeeded by | Zhao Bingwen |
| Member of the State Presidium | |
| In office 9th June 1998 – 14th March 1993 | |
| In office 5th May 1994 – 30th March 2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 23, 1940 Guowei, Xiangshan Province, Xiaodong |
| Political party | Independent (2017-present) |
| Other political affiliations | XRS (1955-1970) CPP (1984-1989) CDP (1989-1993) NAP (1993-2006) RHA (2006-2017) |
| Spouse | Deng Qingzhao |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Rongzhuo |
| Occupation | Politician |
Other offices held
| |
- This is a Xiaodongese name; the family name is Han (韩).
Han Guanzheng (Xiaodongese: 韩冠正, Hán Guānzhèng; born 23rd April 1940, 84)) is a Xiaodongese retired politician currently under investigation for corruption. He previously served as Premier of Xiaodong from 1997 to 2007, Vice Premier from 1994 to 1997 and Minister of Finance from 1988 to 1993. He was the first Xiaodongese Premier to be born after the Corrective Revolution and creation of the Auspicious Republic. From 2009 to 2018 Managing Director for Xiaodongese Petroleum and Gas until 2018 when he removed from his position.
Han previously worked in chemical engineering before moving to become a bureaucrat as an adviser to then-vice-premier Liao Congwu. Han was appointed to the Executive Council in 1984 when he became Minister of Housing where he proved himself to be a skilled technocrat in managing the growing urban sprawl in the country. Han identified with the moderate reformist wing of the regime who supported Liao's and vice-premier Li Jingyao's economic and political reformers, being seen as one of the most liberal voices within the ruling party.
In 1988 as a result of the Orchid Revolution Han was appointed Minister of Finance by the new Premier Li Jingyao, entitling him a seat on the State Presidium. Han as Finance Minister continued the Economic Reorganising Programme supporting greater economic liberalisation. In 1993 he was removed from that post and the State Presidium when the more conservative Yuan Jiaxiang came to power but returned to the State Presidium in 1994 when Premier Mao Zhukang made him vice-premier. Han by this time had shifted from the more democratic-reformist of Li to a more conservative reformism espoused by politicians such as Mao.
Han was made Premier in 1997 as part of a new generation of technocratic leaders. Han's governing style was based on consensus leadership with State Chairman Yang Zhengming. Upon coming to power Han furthered the economic reforms started by previous administrations and consolidated the political reforms but found it difficult to implement further political reform due to conservative opposition within the government, not least Yang who was considered the more powerful of the two.
In foreign relations, Han improved Xiaodong's profile focusing less on Xiaodong's traditional allies and pursing a policy of "thousand friends and no enemies". Under Han diplomatic ties with Senria were improved with Han meeting Senrian prime minister Sigesato Izumi in 2003. Han's conciliatory moves towards Senria aroused the ire of conservatives which led to his reform programme to be further blocked.
In 2005 Yang retired from office, leading to Han to briefly emerge as the strongest presence in the government alongside the newly appointed State Chairman Jiang Zhongyu and vice-premier Luo Wenjing. As a result of the 2005 Euclean financial crisis the three of them were able to pass major economic liberalisation. However he began to clash more frequently with Jiang who sided with conservatives to oust him from the position of premier in 2007 with Han being replaced with Yuan Xiannian. At the 2009 election he retired from politics, taking a position as the Managing Director of Xiaodongese Petroleum and Gas in 2010.
Han's time in office saw Xiaodong's GDP grow rose rapidly as society became more open, and Xiaodong's international profile improved. However, he has been criticised for failing to implement politically difficult reforms, for being too cautious in regards to economic innovation and failing to deal with corruption, global warming and crime under his rule. Han has been both praised and criticised for overseeing increased devolution to Chanwa despite substantial opposition from his own government, with some stating he brought stability to the region and others stating he weakened the territorial integrity of Xiaodong.
In 2018 Han was accused of embezzling $35 million from Xiaodongese Petroleum and Gas's profits and was removed from his post as Managing Director, being arrested by the police to stand trial.
Early life and education
Han Guanzheng was born in 1940 being the son of Han Zhanshu, a veteran of the Senrian-Xiaodongese War who became a state bureaucrat following the Corrective Revolution. Han had an older brother, Han Tingbiao and a younger sister Han Haiqing. His father died of cancer in 1949 Han Zhanshu died of bladder cancer, leading to him to be mainly brought up by his mother Han Jun. Han's father death meant that Han's family struggled economically, although when Han Tingbiao became the under-Secretary of Waterworks in Rongzhuo the family's situation improved. Nevertheless, Han was always educated in private institutions.
Han at the age of 15 joined the youth branch of the Xiaodong Regeneration Society, the Youth Front for National Revival, and became close to the national president of the Youth Front for National Revival. This enabled him to make links that allowed him to apply for and get accepted into the University of Rongzhuo where he studied chemical engineering where he specialised in studying chemical weapons.
In May 1961 he became engaged to Deng Qingzhao, who worked as a maid within the University of Rongzhuo. They were married two months later. Han graduated around the same time with a degree in chemical engineering - his degree paper was titled "On the effects of Sarin and Chlorine in modern warfare". After graduating he then took part in his mandatory military service (known as "Patriotic Civil Service") where he spent 18 months serving in the army, where it is alleged he helped in research for chemical weapons.