Elite Chinese Politics and Political Economy

An interesting news item, all of the standing committee members from the previous party congress made a press appearance recently, visiting an exhibit at the Military Museum. Well, at first glance, it seems like the old guards are endorsing the new leadership. However, why did they decide to visit the military museum (as oppose to some kind of exhibition on technology, for example) AND accompanied by current members of the Central Military Commission. Doesn't it also suggest that current members of the military have to pay homage to retired members of the Standing Committee? Although the full gang was there, the article clearly focused its attention on "Comrade Jiang Zemin." I think the appearance is Jiang's attempt to exert some influence in the run-up to the 17th Party Congress. He was accompanied by the other members probably as a result of some political compromise to make the event less like Jiang's triumphant return to politics. Notice, besides Jiang, none of them looked too happy to be there. Zhu Rongji looked positively distressed! On the positive side, all of them looked fairly healthy.


江泽民同志参观新中国成立以来国防和军队建设成就展

2007年08月01日02:48 来源：新华社


7月31日晚，江泽民同志在北京参观新中国成立以来国防和军队建设成就展。李鹏、朱镕基、李瑞环、尉健行、李岚清等一同参观。 新华社记者姚大伟摄
　　江泽民同志３１日晚来到中国人民革命军事博物馆，参观正在这里举行的《我们的队伍向太阳——新中国成立以来国防和军队建设成就展》。李鹏、朱镕基、李瑞环、尉健行、李岚清一同参观了展览。

　　晚８时３０分，江泽民等同志来到装饰一新的军事博物馆。在宽阔的展厅和门前广场上，２０件国产大型主战装备、１７５０件文物、９７０余幅图片、６座大型景观，全面展示了新中国成立以来国防和军队建设取得的巨大成就。

　　参观中，江泽民等同志仔细观看一幅幅照片、一件件文物、一处处复原景观和一件件装备，认真听取讲解员的介绍。在上甘岭阵地嵌满子弹的树干和邱少云牺牲时紧握的钢枪和棉衣碎片前，在坦克训练模拟系统和海军多功能舰艇操纵模拟训练系统前，在南沙礁堡阵地景观和后勤装备八大系统景观前，在再现１９９８年三军将士挥师三江、决战特大洪水的《平安是这样得来的》大型景观前，在刚刚配发部队的０７式军装前，在人民解放军参加联合国维和行动部署示意图前，江泽民等不时停下脚步，仔细观看，详细询问有关情况。

　　江泽民在参观中表示，这个展览办得很好，是中国人民解放军８０年光辉历程的集中展示，也是我党我军崇高革命精神和优良革命传统的生动教材。中国人民解放军是中国共产党领导的人民军队，在长期英勇斗争中，为我国革命、建设、改革事业作出了重大贡献、建立了不可磨灭的历史功勋，不愧为党领导的军队、人民的军队。

　　江泽民强调，在新的历史条件，我们要在以胡锦涛同志为总书记的党中央领导下，坚定不移地走中国特色社会主义道路，大力推进国防和军队现代化建设，为全面建设小康社会、加快推进社会主义现代化、实现中华民族的伟大复兴而不懈努力，为维护世界和平、促进共同发展作出新的贡献。

　　中共中央政治局候补委员、中央书记处书记、中央办公厅主任王刚和中央军委委员梁光烈、李继耐、廖锡龙、陈炳德以及有关部门负责同志陪同参观。