TOP SHANGHAI JOB UP IN THE AIR, PROBABLY NOT LIU YANDONG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000036 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, INR/B AND INR/EAP STATE PASS USTR FOR STRATFORD, WINTER, MCCARTIN, ALTBACH, READE TREAS FOR OASIA - DOHNER/CUSHMAN USDOC FOR ITA/MAC - A/DAS MELCHER, MCQUEEN NSC FOR WILDER AND TONG E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/17/2032 TAGS: PGOV PINR EINV ECON CH SUBJECT: TOP SHANGHAI JOB UP IN THE AIR, PROBABLY NOT LIU YANDONG REF: A) SHANGHAI 7129 (05); B) SHANGHAI 23; C) SHANGHAI 7121 (05) SHANGHAI 00000036 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Simon Schuchat, Deputy Principle Officer, U.S. Consulate, Shanghai, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The husband of United Front Work Department head and Hu Jintao protigi Liu Yandong said that Liu was not under consideration for the job of Shanghai Party Secretary. He said that people currently rumored to be under consideration for the position included the current Shanghai Mayor, the party secretaries of Jiangsu and Jiangxi, as well as the head of the SIPDIS Organization Department, although he doubted the last one had the necessary qualifications for the job. Yangzhou Party Secretary Ji Jianye was also noted as an up-and-comer. End SIPDIS summary. -------------- -------------- Liu Yandong Probably Out of the Running, No Word on Who's In -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) During a January 17 conversation, Yang Yuanxing, husband of United Front Work Department head Liu Yandong, said that the Shanghai Party Secretary position was still up in the air. Although President Hu Jintao was remaining silent on who the next Shanghai Party Secretary would be, Yang said he did not anticipate moving to Shanghai in the near future. He reiterated that Hu either had not previously or was not currently considering Liu for the Shanghai job (Hu mei kaolv) (Ref A). Yang remained tight-lipped about what position might be in store for his wife. ¶3. (C) Yang said the position was not very desirable at the present, given the continuing fallout of the Chen Liangyu investigation. He said that there were lots of rumors, some more likely than others, about who might be the next Shanghai Party Secretary. Some of the people being considered included Jiangsu Party Secretary Li Yuanchao, current Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, and Jiangxi Party Secretary Meng Jianzhu. Although also under consideration, Yang was dismissive that Organization 
Department head He Guoqiang might get the position, noting that he lacked the skills and experience for the job. He added even though He Guoqiang headed the Organization Department--which oversees personnel changes-- this was not He Guoqiang's decision to make (Ref B). -------------- Ji Jianye: That's no Ordinary Rabbit! -------------- ¶4. (C) Yang also named Yangzhou Party Secretary Ji Jianye as a potential up-and-comer. Ji's father-in-law was a retired "high-level" Jiangsu provincial official (Yang did not say which one). Although a generally nice person, Yang noted that Ji was a bit arrogant. Once, when the two of them were getting haircuts during the People's Congress elections, Yang said to Ji "It looks like you will be voted in for sure." Rather than the typical self-effacing reply Yang was expecting, Ji responded "Well of course! Was there ever any doubt?" ¶5. (C) According to contacts at a November 2006 Jiangsu Administrative Law Conference that Ji attended, Ji was known in Yangzhou by his nickname "hooligan rabbit" (liumang tuzi). "Rabbit," because his short stature and frumpy appearance somewhat resembled the likeness of a bunny. "Hooligan," because he had been responsible for the demolition of several housing developments much to the chagrin of the residents of said compounds. However, many of the contacts also admired Ji for his zeal and the rapid economic development he had brought to SHANGHAI 00000036 002.2 OF 002 the city. They attributed his ability to spur development in part to his family ties, claiming that the father-in-law in question had actually been a former Jiangsu governor. Ji holds a PhD in administrative law from Suzhou University. He is also very interested in promoting President Hu Jintao's "New Socialist Countryside" policies. Ji traveled to the United States once for training many years ago. Some of the people at the conference who had spoken with him about the trip said that Ji's visit had left a positive impression on him of the United States, particularly regarding the high quality of U.S. urban planning. ¶6. (C) Bio note: Yang told Poloff that one of his younger sisters passed away in August of 2005 (Ref C). Yang noted that several people he had rubbed elbows with early on in their careers had risen to high levels of influence, including former President George Bush, Hu Jintao, former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and the current U.S. Consul General in Shanghai. Yang joked that he seems to bring good fortune to aspiring leaders--both Chinese and American. End note. JARRETT