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

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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)

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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

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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

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summary.



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Liu Yandong Probably Out of the Running, No Word on Who's In

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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).



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Ji Jianye: That's no Ordinary Rabbit!
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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

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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