China removes top leader in Shanghai

Official message: Not just a power struggle
China's tightly controlled Websites let loose an avalanche of supportive comments from the public, with the Sina.com alone carrying over twenty thousand messages a few hours after the official confirmation of Chen's downfall.

"Let's lit fireworks and celebrate!" wrote one reader.

"This reflects the people's voice, and I hope this will open a new chapter in our fight against corruption!" said another.

"There are too many corrupt officials...Housing prices in Shanghai have shot up to the sky, people have no place to live and only speculators and corrupt officials have benefited," complained another one.

"We must wage a people's war against corruption," demanded one.

The basic messages clearly underline the calculated attempt of the central leadership in Beijing to present Chen's fall from grace as a corruption issue and not a power struggle.

Though Chen's case represents the biggest scandal to have hit China's financial capital in recent memory, some Shanghai residents contacted by telephone said the city is "calm.”

"Nothing unusual here, and actually we don't involve ourselves in politics as we are too busy already making a living," said one resident who requested that she not be identified.

Further reshuffles expected
Major reshuffles of local leaders are planned for many areas ahead of the congress, the Beijing-linked Hong Kong newspaper Wei Wei Po reported Monday. It said local leaders who have defied Beijing’s economic policies would be singled out.

Xinhua said the Politburo met on Sunday to discuss a preliminary report on the investigation into Chen presented by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

With his protector Jiang now descending into political obscurity, Chen could face a lengthy jail term or other harsh punishments.

“Sacking Chen shows that Jiang has no power to protect his proteges and is in no position to affect the choice of new leaders,” said City University’s Cheng.

Chen was last seen in public on Friday at a meeting of chief justices from China, Russia and four Central Asian states. Mayor Han also attended, but neither man spoke in public.

It was unclear what impact, if any, the scandal may have on Vice Premier Huang Ju, the most senior leader in the Shanghai faction and sixth-highest ranking Communist Party official.

Huang disappeared from the political scene early this year amid reports that he had cancer. But in recent months he has made a number of public appearances.

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