Why China’s Former Premier Remains Popular

What’s the Latest Development?

China’s straight-talking former premier, Zhu Rongji, returned to the political limelight this week when a popular newspaper published excerpts from a new book of his speeches in which he warns officials not to be “yes men” and calls for urgent reform to address public grievances. The two speeches featured were delivered in 1998 and 2003.

What’s the Big Idea?

Their publication on Thursday was seen by many Internet commentators as an oblique attack on the current leadership, and especially Mr. Zhu’s successor, Wen Jiabao, Both the book and the newspaper pull-out served to highlight the contrast between today’s consensus-driven leaders and Mr. Zhu–who, at 83 years old, is still renowned as an aggressive reformer with no tolerance for corruption, incompetence or red tape.