Editing Jiang Zemin (section)

== Retirement ==
{{See also|Shanghai clique}}
[[File:President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcome Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his wife Wang Yeping to their home in Crawford, Texas.jpg|thumb|left|Jiang with his wife and [[George W. Bush]] with his wife in [[Crawford, Texas]], 25 October 2002]]
In the run-up to the [[16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|16th National Congress of the CCP]], Hu Jintao had "almost unanimous support" to become the new CCP general secretary.{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=483}} To maintain China's image as a stable and respected country, Jiang and Hu emphasized their unity, striving to make this transition the first "smooth and harmonious" one in the PRC's history.{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=496}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yongnian |first1=Zheng |last2=Fook |first2=Lye Liang |date=1 September 2003 |title=Elite politics and the fourth generation of chinese leadership |journal=Journal of Chinese Political Science |language=en |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=65–86 |doi=10.1007/BF02876950 |s2cid=144696105 |issn=1874-6357|doi-access=free }}</ref> Jiang stepped down as general secretary and left the Politburo Standing Committee, but retained the chairmanship of the Central Military Commission,{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=521}} which controlled the army and the nation's foreign policy.{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=522}} Jiang would continue counselling Hu from "behind the curtain", and it was formally agreed that Jiang would be "consulted on all matters of state importance".{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=522}} Both men also reached a "tacit understanding" that Hu would not be considered a "[[Leadership core|core]]" leader like Jiang, Deng and Mao.{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=497}}

At the 16th Party Congress, the majority of new members for Standing Committee were considered part of Jiang's so-called "[[Shanghai clique]]", the most prominent being vice president [[Zeng Qinghong]], who had served as Jiang's chief of staff for many years, and vice premier [[Huang Ju]], a former party secretary of Shanghai.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lam |first1=Willy Wo-Lap |title=Hu strikes back at Jiang |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/east/12/16/willy.column/index.html |access-date=30 November 2022 |publisher=CNN |date=17 December 2002 |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130172306/https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/east/12/16/willy.column/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After Hu succeeded Jiang as general secretary, the latter continued to "[dominate] public life" for several years.{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=527}} The ''South China Morning Post'' announced that "a new era has begun in China. But it is not that of Vice President Hu Jintao [...] Rather, it is a new era of President Jiang Zemin, who has just stepped down as the Party's general secretary."{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=521}} Early in the 2003 [[SARS]] crisis, Jiang remained conspicuously silent, and observers were divided over whether it signified his waning influence, or respect for Hu.{{Sfn|Kuhn|2004|p=540}} It has been argued that the institutional arrangements created by the 16th Congress left Jiang in a position where he could not exercise much influence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Information Control and Self-Censorship in the PRC and the Spread of SARS – Congressional-Executive Commission on China |url=http://www.cecc.gov/publications/issue-papers/information-control-and-self-censorship-in-the-prc-and-the-spread-of-sars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018190108/https://www.cecc.gov/publications/issue-papers/information-control-and-self-censorship-in-the-prc-and-the-spread-of-sars |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=6 December 2013 |website=cecc.gov|date=6 May 2003 }}</ref>

Although Jiang retained the chairmanship of the CMC, most members of the commission were professional military men. ''[[People's Liberation Army Daily]]'', a publication thought to represent the views of the CMC majority, printed an article on 11 March 2003 which quotes two army delegates as saying, "Having one center is called 'loyalty', while having two centers will result in 'problems.{{'"}} This was interpreted as a criticism of Jiang's attempt to exercise dual leadership with Hu on the model of Deng Xiaoping.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.hoover.org/documents/clm7_jm.pdf|title=Reduced Budgets, the "Two Centers," and Other Mysteries of the 2003 National People's Congress|author=James Mulvenon|website=Media.hoover.org|access-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626175840/http://media.hoover.org/documents/clm7_jm.pdf|archive-date=26 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 19 September 2004, after the 4th Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee, Jiang, at the age of 78, relinquished his post as chairman of the party's Central Military Commission, his last post in the party. Six months later in March 2005, Jiang resigned his last significant post, chairman of the Central Military Commission of the state, which marked the end of Jiang's political career.{{Clarify|reason=See talk page|date=November 2022}} This followed weeks of speculation that forces inside the party were pressing Jiang to step aside. Jiang's term was supposed to have lasted until 2007. Hu also succeeded Jiang as the CMC chairman, but, in an apparent political defeat for Jiang, General [[Xu Caihou]], and not Zeng Qinghong was appointed to succeed Hu as vice chairman, as was initially speculated. This power transition formally marked the end of Jiang's era in China, which roughly lasted from 1989 to 2004.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/files/journals/3/articles/61/public/61-61-1-PB.pdf|title=China's Foreign- and Security-policy Decision-making Processes under Hu Jintao|first=Jean-Pierre|last=Cabestan|date=8 October 2009|journal=Journal of Current Chinese Affairs|volume=38|issue=3|pages=63–97|doi=10.1177/186810260903800304|access-date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212083814/http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/files/journals/3/articles/61/public/61-61-1-PB.pdf|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In 2008, Jiang published an academic article on China's clean energy resources and another on China's information technology development.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York}}</ref>{{Rp|page=100}}

=== Official appearances after retirement ===
Jiang continued to make official appearances after giving up his last title in 2005. In China's [[Orders of precedence in China|strictly defined protocol sequence]], Jiang's name always appeared immediately after Hu Jintao's and in front of the remaining sitting members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee. In 2007, Jiang was seen with Hu Jintao on stage at a ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the [[People's Liberation Army]],<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/01/asia/AS-GEN-China-Politics.php China's leadership makes show of unity ahead of key Communist Party congress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013113305/http://iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/01/asia/AS-GEN-China-Politics.php |date=13 October 2007 }} ''International Herald Tribune''</ref> and toured the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution with Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, and other former senior officials.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Leaders Visit Exhibition Marking 70th Anniversary of Long March – china.org.cn |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/changzheng/185612.htm |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=[[Xinhua News]] |date=22 October 2006}}</ref> On 8 August 2008, Jiang appeared at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jiang given place of honour to see culmination of his efforts |url=https://scmp.com/article/648434/jiang-given-place-honour-see-culmination-his-efforts |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=South China Morning Post |date=9 August 2008 |language=en}}</ref> He also stood beside Hu Jintao during the mass parade celebrating the [[60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China]] in October 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=Communist China celebrates 60th anniversary with instruments of war and words of peace |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-02-fg-china-parade2-story.html |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2 October 2009}}</ref>

Beginning in July 2011, false reports of Jiang's death began circulating on the news media outside of mainland China and on the internet.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/07/01/ccp-birthday-gala-wheres-jiang-zemin/ | work=Financial Times | title=Where is Jiang Zemin? | date=1 July 2011 | access-date=6 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708055426/http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/07/01/ccp-birthday-gala-wheres-jiang-zemin/ | archive-date=8 July 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nikkei.com/news/headline/article/g=96958A9C9381959FE2E4E2E6978DE2E4E2E5E0E2E3E39494E3E2E2E2 | title=Jiang's Rumours of Death Spread | newspaper=Nihon Keizai Shimbun | date=6 July 2011 | access-date=7 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709223113/http://www.nikkei.com/news/headline/article/g=96958A9C9381959FE2E4E2E6978DE2E4E2E5E0E2E3E39494E3E2E2E2 | archive-date=9 July 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> While Jiang may indeed have been ill and receiving treatment, the rumors were denied by official sources.<ref name="time">{{cite magazine | url=https://world.time.com/2011/07/06/is-chinas-ex-leader-jiang-zemin-dead-local-censors-dont-want-any-speculation/ | title=Is China's Ex-Leader Jiang Zemin Dead? Local Censors Don't Want Any Speculation | magazine=Time | access-date=6 July 2011 | date=6 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113058/http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/07/06/is-chinas-ex-leader-jiang-zemin-dead-local-censors-dont-want-any-speculation/ | archive-date=6 July 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 9 October 2011, Jiang made his first public appearance since his premature obituary in Beijing at a celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the [[Xinhai Revolution]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-09/china-former-president-jiang-zemin-appears-at-beijing-event-xinhua-says.html |title=Jiang Zemin Appears in Public Three Months After Media Reports of Death |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=9 October 2011 |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024000526/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-09/china-former-president-jiang-zemin-appears-at-beijing-event-xinhua-says.html |archive-date=24 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jiang reappeared at the [[18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|18th Party Congress]] in October 2012, and took part in the 65th Anniversary banquet of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 2014. At the banquet he sat next to [[Xi Jinping]], who had then succeeded Hu Jintao as CCP general secretary. In September 2015, Jiang attended the [[2015 China Victory Day Parade|parade celebrating 70 years since end of World War II]]; there, Jiang again sat next to Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Chinese president at war parade amid infighting rumours |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-china-politics-jiang-idUKKCN0R306V20150903 |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=Reuters |date=3 September 2015 |language=en}}</ref> He appeared on 29 May 2017 at Shanghai Technology University.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://m.cn.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20170529-%E4%B8%80%E5%A6%82%E7%8C%9C%E6%B5%8B%E6%B1%9F%E6%B3%BD%E6%B0%91%E7%8E%B0%E8%BA%AB%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%E7%A7%91%E5%A4%A7%E6%83%9F%E5%BD%B1%E5%93%8D%E5%8A%9B%E5%AD%98%E7%96%91|language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:一如猜测江泽民现身上海科大惟影响力存疑|date=29 May 2017|access-date=30 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605034540/http://m.cn.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20170529-%E4%B8%80%E5%A6%82%E7%8C%9C%E6%B5%8B%E6%B1%9F%E6%B3%BD%E6%B0%91%E7%8E%B0%E8%BA%AB%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%E7%A7%91%E5%A4%A7%E6%83%9F%E5%BD%B1%E5%93%8D%E5%8A%9B%E5%AD%98%E7%96%91|archive-date=5 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, Jiang's position in the protocol sequence of leaders retreated; while he was often seated next to Xi Jinping at official events, his name was often reported after all standing members of the Communist Party's Politburo.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinas-former-leader-jiang-zemin-at-military-parade-amid-infighting-rumours|title=China's former leader Jiang Zemin at military parade amid infighting rumours|date=3 September 2015|website=The Straits Times|access-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925132547/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinas-former-leader-jiang-zemin-at-military-parade-amid-infighting-rumours|archive-date=25 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Jiang reappeared at the [[19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|19th Party Congress]] on 18 October 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/19th-party-congress-former-president-jiang-zemins-appearance-quashes-death-rumour|title=19th Party Congress: Former president Jiang Zemin's appearance quashes death rumour|date=18 October 2017|website=The Straits Times|access-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020160035/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/19th-party-congress-former-president-jiang-zemins-appearance-quashes-death-rumour|archive-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He appeared on 29 July 2019 at the funeral of former premier Li Peng.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.dwnews.com/china/news/2019-07-29/60143097.html |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:【李鹏逝世】中共七常委出席李鹏告别式 江泽民现身&#91;图&#93; | access-date=29 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729113150/http://news.dwnews.com/china/news/2019-07-29/60143097.html | archive-date=29 July 2019 | url-status=live |date=29 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3020548/former-chinese-leader-jiang-zemin-joins-communist-party-chiefs|title = Ex-president Jiang joins mourners at Tiananmen premier's funeral|date = 29 July 2019|access-date = 29 July 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190729194840/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3020548/former-chinese-leader-jiang-zemin-joins-communist-party-chiefs|archive-date = 29 July 2019|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/92-year-old-Jiang-Zemin-makes-rare-appearance-at-Li-Peng-funeral | title=92-year-old Jiang Zemin makes rare appearance at Li Peng funeral | access-date=30 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730124031/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/92-year-old-Jiang-Zemin-makes-rare-appearance-at-Li-Peng-funeral | archive-date=30 July 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> He also attended the [[70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China|70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China]] mass parade in October 2019, marking his last public appearance prior to his death.<ref>{{cite news |title=China's Jiang confounded doubters, mended U.S. ties |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/china-jiang-zemin-obituary-idAFKBN2SK0NI |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=Reuters |date=30 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He did not attend the [[20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|20th Party Congress]] in October 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-leader removed from China party congress as Xi eyes more power |url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/10/22/former-leader-removed-from-chinas-party-congress-as-xi-is-set-to-secure-third-term-as-pres |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=euronews |date=22 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>