BEIJING: China's censors did their best Saturday to block discussion of a New
York Times investigation into Premier Wen Jiabao, but analysts said the report
would still likely reach tens of millions of people.
Detailing a string of deals on
Friday, the newspaper said that relatives of the government's number two -- a
self-styled man of the people known popularly as "Grandpa Wen" -- had
become "extraordinarily wealthy" during his tenure.
Investments by Wen's son, wife
and others spanning the banking, jewellery and telecom sectors were worth at
least US$2.7 billion according to an analysis of company and regulatory filings
from 1992-2012.
State-run newspapers made no
mention of the scandal on Saturday, while China's army of censors ensured that
searches for The New York Times or other related terms returned no results on
social networks and search engines.
The English-language and Chinese
websites of the American newspaper were also blocked in China and reports on
international television channels CNN and BBC World were blacked out.
"Only a small proportion
will be aware of the story," seasoned China watcher Willy Lam told AFP.
He estimated that about 10 per
cent of China's 500-million-strong online population would still manage to
evade the censors, however, amounting to about 50 million people.
"The NYT story will hurt Wen
Jiabao... his reputation will be adversely affected," he explained, adding
that many Chinese had become very cynical about the wealth accumulated by those
near the centres of power.
"Most Chinese just assume
that the top leaders are corrupt," he said.
The revelations come as a
particular embarrassment for Wen, who is the standard-bearer of the Communist
Party's reformist wing and has campaigned against corruption.
In a speech published in April,
he said official corruption was "the biggest danger facing the ruling
party" and warned that "those who hold political power may
perish" unless it is addressed.
The NYT report coincided with the
announcement that former regional Communist Party boss Bo Xilai had been
stripped of his parliamentary seat ahead of an expected trial, which was meant
to signal a new get-tough approach on graft.
Bo's expulsion from the National
People's Congress came after state media announced last month that he would
"face justice" for alleged abuse of power, taking bribes and improper
sexual relations.
The NYT investigation darkens the
clouds hanging over the Communist Party caused by the Bo scandal as the regime
prepares to name successors to Wen and President Hu Jintao in a
once-in-a-decade leadership change starting November 8.
The New York Times said in a
blogpost that the investigation into Wen had taken a year and that the newspaper
knew of the likely impact on its business prospects in China.
It invested in a Chinese-language
version of its website only recently and will lose out on advertising revenue
if it remains unavailable to the public.
"I'm very proud of this
work," New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger was quoted as saying in
the post. "Our business is to publish great journalism. Does this have a
business impact? Of course."
In June, business news agency
Bloomberg published an investigation into the finances of Vice President Xi
Jinping, who is expected to be promoted to president at a Communist Party
congress next month.
Bloomberg's website is still
blocked and Chinese banks were encouraged to stop using financial data provided
by the US company.
Beijing on Friday dismissed the
NYT report as an attempt to tarnish China, with foreign ministry spokesman Hong
Lei telling reporters in response to a question on the article: "Some
reports smear China and have ulterior motives."
- AFP/ck
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