Zhu Rongji Only Wanted to Hear Good News

Some had suggested that former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (朱镕基) - given his fearlessness, vigor and determination - was exactly the type of top leader that China needed.

Perhaps. But perhaps not.

As Tony Saich pointed out in Governance and Politics of China, even the reform-minded Zhu does not like to be challenged by evidence that contradicted his own views.

One senior academic apparently decided to confront Zhu over what was seen as inappropriate policies that Zhu had adopted in restricting the grain market. The Premier asked him whether other economists had the same view, and the academic replied "almost all."

"At this the Premier exploded in replying that he found this very strange as all the economists with whom he had spoken agreed that the Premier was correct."

As Saich further noted, there were other examples of this behavior by Zhu, and they reveal that "it is still judicious for officials, even academics, to say what the leaders want to hear, rather than what they need to hear."

See, even the reform-minded Zhu, popular among many Chinese, was not immune to one of the many common shortcoming of public officials.

Indeed, a common Chinese saying known as "报喜不报忧", or "reporting only the good but not the bad news" is used to describe situations such as these.

But these officials should also remember another saying "良药苦口利于病, 忠言逆耳利于行", or "bitter medicine is good for an illness, and helpful advice is good for sound action."