Why the Support of Yang Shangkun and Zhao Ziyang Before the 17th CCP Congress?

With weeks to go before the 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress convenes on October 15, the media, in this case the Chinese newspapers in the U.S., is flooded with subtle and not-so-subtle observations and insights.

One newspaper raised its eye-brows over the high-level official commemoration over the 100th birthday of former Central Military Commission vice-chairman Yang Shangkun (杨尚昆, pictured).

Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡锦涛) was said to have spoken at a seminar marking Yang's 100th birthday. Chinese Central Television had reportedly televised on prime-time a documentary on Yang. Yang's old home in Sichuan (四川) also launched a Yang Shangkun museum.

In Hu's speech, the Chinese President positively appraised Yang, describing the former leader as being courageous in "seeking the truth, applying strictness in self-discipline, as well as being honest and upright." Yang was also hailed as someone who "embraced unity, never losing sight of the big picture, and principled." Hu also called on the country to learn from Yang's "noble qualities and character."

The newspaper said such a high-level official commemoration was noteworthy, but did not explain why. It only mentioned that Yang had always supported former CCP General-Secretary Zhao Ziyang (赵紫阳), who was later put under house arrest after his support of the student demonstrators in 1989. Even though Yang initially supported the use of military force to quell the demonstrations, he later called for the reversal of the 1989 verdict.

Also deemed significant in this "sensitive period" - the publication of an article by former vice-premier Tian Jiyun (田纪云). The article was published in 炎黄春秋 - a publication run by a group of retired senior cadres, and described as "bold and daring."

In the article, Zhao received extravagant praises - the first since he was disgraced. Zhao died in 2005, after 18 years under house arrest. Again, there was no explanation on the significance of singling out Zhao for praise.

But the newspaper did mention that these former top Chinese officials had nothing to fear, as they no longer held official positions. In an earlier article, Tian reportedly remarked that in the past, State Council organs were known to be "thrifty, humble, and appointed people based on merit." This, the newspaper suggested, was clearly a not-so-subtle dig aimed at chief CCP housekeeper Zeng Qinghong (曾庆红).

Actually I do wish I am in Beijing right now to breathe in some morsels of all that change, wonder, and speculation that's in the air!