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China's 'Donald Trump' has been put on probation for 'improper remarks'
Outspoken tycoon Ren Zhiqiang has been slapped with a year of probation for remarks that ran counter to major Communist Party policies.
The party committee in Beijing’s Xicheng district said in a notice on Monday that Ren, the former head of Hua Yuan Property, had been placed on probation for seriously violating political discipline.
Ren, known as “Cannon Ren” for his outspoken comments, had on several occasions made improper remarks through online platforms such as microblogging site Weibo, according to the notice. It did not specify which of Ren’s remarks were said to be improper.
The notice said Ren had repeatedly posted comments online that violated the party’s “four basic principles”, as well as its policy and direction.
Ren’s Weibo account was shut down by the internet watchdog after he questioned President Xi Jinping’s remarks in February. He had 37 million followers on that account before it was closed.
In one post, Ren – who has also been called China’s Donald Trump – said that because state media was funded by taxpayers, it should serve the public rather than the party.
“When does the people’s government turn into the party’s government? [Are the media] funded by party membership dues? Don’t waste taxpayers’ money on things that do not provide them with services.”
The post came after Xi had called on state media to align themselves with the party leadership.
Official media were quick to call Ren out on his comments. An editorial on a news website affiliated with the Beijing municipal party committee accused him of spreading “anti-Communist Party” thoughts.
Ren’s violation of party discipline could amount to challenging the one-party rule as the “four basic principles” stipulate that party members must adhere to the country’s socialist path, dictatorship of the proletariat, the party’s leadership and the political thoughts of Marxism and Maoism.
The penalty is the second most severe that can be dealt to a party member for such an offense. Five types of penalties can be imposed to enforce party discipline – a warning, stern warning, removal from party post, probation within the party and expulsion from the party.
Ren’s punishment comes after Xi used several events last month to call for greater tolerance of “well-intentioned” criticism online and among the country’s intellectuals. During his trip to Anhui province last week, Xi said: “We must trust [our] intellectuals.”
Xi said Communist Party and government officials should tolerate dissenting voices from intellectuals, even if some of their “views and criticisms are prejudiced and incorrect."
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