The Pitiable Bo Xilai

choi

Brian Rhoads and Benjamin Kang Lim, Insight: Suns Rise and Set Rapidly in China Leadership Opera. Reuters, Feb 15, 2012.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2 ... USTRE81E0ES20120215

Quote:

(a) Regarding Bo Xilai:

"'The waters are deep and muddy, but it looks like Bo Xilai may have reached the end,' a source with ties to the Bo family told Reuters. 'Bo Xilai is talented and bold and resolute in his work. He has lofty aspirations and wants to outdo his father,' the source said, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions.

"Rumor aside, two independent sources with knowledge of the matter said Wang was being questioned by anti-corruption investigators in Beijing. In addition to the consulate affair, one source said, the probe included his activities in Chongqing and Liaoning provinces.

"'Bo Xilai also wants to get on the boat. But the biggest worry is he could sink the boat whether he makes it or not,' said the source who asked not to be identified.

"There has been no official suggestion thus far that Bo is under investigation. * * * But Bo has less time [to turn things around], and it is unclear who his patron would be. With just half a year before the congress and his right-hand man being questioned by authorities, his political wings could be clipped.

(b) Regarding Liu Yuan:

"The prospects are considerably brighter for General Liu Yuan, an emerging candidate for the powerful Central Military Commission, which also will undergo a major reshuffle late this year to coincide with the broader party succession. Liu was credited with orchestrating the ouster of Lieutenant General Gu Junshan, whose downfall for apparent corruption emerged just days before the surreal Chongqing political drama began to play out.


My comment:
(a) The NEW (to me) tidbits in the analysis are quoted above, for your convenience.
(b) The report says, "The official line was accompanied by a blast of unverifiable but juicy rumors on China's microblogs, some clearly fuelled by active imagination. Wang had waved a pistol and threatened to take down Bo after his reassignment; he sought asylum at the U.S. consulate; police -- one camp dispatched by Bo and another by the central government -- argued over who would arrest him on the streets outside the American mission."

I am uncertain whether the following sentence in the report is a fact or a rumor: "Wang had waved a pistol and threatened to take down Bo after his reassignment."