In this news reports in the New York Times, “China’s Leaders Deadlocked Over Succession,” it is suggested that Jiang Zemin, the former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, still possesses great influence, even veto power, over Chinese leaders currently in office, in particular over the issue

The Chinese government has been rather tense lately. Three issues in particular worry China’s top leaders.

Today the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council issued a strong-worded statement condemning a referendum initiative in Taiwan and warning that China “has made necessary preparations to react to a grave situation.”