customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Teddy Ng

A lengthy article about former premier Wen Jiabao's family roots written more than a decade ago has reappeared on the website of the Communist Party's mouthpiece.
The move is seen as an attempt by Wen to clear his name amid speculation he will become the next target of the leadership's anti-corruption drive.
The article originally appeared in a magazine on the party's history in 2003, soon after Wen began his first term as premier, and was reposted to the website of the People's Daily yesterday.
The article gives a detailed account of the Wen family, conveying the impression of his humble upbringing.
It tells how Wen was sent to Jiuquan , in Gansu province, during the Cultural Revolution and returned to Beijing in 1982.
It said Wen was constantly reminded by his uncle Wen Pengjiu, a former Foreign Ministry official, that his mission was to ensure that all Chinese had enough food, and to build China into a prosperous nation.
Wen was quoted as saying in the article of his maiden press conference as premier in March 2003 that he was merely a "common" person who had seen hardship during his upbringing.
The reposting of the article came two days after the publication in Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao of a letter written by Wen to Ng Hon-mun, a former local deputy to the National People's Congress, in which Wen insisted on his innocence and integrity.
In the letter, dated December 27, Wen said he had never abused his power for personal gain.
The former premier has faced mounting pressure over allegations about his family's wealth at a time when another former member of the party's supreme Politburo Standing Committee, Zhou Yongkang , is at the centre of a wide-ranging probe into corruption. Dozens of Zhou's former aides and associates are being investigated after President Xi Jinping launched a massive anti-graft campaign that has targeted progressively senior officials.
The reputation of Wen, who retired last March, was brought into question after The  New York Times reported in October 2012 that his family and relatives had amassed US$2.7 billion of hidden assets during his leadership.
"The publication of the letter and reposting of the article is an attempt to deliver a message that Wen is being smeared and that he is not involved in any scam," said Gu Su , professor of political science at Nanjing University. "It seems Wen believes he is under attack, and wants to hit back."
Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based commentator, said the development showed Wen "is very worried about his reputation and is eager to clear himself when the anti-corruption drive gets running".


All-weather strategic partnership or friendly relationship? What to look for when China names ties with other nations

Why I miss the Chinese premier’s annual press conference at the close of the country’s ‘two sessions’

Why China should maintain open and inclusive debate about its economy

Chinese Premier Li Qiang stays close to home in his first big turn on the national stage

Wen Jiabao

Article on 'humble' Wen reappears amid rumours he is next graft target

Wen Jiabao. Photo: Xinhua

Discussions of Wen Jiabao's daughter censored in China as more foreign media sites blocked

A combination photo of the JP Morgan office in New York, former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and his daughter, Wen Ruchun. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The Chinese-language website of Wall Street Journal appeared blocked on Friday. Photo: credit of Chen Jingsi.

JPMorgan Chase's ties with Wen Jiabao's family investigated

JPMorgan is being investigated by US authorities over its hiring practices in China. Photo: Reuters

News

China

A lengthy article about former premier Wen Jiabao's family roots written more than a decade ago has reappeared on the website of the Communist Party's mouthpiece.
