Zhang Dejiang (/dʒɑːŋ dəˈdʒjɑːŋ/;[1] born 4 November 1946) is a Chinese retired politician who served as the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress between 2013 and 2018.
In March 2012, Zhang briefly replaced Bo Xilai as the party secretary of Chongqing, who was removed due to a political scandal.
Zhang, a native of Tai'an County, Liaoning, attended Yanbian University in Yanji, Jilin, where he studied the Korean language.
[2] In August 1983, Zhang left education and started his career in politics, becoming the deputy secretary of the Yanji City CCP Municipal Committee.
His connections to North Korea and his handling of illegal immigration from that country as a local official in Jilin are believed to be key factors in his rise to power.
[6][7][8] Critics called Pan-Pearl Delta economic integration an empty concept and alleged that Zhang was pushing the policy as a platform for future promotion.
In addition to being criticised for poor handling of the SARS outbreak, Zhang was blamed for the police shooting of villagers protesting inadequate compensation for seized land in 2005.
[6] In 2005, Hong Kong activist Leung Kwok-hung created a stir when he carried apples to Guangdong to present to Zhang as a gift.
Before building began thousands of police and relocation officials armed with electric truncheons, dogs, and helicopters cleared the site of 10,000 villagers.
Local media outlets were banned from reporting negative news about the project and law firms refused to handle compensation cases due to their sensitive nature.
"[12] In 2004 a group of villa owners whose homes were confiscated to build the Guangzhou University Town threatened to sue Zhang, along with other officials, for abusing their authority.
[2] There was speculation that Zhang was allowed to remain in power in Guangdong because he switched allegiances in favour of Hu Jintao during the leadership struggle in 2003.
[2] Immediately after taking office in Chongqing, Zhang made statements to ease the concerns of the business community that Bo's removal would lead to a slowdown to the city's economy.
[20] Zhang was appointed a member of the decision-making Politburo Standing Committee after the 18th CCP National Congress held in November 2012.
Zhang was elected as the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, succeeding the retiring Wu Bangguo.
On 24 January 2014, the CCP Politburo announced Zhang's appointment as vice chairman of the newly-established National Security Commission under general secretary Xi Jinping.
[23] On the issue of electoral reform in Hong Kong, Zhang stuck close to the party line, reiterating the view that Beijing did not favour public nominations to the position of Chief Executive of the territory, and opposed the Occupy Central campaign.
Zhang also publicly endorsed the "satisfactory" performance of chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who came under immense pressure during the Umbrella Movement to step down from office.
[27] Despite the high level of alert, pro-democracy activists managed to put up massive banners in prominent locations to welcome Zhang – whilst some banners recalled the Umbrella revolution slogan "I want genuine universal suffrage", another, which read: “End Chinese Communist Party dictatorship”, was hung up and visible to Zhang's motorcade from the airport.
[25][31] On 6 February 2017, multiple media reports said Zhang and Sun Chunlan, head of the CCP United Front Work Department, were in Shenzhen to meet with some Election Committee members from the major business chambers and political groups.
She served in a variety of senior executive roles at the China Construction Bank, and a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.