Jiang Yanyong
Encyclopedia
Jiang Yanyong is a Chinese physician
from Beijing who publicized a coverup of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS) epidemic in China. Jiang was the chief physician of the 301 Military Hospital
in Beijing a senior member of the Communist Party of China
.
in Beijing, China. As a military doctor holds a rank within the People's Liberation Army
which is equivalent to Major General
. While there, he witnessed the results of the trauma inflicted on the students during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
.
While the SARS virus began spreading in China in late 2002 and early 2003, the number of cases being reported in mainland China was drastically understated by the government. On April 4, Jiang emailed an 800-word letter to Chinese Central Television -4 (CCTV4) and PhoenixTV (HongKong) reporting that fact. Although neither of the two replied or published his letter, the information was leaked to the western news organizations. On April 8, 2003, Dr. Jiang was reached by a journalist from the Wall Street Journal through telephone interview. Later the same day, Susan Jakes, a Time
journalist in Beijing also contacted Dr. Jiang. Time published the striking news right away with the title of "Beijing's SARS Attack". In this article, Dr. Jiang's letter was translated into English and, for the first time, the public was made aware of the actual situation in China. This letter forced the resignation of the Mayor
of Beijing and the Minister of Public Health on April 21, 2003. The Chinese government began to actively deal with the growing epidemic
. Most public health experts believe that this act prevented the disease from reaching pandemic
proportions.
In February 2004, Dr. Jiang wrote an open letter to the Premier
Wen Jiabao
, several deputy premiers, the Politburo
and many other members of the Chinese government. The letter asked for a re-examination of the responsibility borne by the Chinese government for the Tiananmen Square Massacre. A number of media sources indicate that because of Jiang Yanyong's senior rank the topic of what to do with him was discussed by the Politburo
.
On June 2, 2004, two days before the 15th anniversary of the massacre, Dr. Jiang Yanyong's family in California
reported that he and his elderly wife were missing from their house in Beijing after being arrested and placed under military custody. Many sources have indicated that while a number of high level members believed that Jiang should have been ignored, that his arrest was the result of personal intervention of Jiang Zemin
(no relation), who as Chairman of the Central Military Commission
ordered the arrest of Jiang Yanyong on the grounds of violating military discipline. On June 15, 2004, a source close to the Jiang family reported Hua Zhongwei, the elderly wife of Dr. Jiang Yanyong, was freed two weeks after being detained in secret. In early July 2004 it was alleged that Dr. Jiang was being subjected to indoctrination efforts by the Chinese military. She was said to be safe in her Beijing home. The doctor himself was released from Chinese custody on July 19, 2004.
Dr. Jiang is the cousin of Chiang Yan-shih, a high-ranking Kuomintang
official who once served as Secretary-General to the President of the Republic of China
on Taiwan
. This is significant as many feared that Dr. Jiang would be charged with spying for Taiwan.
for Public Service. According to RMAF.org.ph, the board of trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation "recognizes his brave stand for truth in China, spurring life-saving measures to confront and contain the deadly threat of SARS."
September 20 of 2007, New York Academy of Sciences
gave him "The Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award."
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
from Beijing who publicized a coverup of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . Between November 2002 and July 2003 an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide according to the WHO...
(SARS) epidemic in China. Jiang was the chief physician of the 301 Military Hospital
301 Military Hospital
The 301 Military Hospital or "PLA General Hospital" , located in Beijing, China, is the largest general hospital under the auspices of the People's Liberation Army...
in Beijing a senior member of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
.
Introduction
In 1989, Dr. Jiang was the chief physician of the 301 Military Hospital301 Military Hospital
The 301 Military Hospital or "PLA General Hospital" , located in Beijing, China, is the largest general hospital under the auspices of the People's Liberation Army...
in Beijing, China. As a military doctor holds a rank within the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
which is equivalent to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. While there, he witnessed the results of the trauma inflicted on the students during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
.
While the SARS virus began spreading in China in late 2002 and early 2003, the number of cases being reported in mainland China was drastically understated by the government. On April 4, Jiang emailed an 800-word letter to Chinese Central Television -4 (CCTV4) and PhoenixTV (HongKong) reporting that fact. Although neither of the two replied or published his letter, the information was leaked to the western news organizations. On April 8, 2003, Dr. Jiang was reached by a journalist from the Wall Street Journal through telephone interview. Later the same day, Susan Jakes, a Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
journalist in Beijing also contacted Dr. Jiang. Time published the striking news right away with the title of "Beijing's SARS Attack". In this article, Dr. Jiang's letter was translated into English and, for the first time, the public was made aware of the actual situation in China. This letter forced the resignation of the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Beijing and the Minister of Public Health on April 21, 2003. The Chinese government began to actively deal with the growing epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
. Most public health experts believe that this act prevented the disease from reaching pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
proportions.
In February 2004, Dr. Jiang wrote an open letter to the Premier
Premier of the People's Republic of China
The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China , sometimes also referred to as the "Prime Minister" informally, is the Leader of the State Council of the People's Republic of China , who is the head of government and holds the highest-ranking of the Civil service of the...
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
, several deputy premiers, the Politburo
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
and many other members of the Chinese government. The letter asked for a re-examination of the responsibility borne by the Chinese government for the Tiananmen Square Massacre. A number of media sources indicate that because of Jiang Yanyong's senior rank the topic of what to do with him was discussed by the Politburo
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
.
On June 2, 2004, two days before the 15th anniversary of the massacre, Dr. Jiang Yanyong's family in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
reported that he and his elderly wife were missing from their house in Beijing after being arrested and placed under military custody. Many sources have indicated that while a number of high level members believed that Jiang should have been ignored, that his arrest was the result of personal intervention of Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the People's Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2005...
(no relation), who as Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Central Military Commission
A Central Military Commission or National Defense Commission is an organisation typical of Communist one-party states, responsible for supervising the nation's armed forces....
ordered the arrest of Jiang Yanyong on the grounds of violating military discipline. On June 15, 2004, a source close to the Jiang family reported Hua Zhongwei, the elderly wife of Dr. Jiang Yanyong, was freed two weeks after being detained in secret. In early July 2004 it was alleged that Dr. Jiang was being subjected to indoctrination efforts by the Chinese military. She was said to be safe in her Beijing home. The doctor himself was released from Chinese custody on July 19, 2004.
Dr. Jiang is the cousin of Chiang Yan-shih, a high-ranking Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
official who once served as Secretary-General to the President of the Republic of China
President of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
on Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. This is significant as many feared that Dr. Jiang would be charged with spying for Taiwan.
Award
In August 2004, Dr. Jiang was awarded a Ramon Magsaysay AwardRamon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
for Public Service. According to RMAF.org.ph, the board of trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation "recognizes his brave stand for truth in China, spurring life-saving measures to confront and contain the deadly threat of SARS."
September 20 of 2007, New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
gave him "The Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award."
External links
- Jiang Yanyong on China Digital Times
- Time Magazine 2003 Biography of Dr. Jiang Yanyong
- Time Magazine contents of the 2003 letter about SARS
- BBC Article on the missing Dr. Jiang Yanyong
- Translation of the text of the February 2004 letter written by Dr. Jiang Yanyong asking for a reexamination of the Tiananmen Square massacre
- Amnesty International article
- Human Rights Watch article
- NY Times article detailing release
- CITATION for Jiang Yanyong at the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation website
- Philip P. Pan's article in the New Republic