Big Cannon: Ren Zhiqiang (1)

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Ren Zhiqiang, also known by his nickname "Big Cannon," earned this moniker around 2005 for several reasons: 1) He had a fiery temper, 2) He spoke in a very straightforward manner, and 3) He often expressed his true thoughts without holding back. When interviewed by journalists, Ren frequently lashed out at everyone, criticizing netizens, public opinion, the media, and even the government. For example, he once remarked, “Taiwan’s democratic system wasn’t solely due to Chiang Ching-kuo; it was also because the people wanted a democratic society and their own rights. In China, what we need to do is stand up, tear down the walls in front of us, and build a democratic system.”

Ren's final "cannon blast" came in early 2020. During this time, Wuhan had just discovered the COVID-19 outbreak and implemented lockdown measures. China’s pandemic control was at a critical stage. Amid this, the Communist Party held a massive meeting with 170,000 participants. In a widely circulated article, Ren aimed his sharp criticisms directly at China’s General Secretary, Xi Jinping, calling him "a clown without clothes," and labeling him "an emperor-like figure with ambitions. Anyone who stands in his way will be destroyed."

"Speech at the Meeting on Coordinating the Prevention and Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic with Economic and Social Development.”

At the time, Xi had already amended the Chinese Constitution to remove term limits for the presidency, effectively paving the way for an indefinite term. Although Xi had not yet officially announced his third term, everyone knew his intentions. Despite this, no one dared to publicly criticize Xi, as the consequences were unimaginable.

On March 12, Ren Zhiqiang suddenly "disappeared." His friends even circulated missing person notices in chat groups. Then, on July 23, the Beijing Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Ren Zhiqiang had been expelled from the Communist Party, citing reasons like "distorting Party history, military history, and being disloyal and dishonest to the Party." For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), expelling someone from the Party is a severe punishment. When someone is expelled before judicial proceedings, it signals that they are no longer considered a "comrade," and no leniency will be shown in court.

Sure enough, on September 22, the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court sentenced Ren Zhiqiang to 18 years in prison for charges of embezzlement, bribery, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of power. Ren was 69 years old at the time. Without a sentence reduction, he would only be released at 81. Given the current conditions in Chinese prisons and his harsh criticism of Xi Jinping, the likelihood of Ren Zhiqiang walking out of prison alive seems slim.

When I saw Ren Zhiqiang being sentenced, I also felt puzzled as to why he chose to openly criticize Xi Jinping, especially considering his "red lineage" background. Ren Zhiqiang's father, Ren Quansheng, was a deputy minister of the Ministry of Commerce in China, a high-ranking Communist Party official. This made Ren Zhiqiang, as a second-generation “red aristocrat,” someone who was expected to enjoy more privileges and resources within the system.

Chairman Mao appointed Ren Quansheng, father of Ren Zhiqiang as Minister of Commerce.

From another perspective, Ren Zhiqiang was not only the child of a high-ranking official but also the chairman of Huayuan Real Estate, a very successful business. He had long accumulated enough wealth, so he no longer needed to rely on the system for economic benefits. More importantly, he was already retired and could have chosen to live a peaceful and comfortable life in retirement without getting involved in politics.

So, why did he choose to “fire shots” at Xi Jinping in 2020?

In Ren Zhiqiang’s memoir, I discovered that this wasn’t his first time in prison. As early as 1985, he was already arrested and detained for one year and two months. He wrote, “When I was released from prison in 1986, my hair had turned almost completely white. I even dyed my hair back then for the sake of my public image, but now I prefer to embrace my true self. I also like who I was in the past.”

Ren Zhiqiang was born in a courtyard house in Beijing. When he was in middle school, the Cultural Revolution broke out, and he joined the Red Guards. He once mentioned that the mother of one of his friends was beaten to death during a public struggle session led by the Red Guards in Beijing. Soon after, his father was also targeted and ousted. Ironically, the Red Guards in Beijing were initially organized by the children of high-ranking officials, but when their fathers were persecuted, they became part of the "black five categories" (a stigmatized group during the revolution). Ren Zhiqiang was no exception, and for about a year or two, he had nothing to do.

Soon after, Mao Zedong called for urban educated youth to go to the countryside to receive "re-education" from the peasants. Beijing had a policy where only one child per family could remain in the city, and all others had to go to the countryside. Ren’s sister stayed in Beijing, while Ren himself was sent to a poor village in Yan’an. Accompanying him was their school counselor, Wang Qishan.

Wang Qishan, who was Ren Zhiqiang’s counselor during middle school, was also a student at Beijing No. 35 Middle School. The village they were sent to in Yan’an was extremely poor. Seven or eight young men lived together in a cave dwelling and worked as farm laborers every day. After some time, they were sent further away to Mo'erdaoga, a remote area on the border between Inner Mongolia and Northeast China. Ren didn’t stay in the northeast for long, as he soon joined the prestigious 38th Army.

The 38th Army had a regiment called the 334th, composed entirely of children from cadre families, earning them the nickname "the cadre army." Throughout this time, Ren received a lot of help from his family. Once, when they needed to buy a vehicle, Ren simply mentioned it to his family, and his mother gave him a note to purchase a truck.

Around 1980, as China began to open up and reform, Ren’s parents returned to Beijing. At the time, one of his cousins had started the Beijing Youth Service Company, which piqued Ren’s interest. He established an organization under the company and named himself manager. He signed a contract with a foreign trade company to purchase rabbit skins, which introduced him to the world of commerce during China’s early reform era. Ren was quick-witted—while many units still operated under a planned economy model, Ren secured procurement contracts from various units and engaged in wholesale.

Later, his mother was appointed director of the Beijing Second Commerce Bureau (the department responsible for providing special food supplies to senior central government leaders). With his mother’s connections, Ren imported beer from the Second Commerce Bureau and sold it in his restaurant. After a few years, his business thrived.