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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Economy & Trade

Economist Gao Shanwen's death mourned, writer criticizes China for silencing truth-tellers

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Chinese economist Gao Shanwen died of lymphoma at age 55 on July 7.
  • Gao was known for his frank assessments of China's economy, including stating that actual GDP growth was 2%, not the officially reported 5%.
  • His critical remarks reportedly angered Chinese leadership, leading to a ban on his public speaking and criticism from state media after his death.

Chinese economist Gao Shanwen, known for his candid analyses of the nation's economic performance, died of lymphoma on July 7 at the age of 55. His passing has sparked a wave of mourning among experts, but also drew criticism from Chinese state media, which accused him of "surrendering to the United States."

The fragile Chinese regime cannot even tolerate an economist speaking the truth!

— Ko LingTaiwanese writer Ko Ling's reaction to the state media's criticism of the late economist Gao Shanwen.

Taiwanese writer Ko Ling expressed outrage at the state media's reaction, questioning the connection to the U.S. and stating that "speaking the truth is a crime in China."

He spoke the truth, and you couldn't stand to hear it. What does it have to do with the United States?

— Ko LingKo Ling questioning the state media's narrative linking Gao Shanwen's economic critiques to the U.S.

Gao was previously known for his assertion that China's actual GDP growth was only 2%, a stark contrast to the government's official figure of 5%. This statement reportedly angered Chinese President Xi Jinping, who allegedly banned Gao from speaking publicly. Gao also observed the post-COVID-19 social climate in China, describing it as "vibrant elderly people, lifeless young people, and middle-aged people with nothing to live for." This comment led to his removal from online platforms and a lifetime ban from the internet.

Is speaking the truth a crime? In China, it really is.

— Ko LingKo Ling's commentary on the suppression of free speech in China, prompted by the treatment of Gao Shanwen.

Furthermore, Gao had predicted over a decade ago that "state-owned enterprises are the two legs of the Communist Party; a person cannot cut off their own legs." His foresight was seemingly validated by subsequent policies like "state advance, private retreat," which threatened private enterprise. The official media's posthumous attack on Gao, labeling him as "subservient to the U.S.," has been met with strong condemnation from those who believe he was merely speaking truths that were inconvenient for the Chinese authorities.

vibrant elderly people, lifeless young people, and middle-aged people with nothing to live for

— Gao ShanwenGao Shanwen's description of the post-COVID-19 social climate in China.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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