Netizen comments to the "breaking news" tweet began cautiously, with
several asking in the comments section whether they could in fact
comment. One might think they had answered their own question, but their
real query was likely whether censors would soon descend to snuff out
discussion. Indeed, netizens began to comment tepidly until one exhorted
her peers, "Hurry up and comment; comments will definitely be
prohibited again soon." So far, Weibo commentary on Wang Lijun's fate
remains alive, albeit limited given the visibility and importance of the
charges.
Commenters expressed particular confusion about one charge leveled
against Wang. In addition to charges of accepting bribes, abusing his
power, and "perverting the law for private purposes" (徇私枉法) Wang was
also accused of "叛逃", which loosely translates as "defection." But the
term is imprecise; one netizen asked others to explain its meaning,
while another asked whether this was the same as treason. It's small
wonder they were confused; as Donald C. Clarke, Professor of Law at
George Washington University Law School, wrote in a recent blog entry, "Remarkably enough, defection is not defined...anywhere...in the Chinese legal system."
Despite the confusion about what exactly Wang was charged with, some
also speculated on Wang's ultimate fate, a favorite (if ultimately
fruitless) blogosphere parlor game that attends many of China's
high-profile criminal defendants. One was sure it would be a death
sentence, or a suspended death sentence (which usually converts into
life in prison), while another felt life in prison was most likely.
Another offered a more detailed analysis: "I surmise that he won't be
sentenced to death. When the Americans handed Wang over, they surely
brought up preconditions for handing him to the Chinese side-they would
at least have ensured that Wang would not die."
If one common thread emerged from netizen chatter, it was the view
that Wang's downfall was not in fact a victory for the rule of law, as
Communist Party leaders might have hoped to spin it. Instead, they felt
that Wang was simply the "victim in a power struggle," not fundamentally
more corrupt than his corrupt colleagues. As one commenter put it,
"Whoever you investigate, you'll find problems. It's just like that
smiling official [a reference to public safety official Yang Dacai, who
now finds his expenditures scrutinized online after being caught on camera smiling at a horrific accident scene]."
Another wrote, "I've said this before, standing with the wrong team is
very dangerous. I wonder how many among us are all standing with the
wrong team."
And some netizens simply said they liked Wang. One netizen from
Chongqing wrote, "I am praying for him! In my heart, he is a good
official, and I trust that many Chongqingers feel this way." Another
wrote, "I once thought China had no heroes; I'd never thought that a
hero was right by our side...I feel helpless to see this hero in
distress."