Black and White Cat

After a week of news from the 17th National Congress of the Harmonious Party in Beijing, Bunny couldn’t take it anymore.

A few more days of the Scientific Outlook on Harmoniousness and I will be joining Bunny.

But all things, good and bad, must come to an end; and every cloud has a silver lining. If the past is a guide to the future, on Sunday afternoon we will finally learn that which we most want to know. No, not the members of the new standing committee of the politburo. That news will be announced on Monday morning.

I refer to something much more exciting. Under the correct guidance of the Central Publicity Department, on the afternoon and evening of Thursday November 14th, 2002, all CCTV news programs were required to tell China and the world the 477 names of every single member and alternate member of the new CPC Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Will this great moment in broadcasting history be repeated? I cannot say because I do not know. Tune in to CCTV9 at 5pm and 7pm (Beijing time) on Sunday October 21 to find out. In the meantime, I present to you the 2nd, 3rd and 4th items of the script that former CCTV anchor Li Maoqi had to read five years ago. According to the archives, this epic event took up nearly half of the 30-minute world news bulletin. Regular viewers of CCTV9 may have noticed that Edwin Maher is currently on holiday. Now you know why.

Update: Due to popular demand from the Central Publicity Department, CCTV9 did indeed join its Chinese-language sister channels on Sunday evening in repeating this televisual spectacular. And this year, it was bigger and better, with even more names on the list. Oh, we had such fun that evening! We were so excited in the newsroom, we could barely contain ourselves! Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, you can watch and re-watch this most exciting edition ever of World Wide Watch on the Internet. With such wise advice from the Central Publicity Department, CCTV9 will surely soon become the most popular English-language broadcaster of all time.

From the CCTV archives, 11/14/2002:

The 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was elected at the closing session of the CPC National Congress Thursday morning. The new CPC Central Committee is composed of 198 full members and 158 alternate members. Listed in the order of the number of strokes in their surnames. Members of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China are:

Xi Jinping, Ma Kai, Ma Qizhi (Hui), Ma Xiaotian,
Wang Gang, Wang Chen, Wang Yunlong, Wang Yunkun,
Wang Taihua, Wang Lequan, Wang Zhaoguo, Wang Zhongfu,
Wang Xudong, Wang Qishan, Wang Huning, Wang Jinshan,
Wang Jianmin, Wang Shengjun, Wang Hongju, Uyunqimg (f. Mongolian)
Deng Changyou, Shi Yunsheng, Shi Xiushi, Shi Zongyuan (Hui)
Lu Zhangong, Tian Fengshan, Tian Chengping, Tian Congming,
Bai Lichen (Hui), Bai Zhijian, Bai Keming, Bai Enpei, Ismail Amat (Uygur)
Legqog (Tibetan), Lu Fuyuan, Hui Liangyu (Hui), Zhu Qi,
Qiao Qingchen, Hua Jianmin Doje Cering (Tibetan)
Liu Jing, Liu Qi, Liu Yunshan, Liu Shutian,
Liu Dongdong, Liu Yongzhi, Liu Yandong (f.), Liu Huaqiu,
Liu Zhijun, Liu Zhenhua, Liu Zhenwu, Xu Yongyue,
Xu qiliang, Sun Zhiqiang, Sun Jiazheng, Mou Xinsheng,
Su Rong, Du Qinglin, Li Changjiang, Li Changchun,
Li Zhilun, Li Zhaozhuo (Zhuang), Li Andong, Li Keqiang,
Li Jinhua, Li Jianguo, Li Rongrong, Li Dongheng,
Li Guixian, Li Tielin, Li Jinai, Li Qianyuan,
Li Shenglin, Li Zhaoxing, Li Dek Su (Korean),
Li Yizhong, Yang Yuanyuan, Yang Zhengwu (Tujia),
Yang Huaiqing, Yang Deqing, Xiao Yang, Wu Yi (f.)
Wu Shuangzhan, Wu Bangguo, Wu Guanzheng, He Yong,
Wang Guangtao, Wang Shucheng, Wang Xiaofeng, Shen Binyi,
Song Fatang, Song Zhaosu, Song Defu, Chi Wanchun,
Zhang Yunchuan, Zhang Zhongwei, Zhang Wentai, Zhang Wenkang
Zhang Yutai, Zhang Zuoji, Zhang Lichang, Zhang Qingwei,
Zhang Qingli, Zhang Xuezhong, Zhang Chunxian, Zhang Junjiu
Zhang Gaoli, Zhang Weiqing, Zhang Fusen, Zhang Dejiang,
Zhang Delin, Lu Hao, Abul’ahat Abdurixit (Uygur),
Chen Yunlin, Chen Zhili (f.) Chen Chuankuo, Chen Liangyu,
Chen Jianguo, Chen Kuiyuan, Chen Bingde, Chen Fujin,
Luo Gan, Luo Qingquan, Ji Yunshi, Jin Renqing,
Zhou Qiang, Zhou Xiaochuan, Zhou Yongkang, Zhou Shengtao,
Zhou Yuqi, Zheng Wantong, Zheng Silin, Meng Xuenong,
Meng Jianzhu, Xiang Huaicheng, Zhao Keming, Zhao Leji,
Zhao Qizheng, Hu Jintao, Niu Maosheng (Manchu), Yu Zhengsheng,
Wen Shizhen, Jiang Futang, Hong Hu, He Guoqiang,
Yuan Weimin, Raidi (Tibetan), Jia Qinglin, Jia Zhibang,
Jia Chunwang, Chai Songyue, Qian Yunlu, Qian Guoliang,
Qian Shugen, Xu Caihou, Xu Kuangdi, Xu Youfang,
Xu Guangchun, Xu Rongkai, Xu Guanhua, Gao Siren,
Guo Boxiong, Guo Jinlong, Tang Tianbiao, Tang Jiaxuan,
Huang Ju, Huang Huahua, Huang Qingyi (f.) Huang Zhiquan,
Huang Zhendong, Cao Gangchuan, Cao Bochun, Chang Wanquan,
Fu Tinggui, Yan Haiwang, Liang Guanglie, Sui Mingtai,
Ge Zhenfeng, Han Zheng, Chu Bo, Zeng Qinghong,
Zeng Peiyan, Wen Zongren, Wen Jiabao, Pu Haiqing,
Meng Jinxi, Lei Mingqiu, Yu Yunyao, Lu Yongxiang,
Xie Zhenhua, Jing Zhiyuan, Liao Hui, Liao Xilong,
Teng Wensheng, Bo Xilai, Dai Bingguo (Tujia)
Dai Xianglong, Wei Liqun

Next are the alternate members of the 16th CPC Central Committee. They are listed in the order of the number of votes received or, in the case of the same number of votes, in the order of the number of strokes in their surnames.

Aiskait Kerimbay (Kazak), Wang Zhengwei (Hui), Zhu Zuliang, Du Xuefang,
Yang Chuantang, Qiu Yanhan, Zheng Lizhong, Wang Jun, Zhu Zhixin,
Quan Zhezhu(Korean), Yang Limin, Zhang Huazhu, Huang Yao(Bouyei),
Peng Zuyi(Yao), Zhai Huqu, Wang Xia(f.), Zhi Shuping, Liu Zemin,
Liu Dewang, Yang Jing(Mongolian), Song Xiuyan(f.), Zhang Baoshun,
Hu Yongzhu, Jiang Daming, Gao Zhongxing, Guo Gengmao(Hui),
Huang Xuanping(Hui), Fu Guihua(f. Li), Guan Guozhong(Dai), Shi Yuzhen(f. Miao),
Bai Chunli(Manchu), Qiangba Puncog(Tibetan), Liu Qibao, Sun Shuyi, Du Yuxin,
Li Jingtian(Manchu), Yang Yongmao, Wu Yuqian, Zhang Xiaozhong, Chen Ximing(f.),
Lin Mingyue(f.), Lin Shusen, Luo Zhengfu(Yi), Yue Fuhong,
Hu Biao, Yuan Chunqing, Liang Baohua, Wen Xisen, Bai Jingfu,
Qiao Chuanxiu(f.), Liu Shiquan, Li Ke(Zhuang), Li Chuncheng,
Yang Yongliang, Zhang Ping, Zhang Xingxiang, Chen Xunqiu,
Luo Baoming, Zhou Shengxian, Yuan Shou Fang, Nie Weiguo,
Li Zhanshu, Xu Shousheng, Ma Zhigeng, Wang Mingfang,
Ren Qingjia(Tibetan), Long Xinmin, Ismail Tiliwaldi(Uygur),
Zhu Fazhong, Liu Peng, Sun Gan, Li Changyin, Wu Qidi(f.), Wu Xinxiong,
Song Airong(f.), Fang Changlong, Yue Xicui(f.), Huang Xingguo,
Cao Jianming, Xie Qihua(f.), Pei Huailiang, Liu Yungeng,
Sun Zhongtong, Du Shicheng, Li Chengyu(Hui), Shen Yueyue(f.),
Zhang Wenyue, Ou Guangyuan, Ou Zegao(Tibetan), Xia Baolong,
Xi Zhongchao, Jiang Wenlan(f.), Xie Xuren, Xue Yanzhong, Wang Qian,
Ye Xiaowen, Zhu Chengyou, Li Jiheng, Wu Aiying(f.), Wu Quanxu,
Min Weifang, Jiang Yikang, Wang Sanyun, Liu Jie, Wu Dingfu,
Zhang Li, Zhu Yanfeng, Xi Guohua, Guo Shengkun, Ding Yiping, Liu Mingkang,
Chen Shaoji, Zhou Tongzhan, Wei Liucheng, Li Yuanchao, Shang Fulin,
Jiang Jianqing, Pan Yunhe, Ma Fucai, Wang Zhengfu(Miao), Zhu Wenquan,
Sun Chunlan(f.), Lin Zuoming, Wang Jiarui, Lu Zushan, Liu Yupu, Liu Yuejun,
Li Hongzhong, Yang Jiechi, Qin Guangrong, Tao Jianxing, Wang Mingquan,
Shi Dahua, Shi Lianxi(f.), Huang Jiefu, Shu Xiaoqin(f.), Su Xintian, Zhang Xuan(f.),
Du Deyin, Yin Yicui(f.), Wang Yang, Tie Ning(f.), Qiu Xueqiang, Zhang Ruimin,
Li Zhijian, Ji Bingxuan, Zhang Dingfa, Qiangwei, Xiong Guangkai, Ling Jihua,
San Xiangjun, Xu Zhigong, Chenyuan, Deng Pufang, Su Shulin, Huang Liman(f.),
Wang Luolin, You Yigui

A new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection composed of 121 members was also elected.
Members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection are:

Gan Yisheng, Ma Wen (f), Ma Zilong (Hui), Ma Zhipeng,
Ma Tieshan, Wang Chengming, Wang Tongzhuo, Wang Huayuan,
Wang Shouting, Wang Zhigang, Wang Jianzhou, Wang Xianzheng,
Wang Zhenchuan, Wang Lili (f), Wang Weizhong, Wang Deshun,
Yin Fengqi, Ba Ter (Mongolian), Puqung (Tibetan),
Tian Shulan (f), Bama (Tibetan), Feng Yongsheng, Feng Jianshen
Xing Yuanmin, Zhu Weiqun, Qiao Zonghuai, Ren Zemin,
Liu Jiang, Liu Fengfu, Liu Zhifeng, Liu Xiaojiang,
Liu Fengyan, Liu Jiayi, Liu Xirong, An Limin (f)
Sun Wensheng, Sun Baoshu, Sun Zaifu, Yang Anjiang,
Li Wenhua, Li Yufu, Li Dongsheng, Li Youwei,
Li Zhilun, Li Chuanqing, Li Yunzhi, Li Jinming,
Li Jisong, Li Xueying (f), Li Chongxi, Li Qinglin,
Yang Guanghong, Yang Duoliang (Hui), Wu Guangcai, Wu Yuliang,
Wu Guanzheng, Wu Yuping (f), He Yong, Shen Shuji (f),
Shen Deyong, Zhang Yi, Zhang Fenglou, Zhang Shutian,
Zhang Enzhao, Zhang Yuzhong, Zhang Huixin, Chen Xi,
Chen Peizhong, Chen Jiping, Fan Xinde, Lin Wenken,
Luo Shiqian, Yue Xuanyi, Jin Yinhuan (f), Jin Daoming (Manchu),
Zhou Zhanshun, Zheng Kunsheng, Zhao Rong, Zhao Chunlan (f),
Zhao Hongzhu, Hu Jiayan (f), Zhu Guangyao, Zhu Chunlin,
He Bangjing (f, Bai), Qin Shaode, Nie Chenggen,
Jia Wenxian, Xia Zanzhong, Xu Chengdong, Xu Jingye,
Gao Junliang, Tao Fanggui, Huang Danhua (f), Huang Yuanzhi,
Huang Shuxian, Huang Shuhe, Huang Xianzhong, Cao Hongxing,
Cao Kangtai, Chang Xiaobing, Cui Huilie, Kang Rixin,
Liang Qiping (f), Peng Xiaofeng, Dong Lei, Dong Wancai,
Dong Yisheng, Han Changfu, Han Zhongxin, Fu Kecheng,
Jiao Huancheng, Xie Zuoyan, Lou Jiwei, Xie Houquan,
Cai Changsong, Zhai Xiaoheng, Fan Shouzhi, Teng Jiuming (Miao),
Xue Li (f), Wei Jianguo, Wei Jiafu