Working with Jiang, Zhu calmed his city with a judicious use of police power and a television speech.

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By that time, however, President Jiang and Prime Minister Zhu had already been out of office for two years and a key ally for reform, Vice Prime Minister Huang Ju, was terminally ill.

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Once the pact was signed, Jiang leapt to center stage, elbowing Zhu aside.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Cover: The Son of Heaven?

The American negotiators obligingly traveled to Beijing, where Jiang kept a dignified distance from the talks, sending Zhu in as his point man to thrash out the details.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Cover: The Son of Heaven?

While Jiang surely appreciates that politics is the art of the possible, Zhu seems to prefer sharpening his teeth on the impossible.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Cover: The Son of Heaven?