Li Xueyong (李学勇) appointed governor of Jiangsu

Li Xueyong is an outsider to the province, having served as vice-minister of Science & Technology since 1998. He is remarkable for his lack of experience outside of Beijing, having only served as vice-mayor of Xi'an from 1995 to 1997. The South China Morning Post reports the famous incident he had with a Mainland journalist as well as his close ties to Li Tieying (whom he served as secretary--or 秘书) and Li Changchun, the man who does not like to see negative coverage of himself when he types his own name in the Google search bar. The cablegate memos suggest that Li Changchun was involved in the hack against Google, which of course raises the question of the role of the Ministry Science and Technology in the whole debacle. Bottom line: Don't hold your breadth for a wave of liberalism in Jiangsu, at least emanating from the Governor's office!