By Tom Bannister

Jackie Chan has been appointed a member of the snappily titled CPPCC – a top government body that debates policy and advises the government.

The move is hardly a surprise. In recent years Chan’s support for the Chinese government and criticism of the US and Hong Kong (his city of birth) have left few people in doubt over his political allegiances.

The CPPCC – the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – is an advisory group that includes both career politicians and non-politicians such as businessmen and celebrities. It’s currently chaired by politburo member Jia Qinglin, who yesterday called for the organisation to be given a bigger role.

According to the government website the function of the group is:

“to conduct political consultation and exercise democratic supervision, organize its members from various non-Communist political parties, mass organizations and public personages from all walks of life to take part in the discussion and management of state affairs.“

Chan will join other recent celebrity additions to the group, including pianist Li Yundi and fellow Hong Kong movie-man Stephen Chow.

Chan’s appointment provoked a mixed reaction from netizens, some of them appreciative of the move but many of them criticising his toadying ways. The South China Morning Post ran an article on these reactions and included the following responses:

@刺头马甲: Now we’ve got everyone – porn star, bootlicker, triad brother, officer’s mistress, extorter – to speak for us and to raise their hands for us. Great.

@卧涛听风雨: If he says something like “Taiwan must not be independent,” or “Hong Kong can’t be too democratic,” maybe he will end up being the vice president.

@Gohn: No wonder he got so agitated about the issue of corruption on Phoenix TV earlier. His illogical and incoherent speech was such a joke. Now I understand – he was trying hard to impress.





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