The article claimed the family managed to get assets valued at $2.7 billion through many strategic investments.
The money began adding up in Wen’s family accounts soon after the Chinese Premier rose to the high office in 2002. Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, declared to the press that the report published by NYT has hidden motives and “blackens China” on purpose. Despite the fact that reporters asked follow up questions at the press briefing the spokesman did not provide any more details.
Chinese censors blocked both The New York Times website and its Chinese copy that offered the same article translated in the Chinese language. The NYT article comes as a blow to Wen’s reputation just before he was about to leave the Premier post in the spring.
