Deng Political Developments in China Introduction

Deng Political Developments in China

Introduction • Power struggle continuing between Leftists and Rightists • Deng and supporters consolidate in 1981 – Felt party had been damaged by Cultural Revolution and Gang of Four • Consistent desire to uphold one-party system – Repressive, rather than liberal – Best illustrated by Tiananmen Square

Democracy Wall, 1976 -80 • More open approach with Hua, many brought back from countryside • Students put up big character posters calling for liberalization – One in Beijing known as Democracy Wall – Began to express views on past events • Openly critical of Gang of Four and sometimes Mao – Deng encourages them, helps against Left – Some supported him and Four Mod, criticized Hua – Posters called protests revolutionary, not counter-

Democracy Wall, 1976 -80 • Dec. 1978, word had spread throughout China and the world • Some posters began to criticize Deng, Democracy Movement begins – Pamphlets, criticism of the party and socialism – Appeals to Carter, recognition of human rights abuses • Step too far for Deng, who did not support democracy • Large numbers arrive from the countryside, organize in Tiananmen Square – Now criticizing recent past, Four Modernizations – Sought Fifth Modernization, political democracy

The Fifth Modernization • Most famous of pro-democracy pamphlets, Wei Jingsheng – Intellectuals saw economic reform as opportunity to change political system – Wei openly critical of Deng, fascist dictator • Arrested, 15 years, first martyr of Democracy Movement • Deng claims demands for reform are ‘bourgeois liberalism’ • Mar. 1979, Deng speech in favor of ‘Four Cardinal Principles’ – – Socialist Road Dictatorship of the Proletariat Leadership of the Communist Party Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought

The Fifth Modernization • By the end of 1979, Deng’s position is strong, closes the Wall – Began to arrest and detain the Democracy Movement, 100, 000 • ‘Four Big Rights’ abolished in Feb. 1980 – – Speak out freely Air views fully Hold great debates Write big character posters • Clear warning to post-Maoist China that criticism would not be tolerated • Ran pro-democracy groups underground, but stayed in contact with one another

Reform of the CCP • Only real reform Deng favored was of CCP – Had been damaged since 1967 – Must restore credibility – Would not target anyone if party was accepted • Deng saw advantages in breaking party from government – Capitalist features, authoritarian rule, the new Chinese socialism – Approved at Third Plenum in Sept. 1980 • Many party officials older and poorly educated – 1982, begins retirement campaigns • Many promoted to Central Advisory Commission, old positions filled by younger members – Between 1983 -87, also purged 150, 000 for bribery and corruption – Became younger, better qualifications – Removed those less enthusiastic about his economic reforms

Inner-Party Divisions • 1982, Deng has full control over government and party – Never held premier, chairman, or GS – Chaired important committees to place supporters in these positions • Hu Yaobang, GS of the CCP and Zhao Ziyang, premier • Hu favored democratic approach to dissent – Announced rehabilitation of intellectuals, backing reform newspapers • Zhao supported political freedom as well, has been removed during CR – Did introduce market reforms/open door, got him into Politburo, position as premier • Deng not progressive at all, politics less important than economics

Renewal of Student Activism, 198687 • Reagan visit in 1984, made two speeches referencing freedom and trust • Resurrection of pro-democracy groups • May 1985, student demonstration for reform • May 1986, Deng ends repressive period, encouraged ideological flexibility – Wang Ruoshui, activist, returns from dismissal, stressed humanitarian strands • Nov. 1986, changes to local elections – Further student demonstrations, supported by Professor Fang Lizhi, said socialism had failed

Renewal of Student Activism, 198687 • Dec. 1986, demonstrations for further electoral changes – Deng worried that some workers were being attracted as well, spread to Beijing – Concerns about slow job markets, slow of the economy in the 1980 s • Deng condemned the protests finally in Jan. 1987, dismissing them as anti-socials – Dismissed Fang, critical journalists removed – Intellectuals continued to speak out, Hu encouraging them • Main ringleaders were arrested – Third witch hunt in 1987, had been in 80 and 83 as well

Fall of Hu • Deng needed a new purge, prominent target Hu Yaobang – Had been critical, aligned with students, dismissed as GS – Forced to admit he had made ‘serious mistakes’, dismissed from Politburo • Zhao Ziyang takes over GS, Li Peng takes over premier • Deng older, resigns from Politburo, forced other elder members to do the same – Remains chair of Military Affairs and ‘paramount leader’ – Part of the ‘Gang of Old’, continued to exert influence, still thought CCP was essential

Continuing Unrest • 1987 events gave a clear signal of government attitude – Demonstrations still continued against poor living conditions – 1988, student petition, protests across China, serious • Deng worried, feared another power struggle with remaining Maoists • Ultimate showdown with democracy activists inevitable

Impact of Deng’s Economic Reforms • Deng had implemented less state enterprise • Mid-80 s, commune system dismantled • 1985, grain production had dropped as peasants decided to grow higher-paying crops • Workers lost food coupons, free health care, free education • Pressure of inflation, higher food prices • All reduced real value of wages • Government adopted austerity measures, large numbers forced into cities – Crime became popular again

Impact of Deng’s Economic Reforms • By 1989, Deng’s popularity low • Produced divisions in the CCP • Deng now squaring off with Chen Yun, old-style economic planner – No intention of reversing economic policies • Social impact of these policies was felt – – 1988, economy out of control Increasing amount of workers’ strikes and slow-downs Farmers found it difficult to buy fertilizers, jobs in rural areas lost Renewed student activism and character posters back illegally in 88 -89

Neo-Authoritarianism • Sent Chinese police abroad to learn about riot control • Worked out ideological backing for Deng’s program of economy and CCP government – Necessary to ‘tame the masses’ • Showed how much political debate had changed from 1978 when Deng re-emerged

Democracy Salons • 1988, Marxists or intellectuals previously dismissed held informal lectures in Beijing • Dec. 1988, Su Shaozhi, prominent intellectual, called for open debate • Jan. 1989, Feng wrote an Open Letter to Deng, calling for the release of Wei Jingsheng and all political prisoners • Democracy salons turned into regular demonstrations

Death of Hu • Things moved faster with Hu Yaobang’s unexpected death, Apr. 1989 – Renewed dissent, several marches held to mourn him – Speeches covering a range of issues, students staged sit-in demanding to be heard – Tried to break into Old Forbidden City, home to older CCP leaders – Numbers in Tiananmen Square grew – Government issued a ban on them, ignored, joined by workers

The People’s Daily Editorial, Apr. 26 • Student leaders announced the formation of the ‘Autonomous Federation’ to co-ordinate activities • Deng increasingly annoyed, wrote an editorial condemning the protesters, called them ‘plotters’ aiming to cause chaos • Made students more unified and determined, fear of repression growing as well

The ‘Beijing Spring’ • Apr. 27, 100, 000 students took to the streets, marched on Tiananmen Square • Split in CCP over the next course • Zhao has links to pro-democracy groups, collision course with Deng

Tiananmen Square, May-June 89 • Zhao tried to appease protestors by opening a dialogue, he was the minority – Anniversary of the May 4 th Movement in 1919, characterized the students’ demands as reasonable • Student leaders no longer prepared to co-operate at all, strong rally with 300, 000 in Tiananmen Square • Deng still rescued any compromise, had support of the PLA • 300 -strong hunder strike, government made contact, worried that Gorbachev is visiting the next day

Gorbachev’s Impact • Many Chinese influenced by perestroika and glasnost – Reforms in satellite states encouraging • Students emboldened by international TV crews, problems becoming known worldwide – Thought his arrival would mean less repression • May 17, 1 million protestors in Tiananmen now calling for Deng’s resignation – Forced Gorbachev’s to abandon part of his schedule, kept him indoors • Right hardliners calling for Deng to take swift measures • May 18, Politburo declares martial law, only Zhao voted against Deng here – Zhao makes a speech apologizing for the Politburo

Martial Law • May 19, Li Peng broadcasted speech explaining martial law to deal with ‘rioters’ • PLA took up positions in Beijing, many sympathetic, did not enforce laws • May 23, over 1 million people gathered, constructed barricades to prevent military action • Democracy Movement spread further • PLA generals appealed to Deng, reminded him it was the peoples’ army • Deng unsure, hoping they will disperse • Students then joined further by workers, Deng’s concerns increased • Soldiers confused, withdraw • Protestors build ‘Goddess of Democracy and Spirit of Liberty’ statue

Repression • • Deng and Li decided to take action May 29, workers’ leaders arrested Politically reliable troops sent into Beijing – Democracy Movement began to crumble, large-scale demonstrations ceased, down to 5, 000 – Protests moved to workers’ districts, but no real alliance here with intellectuals June 3, violence, trying to prevent soldiers from reaching Tiananmen Square – Out of sight where most casualties occurred – Deng orders army to take all measures In full view of cameras, June 4, hundreds killed in the square, but that afternoon, six-week occupation was over Unconfirmed casualties, fewer than 300 soldiers June 9, Deng says army had suppressed counter-revolutionary rebellion 40, 000 arrested in June and July, leaders escaped abroad

Aftermath • Most democratic Western states made little official reference to the repression – West wants to get involved in Chinese economy – Foreign investment and cultural exchanges only briefly suspended – Some democratic organizations advocate • Why did the Democracy Movement fail? – Too many objectives, too little unification in groups, difficult to negotiate with – Some wanted the violent confrontation, made it easier for Deng to convince others he was right

Aftermath • June 24, Zhao dismissed as GS of the CCP, replaced by Deng’s guy Jiang Zemin • Increased criticism of Deng and his reforms – Resigned as chair of Central Military Commission – Continued to have huge influence on Chinese politics behind the scene until death in 1997 • Showed clear direction of China – Four modernizations, not five – China becomes more repressive after 1989 than it had been throughout 1980 s

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