A. Deng Xiaoping's Successes: Economic Reforms 

1. rural prosperity (not famine) since 1978 

2. burgeoning foreign trade 

3. consumer-oriented, free market economy replaced Spartan poverty of Mao Zedong's tenure 

4. but very high inflation--20% in 1987

B. Deng's Failure: Political Reform 

1. 1979 Democracy Wall activists imprisoned 

a. Wei Jingsheng "Fifth Modernization" 

b. CCP monopoly on power not subject to reform

2. Dec. 1986-Jan. 1987 student movement repressed 

3. Deng insisted on "Four Cardinal Principles" 

a. adherence to socialism 

b. the people's democratic dictatorship 

c. CCP leadership 

d. supremacy of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thought

A. Hu's Political Biography 

1. assisted Deng in economic liberalization 

2. twice purged, along with Deng 

3. headed Communist Youth League (1952-66) 

4. replaced Hua Guofeng as CCP General Secretary 

5. often advocated Western style democracy 

6. Jan. 1987 Hu forced out as CCP General Secretary 

a. blamed for 1986-87 student demostrations 

b. Zhao Ziyang replaced him 

c. Li Peng appointed Premier in place of Zhao

B. Li Peng (1928-  ) 

1. born in Sichuan Province--joined the CCP in 1945 

2. trained engineer: Moscow Power Institute--1950's 

3. Rise to Political Power 

a. 1979 vice-minister of power industry 

b. 1982 elected to Central Committee 

c. 1983 Vice Premier in charge of education, energy, transportation, & economic development 

d. 1985 named to Secretariat of CCP Central Comm 

e. 1987 elected to CCP Standing Committee 

f. was to play a major role in 1989 Chinese-Soviest summit meeting

4. Economic Policies of Zhao Ziyang and Li Peng 

a. Zhao Ziyang's Aggressive Strategy 

i. sweeping restructuring of economy 

ii. decontrol of prices 

iii. allow market forces to determine distribution of goods, services 

iv. greater private ownership of property

b. 1989 Consequences 

i. soaring inflation--40% in some cities 

ii. widespread corruption, nepotism 

iii. bureaucratic inefficiency

c. Li Peng favored more cautious gradualism 

i. price controls, reduced local autonomy 

ii. anti-inflation measures

A. April 15, 1989 Hu died of a heart attack 

B. Midnight April 15 outpouring of eulogies, essays praising Hu   

1. April 22--Hu Yaobang's funeral 

2. between 100-500,000 commemorated Hu 

3. China's largest demonstrations ever 

4. Hu Yaobang and Zhou Enlai linked 

5. May-3000 student began hunger strike

C. Student Leaders 

1. Wang Dan 

2. Chai Ling 

3. Wuer Kaixi

D. Demands 

1. ouster of Li Peng, hardliner Premier of PRC 
2. reversal of conservatism of post 1987 PRC 

3. end to corruption & CCP monopoly in govt. 

4. dialogue with student leaders for democracy

E. The Standoff 

1. Zhao Ziyang favored concessions and dialogue 

2. Deng preferred military solution 

3. Li Peng suggested imposition of martial law 

4. May 20, 1989 Martial Law declared: PLA brought in 

a. 2 week gridlock  --- students kept PLA from Tiananmen 

b. Goddess of Democracy erected near Forbidden City

5. Zhao Ziyang removed from PRC Standing Committee

F. The Crackdown 

1. June 3-4 27th Army cleared Tiananmen Square 

2. June 8 PLA thanked for suppressing counterrevolutionaries 

3. thousands arrested--repression reigned--students fled 

4. Fourth Plenum of CCP Central Committee 

a. Zhao Ziyang blamed--stripped of all power 

b. Jiang Zemin made new General Secretary of CCP

A. Liu Binyan (1925-    ) "China's preeminent intellectual" 

1. CCP member, but expelled in 1957 for criticism of it 

2. 1978 rehabilitated along with Deng Xiaoping 

3. investigative reports in People's Daily exposed corruption, abuses of people's rights 

4. 1987 Liu again purged from CCP with Hu Yaobang 

5. 1988 Liu given permission to lecture at Harvard

B. Liu's Critique of PRC rule 

1. China's Crisis=distrust of CCP as new "privileged class" 

2. China's Hope 

a. political awakenings like 1976 demonstrations 
b. growing middle class 

c. CCP self-reform 

d. free press, speech, i.e., human rights 

e. anger and spontaneity of the people

3. PRC & CCP anti-intellectualism  

a. compromises May 4th spirit 

b. denies free thought and speech

4. PRC a bureaucratic paradise for CCP members 

5. PRC has lost all credibility 

a. few read the People's Daily 

b. Voice of America has millions of listeners

6. Deng's Pyrrhic Victory--loss of faith in Deng