Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping rose to power as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China in December 1978, following the death of Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong in 1976. He led China through the Reform and Opening Up process and the development of China's socialist market economy.

In 1922, Deng Xiaoping joined the Chinese Communist Youth League in Europe, under the influence of his seniors Zhao Shiyan and Zhou Enlai, and began to study Marxism and engage in political propaganda work.

On January 1, 1924, Deng Xiaoping joined the Communist Party, marking a significant event in his political career.

Deng led the Baise Uprising in Guangxi province against the Kuomingtang government, but it soon failed, leading Deng to go to the Central Soviet Area in Jiangxi province.

War broke out against Japan in 1937 and Deng Xiaoping served as an educational leader of the Chinese Revolutionary Army, helping it grow into a large military machine during the Communist Revolution, 1946-49.

Deng Xiaoping served as an educational leader of the Chinese Revolutionary Army from 1946 to 1949. He played a crucial role in organizing and expanding the army during the communist Revolution, earning praise from Mao for his exceptional organizational skills.

Deng attended the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on 1 October 1949, marking the Communist Party's control over the entire north of China.

From 1954 to 1967, Deng Xiaoping served as Vice Premier, making significant contributions to the economic and administrative governance of China.

In 1956, Deng Xiaoping gained several important titles including Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee, Head of the Organization Department, and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. These titles were crucial for his future role as the Secretary General of the Secretariat in 1957.

After officially supporting Mao Zedong in his Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957, Deng became General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

Mao launched the Great Leap Forward in 1958, aiming to achieve rapid economic progress, but it resulted in a disaster with tens of millions of people dying of starvation and severe disruption of agricultural and industrial production.

Mao launched the Cultural Revolution in 1966, targeting the established order and the Communist Party, leading to Deng Xiaoping being attacked as a 'capitalist roader' and subjected to intense abuse, including two years of solitary confinement.

A band of militia stormed and machine gunned the compound where Deng Xiaoping had been exiled under house arrest in Jiangxi province. The incident was later blamed on Lin Biao, but in the early 1980s, it was decided that Lin Biao was not involved. The case remains unsolved today.

An Ilyushin Il-14 was sent from Beijing to Jiangxi to take Deng Xiaoping back to Beijing to resume his work. However, an urgent order from Beijing instructed Deng to take a train instead, and the Ilyushin Il-14 Deng originally planned to take exploded above Anhui on its way back. This case was never solved.

Deng Xiaoping held the position of 1st-ranked Vice Premier from 1975 to 1976, contributing to the economic and administrative governance of China.

In September 1975, while Deng Xiaoping was taking his daily walk in Shanxi, a sniper opened fire on him but missed. The would-be assassin was never caught, and the case became a cold case file.

Deng Xiaoping is appointed as the acting premier on February 7, following the expectation that he would succeed Zhou Enlai.

Following Mao's death, Premier Hua Guofeng succeeded as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and gradually emerged as the de facto leader of China.

On January 1, 1977, Deng Xiaoping regained his position after being stripped of his titles due to an argument with Mao about rightist policies. This event marked a significant turning point in his career, as he continued to rise and played a key role in increasing China's economy.

On January 1, 1978, Deng Xiaoping took charge of a significant role, marking another important step in his career.

The Chinese economic reform, also known as 'reform and opening-up', began on December 18, 1978, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. It involved a variety of economic reforms aimed at modernizing the Chinese economy and introducing elements of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

During a bilateral meeting with President Jimmy Carter, Deng Xiaoping criticized Soviet relations with Vietnam and sought an endorsement from the United States to deter the Soviet Union from intervening when China launched a contemplated punitive attack against Vietnam.

In Houston, there was an assassination attempt by a Ku Klux Klan member against Deng Xiaoping. The KKK member rushed to the podium where Deng was speaking with a knife but was intercepted by an agent of the United States Secret Service.

Deng Xiaoping arrived in the evening at Boeing Field in Seattle before being transported to the Washington Plaza Hotel. He was accompanied by United States Secretary of Energy James R. Schlesinger, Governor Dixy Lee Ray, and Senators Warren Magnuson and Henry M. Jackson. During his visit, Deng also toured the Boeing Everett Factory and signed a deal to purchase several Boeing 747s.

In March 1980, during Deng Xiaoping's inspection of troops in Jinan military region, one of the local guards opened fire on him, shouting slogans against Deng. Deng was not harmed, and the assassin was quickly subdued by his bodyguard. It was believed that somebody else had planned the attack.

By 1981, Deng Xiaoping had risen to become the premier of the People’s Republic and the head of the Communist Party, solidifying his position as the most powerful leader in China.

In 1982, Deng first explained the concept of one country, two systems in relation to Taiwan. He intended to present it as an attractive option to the people of Taiwan for eventual incorporation of the island, where sovereignty over the territory is still disputed.

In August 1983, Deng Xiaoping launched the 'Strike Hard' Anti-crime Campaign to address the worsening public safety after the Cultural Revolution. The campaign involved setting quotas for executions and resulted in immediate positive effects on public safety, although controversies arose regarding the harshness of legal punishments and the long-term impact on public safety.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed on 19 December 1984, outlining the return of the whole Hong Kong colony to China by 1997. The Chinese government pledged to respect the economic system and civil liberties of the British colony for fifty years after the handover.

Deng Xiaoping was recognized as Time's Man of the Year for the second time in 1985.

Deng advanced the three steps suitable for China's economic development strategy within seventy years, achieving the first two steps ahead of schedule by the end of the 20th century.

On June 3-4, 1989, the military moved in under the cover of darkness and in a few hours it was all over. Though the international media was present for the Gorbachev visit, they were banned from the Square. It is believed that hundreds if not thousands of demonstrators were killed that night. This event marked a significant opposition to Deng Xiaoping’s authoritarian leadership.

In 1992, Deng Xiaoping decided to step down from his positions in the CCP’s Central Committee, the Political Bureau, and its dominant Standing Committee. This event is significant as Deng Xiaoping's leadership played a crucial role in making China a powerful country, and his departure raised concerns about the future leadership.

Deng Xiaoping's Southern Tour refers to a significant political event in post-Tiananmen China, where Deng Xiaoping made a tour to southern China to promote economic reforms and open-door policies. This tour played a crucial role in shaping China's modern economic landscape.

Deng Xiaoping passed away on 19 February 1997 at the age of 92, succumbing to a lung infection and Parkinson's disease. His death had a profound impact on China and the international community.

On February 24, 1997, China officially mourned the death of Deng Xiaoping, marking the end of an era in Chinese politics and economics. Deng Xiaoping's passing had a profound impact on the country's leadership and economic direction.

A 6-meter high bronze statue of Deng Xiaoping was erected in Lianhua Mountain Park in Shenzhen, dedicated to his role in the development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

During the reform period, the Chinese government significantly reduced tariffs and other trade barriers, leading to the overall tariff rate falling from 56% to 15%. By 2001, less than 40% of imports were subject to tariffs and only 9 percent of import were subject to licensing and import quotas.

Foreign investment was liberalized upon Deng's ascension, leading to the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the early 1980s to attract foreign capital by exempting them from taxes and regulations. This experiment was successful and SEZs were expanded to cover the whole Chinese coast.

A bronze statue commemorating Deng's 100th birthday was dedicated in Guang'an, Deng's hometown, depicting him sitting on a chair and smiling.

In 2005, CCP general secretary Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao began to reverse some of Deng Xiaoping's reforms, adopting more egalitarian and populist policies. This included increased subsidies and control over the health care sector, halted privatization, and a loose monetary policy which led to a property bubble.