A Cultural Revolution

By Leroy A. Binns Ph.D.

The Chinese crackdown that allegedly took the lives of hundreds of students at Tiananmen Square has become the issue of the day.

According to the media following the massacre Chinese officials denounced what they called counter-revolutionary activities and henceforth proceeded to imprison organizers (ten of whom reportedly have been executed), expelled journalists and postpone a meeting of the national legislature that was scheduled to discuss student demands.

At home fearful residents sought refuge and overseas massive protests engulfed the island of Hong Kong and major cities in Australia, West Germany and the United States. Further foreign governments have shown dissent. The French and Swedes have relinquished diplomatic ties with China whereas the British and American administrations have halted their supply of military hardware. In fact pressure may intensify as congressional members such as Senator Pete Wilson and House Speaker Thomas Foley rally support for an end to the friendship status afforded the communist republic. New measures are also under consideration in other Western countries. The Canadian ambassador to China has been recalled for deliberation and dignitaries from Norway and Denmark have cancelled trips to the world’s most populous state till further notice.

News has it that the local youths were requesting legitimate rights, most significantly freedom of the press, freedom of speech and incorrupt government representation. As a matter of fact they were allowed to do so much to the embarrassment of a subdued regime. Not only were they granted the opportunity to deface the leadership during the visit of General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev – the first by a Soviet president in over two decades but the privilege of world coverage as they called for the ouster of the governing body until opportunism became evident.

Many academics will readily infer that the death of former party leader Hu Yaobang, a prominent supporter of change and previous student movement in the Philippines and South Korea ignited the demonstrations. They will even liken the above to the Cultural Revolution – Mao’s 1965 attack on secularism. However such assessment is preoccupied with regional politics.

In 1972 a Kissinger initiative was introduced. This venture created a historic thaw in US/Sino relations and resulted in an increasing transfer of goods and services between the respective states in the years that followed. Moreover it provided a vehicle for Keynesian thought and radical transformation on the mainland.

 During the past decade the project increased in statute. As students exchange programs developed Chinese immigrants were encouraged to uproot communism in their homeland. Meanwhile additional incentives incited entrepreneurs to alert the world of the eminence of Jeffersonian democracy in the Peoples Republic of China.

Presently the Bush administration has denied any involvement in the Chinese affair but its intentions prove otherwise. In an enclosed session Vice President Dan Quayle informed the Chairman of the Chinese legislature Wan Li of the necessity to reshape the Beijing household by replacing Deng Xiaoping and his loyal subordinates, President Yang Shangkun and General Qin Jiwel with the relatively moderate oustered communist party chief Zhao Ziyang and his reformers and thereafter stressed that decisive steps would be taken to keep the nation in line with America’s wishes.

The events up to date are unfortunate and must be promptly addressed by the Chinese authorities through constant consultation with its subjects and if necessary intermediaries that share a common interest. External involvement may also be useful providing diplomacy is advanced as the means to a peaceful solution.