The PLA and Intra-CCP Leadership Power Struggle in the Eras of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping

Li, Nan

doi:10.1007/978-981-15-6442-0_3

Nan Li²

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Abstract

This chapter reveals that party-army symbiosis was high in the era of Mao because the PLA involvement in intra-party leadership power struggle was extensive and substantial. Military force was mobilized into such struggle and a large number of senior military officers were persecuted as members of the “anti-party cliques.” Deng attempted to disengage the PLA from China’s domestic politics, but a social and political crisis of a massive scale motivated Deng to leverage the PLA to quell a popular rebellion in Beijing in 1989. This intervention led to the substantial involvement of the PLA in domestic politics, ranging from restoring social order to the politics of top leadership succession.

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Notes

1.
See Yang Shangkun, “Recollecting Gao-Rao Incident” [“回忆高饶事件”], Documents of the Party [党的文献], No. 1 and No. 2 (2001). Yang served as director of the CCP Central General Office at the time of the Gao-Rao Incident. Documents of the Party is a bimonthly journal published by the CCP Documents Studies Office and Central Archives Bureau in Beijing.
2.
Gittings, The Role of the Chinese Army, pp. 274–279.
3.
Ibid., pp. 289, 291.
4.
See Party History, Party Construction, and Political Work Teaching and Research Office of NDU, Political Work History, pp. 146, 161–162, 170, and Zhang Shude, Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai [毛泽东与彭德怀] (Beijing: China Youth Press, 2008), Chapter 7.
5.
See Party History, Party Construction, and Political Work Teaching and Research Office of NDU, Political Work History, p. 265. See also Xia Fei, “Beginning and End of Framing up He Long in ‘February Coup’” [“贺龙遭受‘二月兵变’诬陷始末”], Yanhuang Chunqiu [炎黄春秋], No. 9 (September 2009). Yanhuang Chunqiu is a monthly journal published in China on historical issues.
6.
“Speech Delivered by Lin Biao to the Expanded CCP Politburo Conference (May 18, 1966)” [“林彪在中央政治局扩大会议上的讲话 (一九六六年五月十八日)”], Selected Works of Lin Biao, Vol. 3 [林彪文选, 第三卷] (Beijing: People’s Press, 1968).
7.
See Yu Ruxin (余汝信), “Anti-Coup Measures before and after Lin Biao’s ‘May 18 Speech’” [“林彪‘5.18 讲话’前后的防政变措施”], Feng Hua Yuan [枫华园], No. 436 (2004). Conversations with Yu in June 2018 in Singapore. Yu is a noted Chinese historian who specializes in the role of the PLA in the Cultural Revolution. He lives in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
8.
Ibid.
9.
Ibid.
10.
Ibid.
11.
Ibid.
12.
See Party History, Party Construction, and Political Work Teaching and Research Office of NDU, Political Work History, p. 269, and Zheng Tao, “Just Resistance – before and after the So-Called ‘February Adverse Current’” [“正义的抗争-所谓 ‘二月逆流’的前前后后”], in Zhang Hua, et al. (eds.), Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution”: Analysis and Reflections on China’s Ten-Year “Cultural Revolution,” Book Two [回首“文革”: 中国十年“文革”分析与反思, 下册] (Beijing: CCP History Press, 2000). Zheng is a former deputy secretary-general of China’s National People’s Congress.
13.
See Chen Xianrei, “Arrests of Liao Hansheng and Yang Yong and the So-Called Question of ‘North China Mountaintopism’” [“廖汉生, 杨勇被抓与所谓‘华北山头主义’问题”], Hundred-Year Tide [百年潮], No. 4 (2000), and Qin Jian, “What I Know about the Incident of Fu Congbi ‘Assaulting’ the CCRLG” [“我所知道的傅崇碧‘冲击’中央文革小组事件”], Aspect [纵横], No. 4 (2009). Hundred-Year Tide is a monthly journal published by the CCP History Press in Beijing, and Aspect is a monthly journal published in China on historical issues. Chen was a deputy political commissar of the Beijing MR at the time of the incident, and Qin was a staff officer in the BGD headquarters at the time.
14.
Yin Jiamin, “Beginning and End of the CMC Administrative Group” [“军委办事组始末”], Exposition of Party History [党史博览], No. 11 (2003). Exposition of Party History is a monthly journal published in China on CCP and PLA history, and Yin is a military historian in China.
15.
See Wu De, “Lushan Conference and Lin Biao Incident” [“庐山会议和林彪事件”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.” Wu served as party secretary of Beijing at the time.
16.
See Liu Zhinan, “Differences and Contradictions between Mao Zedong and Lin Biao from the 9th Party Congress to the Eve of the 2nd Plenum of the 9th Party Central Committee” [“九大至九届二中全会前夕毛泽东与林彪的分歧和矛盾”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.”
17.
Ibid.
18.
Ibid. See also Su Caiqing, “On Lin Biao’s ‘Order Number One’” [“关于林彪的‘第一号令’”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.”
19.
See Liu, “Differences and Contradictions between Mao Zedong and Lin Biao.”
20.
See Wu, “Lushan Conference and Lin Biao Incident.”
21.
See Wang Dongxing, “Chairman Mao in the Days of Crushing Lin Biao’s Counter-Revolutionary Coup Plot” [“毛主席在粉碎林彪反革命政变阴谋的日子里”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.” Wang served as director of the CCP Central General Office and director of the Central Guard Bureau from the 1960s to the late 1970s.
22.
Ibid.
23.
Ibid. See also Chi Zehou, “Guan Guanglie Discusses Lin Biao” [“关光烈谈林彪”], Southern Weekend [南方周末], February 16, 2012. Chi is former director of the Mobilization Department of the Guangzhou MR. This article is based on Chi’s interview with Guan.
24.
See Wang, “Chairman Mao in the Days of Crushing Lin Biao’s Counter-Revolutionary Coup Plot,” and Zhang Nie’er, China in 1971 – Storm Clouds of 9.13 [中国1971 – 风云九·一三] (Beijing: Liberation Army Press, 1999), Chapter 5. Zhang’s book is based on extensive interviews with the PLAAF officers who were implicated in the Lin Biao Incident, including Lu Min.
25.
Wang, “Chairman Mao in the Days of Crushing Lin Biao’s Counter-Revolutionary Coup Plot.”
26.
For details, see ibid.
27.
See Wu, “Lushan Conference and Lin Biao Incident.”
28.
See Wu Zhong, “Wu Zhong Discusses the ‘September 13th Incident’” [“吴忠谈‘九一三事件’”], Yanhuang Chunqiu, No. 1 (2012). Wu was commander of the BGD at the time of the incident.
29.
See “An Analysis of Lin Biao Incident” [“林彪事件解析”], October 10, 2009, retrieved in January 2019 from http://www.linbiao.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=722, and conversations with Yu Ruxin.
30.
See An Jianshe, “The Struggle to Criticize the Ultra-leftist Ideological Trend Led by Zhou Enlai after ‘September 13th’” [“‘九一三’后周恩来领导的批判极左思潮的斗争”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.”
31.
See Wang Yonghua, “Beginning and End of Implementing the Cadre Policy in the late period of the Cultural Revolution” [“文革后期落实干部政策始末”], Wenshi Jinghua [文史精华], No. 3 (2012). Wenshi Jinghua is a monthly journal published in China on historical issues.
32.
See An, “The Struggle to Criticize the Ultra-leftist Ideological Trend Led by Zhou Enlai after ‘September 13th’.”
33.
See Wang Haiguang, “The Campaign of ‘Criticizing Lin Biao and Confucius’” [“‘批林批孔’运动”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.”
34.
Yin Jiamin, “An Actual Account of the ‘Gang of Four’ Meddling in Army Affairs under the Pretext of ‘Criticizing Lin Biao and Confucius’” [“‘四人帮’借‘批林批孔’插手军队纪实”], Exposition of Party History, No. 7 (2012).
35.
See Zhang Tuosheng, “Deng Xiaoping and Comprehensive Rectification in 1975” [“邓小平与1975年的全面整顿”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.”
36.
Jin Chunming, “A Review of the April 5th Movement” [“四五运动述评”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution.”
37.
Li Haiwen, “The Antagonism Developed between the Gang of Four and the Majority of the Politburo Members after the 10th CCP Congress,” [“中共十大后形成的四人帮与政治局多数的对立”], Exposition of Party History, No. 7 (2017).
38.
Fan Shuo, “A Record of Complete Collapse of the ‘Gang of Four’” [“‘四人帮’覆灭记”], in Zhang, et al., Recollecting the “Cultural Revolution,” Xiong Lei, “How Did Hua Guofeng and Ye Jianying Join Hands in 1976?” [“1976, 华国锋和叶剑英怎样联手的?”], Yanhuang Chunqiu, No. 10 (2008), and Li Haiwen, “Hua Guofeng before and after the Crushing of the ‘Gang of Four’” [“华国锋在粉碎‘四人帮’前后”], Southern Weekend, October 1, 2011.
39.
Li, “Hua Guofeng before and after the Crushing of the ‘Gang of Four’,” and Ye Xuanji, “Marshal Ye and Crushing of the ‘Gang of Four’” [“叶帅与粉碎 ‘四人帮’”], Southern Weekend, October 1, 2011. Ye Xuanji is a son of Ye Jianying.
40.
See Wu Jianhua, “Private Discussions of Ye Jianying and Wang Dongxing on Handling the ‘Gang of Four’” [“叶剑英汪东兴密谈处置‘四人帮’”], Yanghuang Chunqiu, No. 7 (2004).
41.
See Ibid., Fan, “A Record of Complete Collapse of the ‘Gang of Four’,” Zhang Gensheng, “Hua Guofeng Discusses the Crushing of the ‘Gang of Four’” [“华国锋谈粉碎‘四人帮’”], Yanhuang Chunqiu, No. 7 (2004), Tao Ran, “Wu Zhong Discusses the Arrest of the ‘Gang of Four’” [“吴忠谈抓‘四人帮’”], Yanhuang Chunqiu, No. 5 (2012), and Gu Yubao, “A Special Mission Assigned to Geng Biao” [“耿飙的一次特殊使命”], Wenshi Chunqiu [文史春秋], No. 2 (2009). Wenshi Chunqiu is a monthly journal published in China on historical issues, and Geng served as China’s defense minister from 1981 to 1983.
42.
See Ma Kechang, Special Defense [特别辩护] (Beijing: China Changan Press, 2007), Chapter 5. China Changan Press is a publisher of the CCP Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
43.
Ibid.
44.
See Ye Yonglie, Deng Xiaoping Changed China [邓小平改变中国] (Chengdu: Sichuan People’s Press, 2014), Chapter 3.
45.
Li Yigen, “Senior General Su Yu’s Years in the ‘Cultural Revolution’” [“粟裕大将的‘文革’岁月”], Xiangcao [湘潮], No. 4 (2009). Xiangcao is a monthly journal published in China on historical issues.
46.
See Chen Jiexun, “Liao Hansheng’s Struggle against the ‘Gang of Four’ under the Personal Instructions of Ye Jianying and Deng Xiaoping” [“叶剑英邓小平亲授指示: 廖汉生同‘四人帮’的斗争”], Xiangcao, No. 11 (2012).
47.
Ibid.
48.
See Ye, Deng Xiaoping Changed China, Chapter 6.
49.
Ibid., Chapter 8.
50.
Ibid., Epilogue.
51.
They resigned at the 5th Plenum of the 11th CCP Central Committee held during February 23–29, 1980.
52.
See Li, “Organizational Changes of the PLA.”
53.
See Wu Wei, “Sudden Changes: Downfall of Hu Yaobang” [“风云突变: 胡耀邦落马”], New York Times (Chinese Edition), March 17, 2014, and “The Game Surrounding the ‘Campaign of Opposing Bourgeois Liberalization’” [“围绕‘反自由化’进行的博弈”], New York Times (Chinese Edition), March 31, 2014.
54.
See Bai Mo, “Beginning and End of ‘June 4th’ Part 1 – Campus Upheavals” [“‘六四’始末之一 – 学潮乍起”], BBC News (Chinese Edition), May 20, 2014, “Part 2 – the Game of Hunger Strike” [“之二 – 绝食博弈”], BBC News (Chinese Edition), May 21, 2014, and “Part 3 – The Capital under Martial Law” [“之三 – 戒严之都”], BBC News (Chinese Edition), May 22, 2014.
55.
See Bai Mo, “Beginning and End of ‘June 4th’ Part 4 – Bloodshed on Changan Avenue” [“‘六四’始末之四 – 喋血长安”], BBC News (Chinese Edition), May 23, 2014, Wu Renhua, Martial Law Forces in ‘June 4th’ Incident [‘六四’事件中的戒严部队] (Los Angeles, CA: Truth Press, 2009), and conversations with senior PLA officers in Beijing in January 1998.
56.
See “A Record on Major Events of CCP (1989)” [“中国共产党大事记 (1989)”], people.cn [人民网], September 5, 2007.
57.
Ibid.
58.
Ibid.
59.
“25 Years Later, Details Emerge of Army’s Chaos Before Tiananmen Square,” The New York Times, June 3, 2014, and conversations with senior PLA officers in January 1998.
60.
See “Deng Xiaoping’s Speeches during His Southern Tour (Original Edition)” [“邓小平南巡讲话 (原版)”], Sino-Foreign Management Magazine [中外管理杂志], July 19, 2016. The magazine is a monthly published in Beijing.
61.
“Why Was Initial Media Coverage of Speeches of Southern Tour Afraid of Mentioning Deng Xiaoping?” [“最初报道南巡讲话为何不敢提邓小平?”], Xinhuanet, April 25, 2013.
62.
See “Deng Xiaoping’s Speeches during His Southern Tour (Original Edition).” The original edition is different from the official edition in that the latter deleted Deng’s praise of Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang and his critical comments on the collapse of the Soviet Union and the policies of the hardliners. For the official edition, see “Deng Xiaoping’s Speeches during His Southern Tour in 1992 (Whole Text)” [“1992年邓小平南巡讲话 (全文)”], people.cn, August 11, 2014.
63.
Ezra F. Vogel, Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2011), p. 677, and conversations with senior party and PLA officials in Beijing in January 1998.
64.
See “Why Was Initial Media Coverage of Speeches of Southern Tour Afraid of Mentioning Deng Xiaoping?” and “1992: Deng Xiaoping Took a Southern Tour and Delivered His ‘Southern Speeches’” [“1992: 邓小平南巡发表‘南方讲话’”], people.cn, October 9, 2009.
65.
See “Resolutely Carrying out and Implementing the Basic Line, Actively Participating in and Supporting Reform and Opening Up” [“坚决贯彻执行基本路线, 积极参加支持改革开放”], Liberation Army Daily, March 14, 1992.
66.
For citations of Yang and articles in People’s Daily, see Kou Chien-wen, Evolution of the CCP Elite Politics: Institutionalization and Power Transition, 1978–2004 [中共菁英政治的演變: 制度化與權力轉移, 1978–2004] (Taipei: Center for China Studies, National Chengchi University, 2007), p. 138.
67.
See Zhang Songping, “Before and After Public Reporting of Deng Xiaoping’s ‘Speeches in His Southern Tour’” [“邓小平‘南巡讲话’公开报道前后”], South Reviews [南风窗], No. 11 (1998). South Reviews is a monthly magazine published in Guangzhou, China.
68.
See “Foot-Prints of the Republic – 1992: Establishing the Reform Goal of Developing a System of Market Economy” [“共和国的足迹 – 1992: 确立市场经济体制的改革目标”], Xinhuanet, September 24, 2009.
69.
See “1992: Deng Xiaoping Took a Southern Tour and Delivered His ‘Southern Speeches’.”
70.
See “Communique of the First Plenum of the 14th CCP Central Committee” [“中国共产党第十四届中央委员会第一次全体会议公报”], people.cn, October 19, 1992.
71.
“Princelings” refer to the children of the senior party and PLA officials.

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East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Nan Li

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Li, N. (2021). The PLA and Intra-CCP Leadership Power Struggle in the Eras of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. In: Civil-Military Relations in Post-Deng China. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6442-0_3

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6442-0_3
Published: 02 October 2020
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