Deng Xiaoping was barely five feet tall, but China’s late ruler was a political giant. He was a leading figure in the communist revolution and a staunch Leninist. Nevertheless, as ruler, he introduced market-oriented reforms and opened China to the world. On August 22, the 120th anniversary of Deng’s birth, China’s current leader Xi Jinping praised his “extraordinary life”.
As if taking over Deng’s mantle, Mr Xi also said China should deepen its commitment to the reform and opening-up agenda. This has angered many observers. Much of what Mr Xi has accomplished during his 12 years in power flies in the face of Deng’s legacy.
Deng’s most significant reforms were to reduce the role of the state in the economy and encourage private enterprise. The party, he said, should “allow some people to become rich first”. Contrast this with Mr Xi, who has reined in market forces and re-established a state-dominated development model. His “Shared Prosperity” campaign aims to rein in billionaires and reduce inequality. ,
Differences can be seen between the two leaders in the political field also. Deng called for the separation of functions of the Communist Party and the government. He also appreciated the notion of “collective leadership” with major decisions taken unanimously. In contrast, Mr Xi has re-imposed one-man rule. Meanwhile, the party is an ever-increasing presence in everyday life.
When Deng was in charge, China was still poor and relatively weak. Therefore, in foreign affairs, he argued for keeping a low profile. Now China is more powerful and Mr Xi is more vocal. Deng’s eldest son, Deng Pufang, made headlines in 2018 with a speech that was widely seen as an attack on Mr Xi’s increasingly ambitious foreign policy. China should “know its place” in the world and not be a “tyrant”, he said.
In at least one area, Mr Xi is aligned with Deng. The late ruler reportedly thought Mikhail Gorbachev was a “fool” for allowing the Soviet Communist Party to lose its grip on power. In 1989, when faced with large pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square, Deng ordered troops to crush the demonstrations. At the cost of hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
Chinese leaders rarely talk about that episode. But Mr Xi made an exception in his remarks on August 22. “At the critical juncture, Comrade Deng Xiaoping led the Party and the people to stand firm against turmoil and safeguard the power of the socialist state.” Equally forceful.
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