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If
years older than him. Wan Li, a 70-year old Vice-Premier with a low-key consensus-orientated approach may be
willing to defend the liberal cause. Although
Sir R Evans makes no mention, there have been press
suggestions that he might be appointed as Premier in
place of Zhao Ziyang, at least for an interim period.
he is appointed, then it is clear that the liberal wing is not completely eclipsed. If he is not appointed, the most likely candidates, as Sir R Evans suggests, are
Li Peng, Tian Jiyun, and Qiao Shi, men in their late 50s
or early 60s, each with supporters, each with enemies. The fifth name which has been aired recently is that of
the Mayor of Tianjin, Li Ruihuan, but the Chinese Embassy
here have suggested that he is a most unlikely candidate;
his name having emerged simply because he was praised on one occasion recently by Deng Xiaoping.
6. One of the goals of the reform programme has been the effective separation of Party and Government powers. The appointment of Premier Zhao concurrently as acting
General Secretary of the Party is therefore a step in the
wrong direction. Both Sir R Evans and the Chinese
Ambassador here have said that they do not believe that
Zhao can continue in both jobs for long. There is a
meeting of the National People's Congress at the end of March which might appoint a successor to Zhao, assuming he is to continue in the more sensitive position of General Secretary. But Deng Xiaoping will find it difficult to identify the right person, particularly after his own error of judgement over Hu Yaobang. well be that Zhao will have to continue doing both jobs
until the autumn Party congress.
It may
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