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CHINA: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS BETWEEN THE 12TH AND 13TH CCP CONGRESSES,
1.
1982-87
The attached chronology and central Party leadership lists trace political developments in China between the 12th CCP Congress in 1982 and the eve of the 13th CCP Congress scheduled to begin on 25 October 1987.
2. Political developments have taken place against a background of extensive economic reforms and social changes. They have tended to be cyclical in pattern, with periods of reformist advances on a broad front being followed by a conservative reaction, which, temporarily, halt reformist momentum. The economy has been prone to periods of excessive growth, giving rise to pressures on the state sector, inflation and current account deficits. Reform and the open door policy have also resulted in increased corruption and foreign influences and transgressed long-held ideological orthodoxies and entrenched interests. Political disputes, such as the campaigns against spiritual pollution in 1983 and against bourgeois liberalisation in 1987 as well as less dramatic periods of concern over corruption and nepotism have focussed on these issues and been fuelled by economic problems. Despite the halting progress, the centre of gravity of Chinese politics has moved in the reformist direction. Reformists have largely managed to ensure that criticism has remained on the by-products of reform and not spilt over to attack fundamentals.
3. 1982-1987 was a period of generational change with extensive personnel movements at most levels. However a glance at the leadership lists for 1982 and 1987 will show that this had only a limited effect at the centre. There was a significant number of retirements from the Politburo, but few new faces. Of the 26 members of the Politburo and Secretariat in 1987, only four had not featured in the 1982 list (Li Peng, Tian Jiyun, Wu Xueqian and Wang Zhaoguo).
4. A striking feature of the period was the apparent decline in the political influence of the military. Not only has its representation in the central Party leadership been drastically reduced, but the role it played in 1982 as the most powerful orthodox, or even leftist,
even leftist, critic of reformist trends has been lost. That role has now been taken by individuals within the civilian Party ranks. The ageing process has affected military leaders more than their civilian counterparts the soldier-politicians have disappeared and are unlikely to reappear.
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