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c) Personnel reform.
In the past promotion was determined by political acceptability and length of service. Deng is now actively seeking younger, more technically skilled, officials to take over senior positions. At the central level, China's vast and unwieldy bureaucracy has been significantly pruned and many inept or over-aged leaders have been forced into retirement.
d) Emphasis on economic reform. Deng has made it clear that China's primary task for the foreseeable future is economic development. Managers at all levels are to be judged by their efficiency in carrying this out. Material incentives have replaced political ones through the intro- duction of incentives in industry and agriculture.
e) Opening to the outside world. A measure of foreign technology and assistance are essential if China is to develop at the rate Deng wishes. However his commitment is long-term. He recently looked forward publicly to a time when it would be 'simply impossible' to forego such dealings because 'China's economic and trade ties with other countries have developed and come closer'.
Deng's reforms have never been intended to result in the abandonment of the Communist Party's domination of China. Since Deng's ascendancy some of the more stringent restrictions on the populace have been relaxed, but in general the Party's grip remains firm. Deng is no liberal. He has shown himself capable of quick and decisive action against any sign of dissidence that could threaten, however remotely, the Party's predominance. Last year's sudden crackdown on crime, with 10,000 reported executions, exemplified
this.
3. Since his rehabilitation in 1977, Deng has made remarkable progress. Through a series of astute political manoeuvres, he has gradually neutralised his main opponents. He is now personally
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/unassailable.
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