THE FUTURE.
11. ONE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY (PLA) WILL ONCE AGAIN COME TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL ROLE IN CHINA,
AND | SUSPECT THAT SOME SENIOR OFFICERS WOULD LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO INTERPRET THE CIRCULAR ABOUT THE STRUGGLE AGAINST BOURGEOIS LIBERALISATION RECENTLY ISSUED BY THE GENERAL POLITICAL DEPARTMENT A3 EVIDENCE THAT THE PLA IS AGAIN TRYING TO ENTER THE POLITICAL ARENA. I WOULD PREFER TO SUSPEND JUDGEMENT. BUT I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TASKS TO FACE ZHAO ZIYANG DURING THE RUN-UP TO THE PARTY CONGRESS WILL BE TO IMPOSE HIS WILL
THEIR ON THE MEN IN UNIFORM WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO. IMMEDIATE JUNIORS (MUCH YOUNGER MEN LIKE HE QIZONG, XU HUIZI AND WU SHAOZU) ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO WANT TO EMPHASISE READINESS RATHER THAN EXPERTISE, HOWEVER LITTLE THEY MAY HAVE LIKED HU YAOBANG.
12. IT NOW SEEMS TO BE ASSUMED BY EVERYONE I SPEAK TO (CHINESE AND NON-CHINESE) THAT ZHAO ZIYANG WILL BECOME THE REGULAR GENERAL-SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, PROBABLY AT A CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING DURING THE AUTUMN. THERE IS STILL NO OBVIOUS CANDIDATE TO SUCCEED HIM AS PREMIER. THE YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR TOLD ME ON 4 MARCH THAT HE HAD BEEN ADVISED TO WIDEN HIS GAZE IN LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES. HIS INFORMANT, WHOM HE SAID WAS WELL PLACED, HAD TOLD HIM THAT THE FIELD INCLUDED THE GOVERNORS OF LIAONING, AND SICHUAN, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR OF TIANJIN. THINK THAT TIAN JIYUN IS THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE.
SHANDONG -
I AM NOW INCLINED TO
EVANS
YYYY
PEHPAN 4457
LIMITED.
FED
HKD
PUSA
NENS.D
INFO.D
RES.D
PS
PS/MR. RENTON PSIPUS.
MR. GILLMORE
MR WILSON MR. MCLAREN.
COPIES TO:
NO 10 DONNING ST.
SIR. P. CRADDOCK
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CAB OFFICE.
DI ROW MOD.
MR.R. FELLOWES, BUCKINGHAM PALACE
-4.
SECRET
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