CHINA: Teng's Era

The New Long March begins

As if to herald the new year—and a new era, beginning Jan. 1 with ceremonies launching normalization of relations with the U.S.—China's Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-p'ing moved swiftly last week to consolidate his political gains and to accelerate the nation's New Long March to modernization. In a skillful move that further strengthened his hold on the highest level of government, Teng packed the 23-member ruling Politburo with four of his loyal supporters. Foremost among the new members is Teng Ying-ch'ao, 74, the widow of Chou Enlai, Teng's longtime patron and the first proponent of his program. Also elevated to Politburo status were three veteran bureaucrats and industrial experts who are openly committed to Teng's economic plan.

Though the Politburo reshuffle was obviously a triumph for Teng and his pragmatist faction, the wily leader stopped short of booting his enemies from their top posts. Three Politburo members who reportedly fought against Teng's rehabilitation from disgrace 18 months ago were still at their posts last week, though their power was manifestly diminished. They were: Wu Teh, who was ousted as mayor of Peking last October; Secret Police Chief Wang Tung-hsing; and Peking Regional Commander Chen Hsi-lien. Their survival appeared to be evidence of Teng's willingness to compromise with opposing factions, at least temporarily, to achieve the unity necessary for the arduous push toward modernization.

While Teng's supporters were being confirmed as Politburo members, the Communist Party Central Committee announced that the long and often bitter purge of the Gang of Four, Peking's disgraced radical faction, had "in the main been completed victoriously." From now on, said the announcement, the stress will no longer be on the criticism campaign but on rapid economic growth.

Another sign of Teng's ascendancy was the solemn, though posthumous, rehabilitation of several former top leaders who had been victims, like Teng himself, of Mao's frequent purges. T'ao Chu, once the party boss of Kwangtung province, had been hounded to death by Mao's Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution of 1966-69, while former Defense Minister P'eng Teh-huai was purged in 1959 for policy differences with Mao. P'eng's persecution was officially attributed to the Gang of Four, but as millions of Chinese know, there was no "gang" in 1959. Because Mao himself was P'eng's judge and jury, P'eng's rehabilitation could only serve to debase Mao's reputation and enhance Teng's image yet even further.