On January 17, we saw the passing of Zhao Ziyang, a great figure of our generation. Once known as the architect of China’s economic reform and former CCP Secretary General, Mr. Zhao was under house arrest for nearly 16 years for his opposition to the armed suppression of the 1989 student democracy movement until his recent death. His defiance earned him praise and respect from the Chinese people, as well as leaders of democratic countries around the world.
Communist leaders often try to establish an image of being one with the people to serve as a façade for their suppressive nature. The new Hu-Wen administration’s “people-focused” and “law-based” policy is a prime example of this. The handling of Zhao’s death, however, has told a totally different story. Fearing that Zhao’s death may spark another upheaval, the CCP has taken a hard line on every detail of Zhao’s memorial. They have taken this opportunity to reemphasize that his siding with the students was a “serious mistake” through the state-run Xinhua news agency.
To get at the core of what the CCP is trying to accomplish any given time, though, is a tough task. Internal documents and speeches are the best source to look for evidence and indications. In this issue, we will reveal a few such documents regarding the CCP’s religious policy and provide analysis and commentary on those topics. Don’t be surprised if the United States is involved in the CCP’s persecution of its own citizens.
It now seems obvious that Hu Jintao is holding fast to the Communist dogma. It’s possible that, growing up within the CCP culture, he knows nothing else. If history is any guidance, the trend is worrisome. During the CCP’s control, each generation of leaders has been responsible for great, bloody injustices against its own people—Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and the Tiananmen Massacre, and Jiang Zemin and the crackdown on Falun Gong.
It’s not totally clear yet what Hu Jintao will be up to. Let’s keep watching.