There is a lot of speculation that since the death of Deng
Xiaoping, a power struggle for the control of the Communist Party
of China and the state of the People's Republic of China has
broken out. Is it true that this is what is going on at this time
in the PRC? We can say for sure that the CPC is taking measures
to respond to the situation created by the death of Deng
Xiaoping. Whether or not it is a power struggle is not really the
important issue. The talk of a "power struggle" covers up two
extremely important issues at stake.
The PRC was born out of the struggle for the liberation of
China. The leaders of this struggle were conscious that China
will not be able to enjoy the fruits of its liberation unless it
carries out socialist revolution and socialist construction. On
the other hand, imperialism and all reactionaries, with U.S.
imperialism in the lead, considered the liberation of China to be
their "loss". For well over 48 years they have been trying to
undo the situation, at least to minimize their losses.
China's revolution, however, stopped half way. Can a
capitalist China succeed in safeguarding its independence? Mao
Zedong _ from the early days of the struggle _had considered that
the bourgeoisie is no longer revolutionary. Chiang Kai Shek and
his Kuomantang had proven themselves to be the enemies of
revolution. Hence, he spoke about placing the working class at
the head of the revolution. Can it be said that the bourgeoisie
has become revolutionary? All developments indicate that this is
not the case.
The inevitable struggle that will break out in the PRC, if
it is not already smoldering, is between those who want to go
from market socialism to socialism and communism and those who
will take the PRC backward from market socialism to classical
capitalism. On the first side will be the patriotic elements who
will be staunchly anti-imperialist while on the latter will be
their detractors who will compromise with imperialism.
It is an independent and socialist PRC which the
imperialists fear most. They would want a weakened capitalist
state which will fall into their lap. They very much wish to see
the renewal of the so-called "power struggle" which took place
in the seventies so as to influence it to make this happen.
Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
