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'''Zhao Ziyang''' (1919-2005) was a reformist [[Chinese Communist Party]] leader. A successful reformist party leader in [[Guangdong]] province, he was purged during the [[Cultural Revolution]] and forced to work in a factory. Rehabilitated by [[Zhou Enlai]] in 1973, he became party chief in [[Sichuan]], where his reforms were seen as a model by [[Deng Xiaoping]]. As Deng rose, so did Zhao: in 1980 he replaced the hapless [[Hua Guofeng]] as Prime Minister and in this role presided over economic reform and the introduction of market economics to the monolithic socialist economy of China. In 1987 he replaced [[Hu Yaobang]] as CCP General Secretary, but he was increasingly unpopular with hard-line communist elements in the leadership, and his failure to control events in [[Tiananmen Square]] in 1989 - he entered the square and engaged in dialogue with the pro-democracy protesters, something unheard of for a Chinese leader -  cost him the support of Deng. Zhao was the sole Politburo member not to vote for the imposition of martial law which preceded the [[Tiananmen Square Massacre]]; he was dismissed from his posts and spent the reminder of his life under house arrest.

'''Zhao Ziyang''' (1919-2005) was a reformist [[Chinese Communist Party]] leader.

 

A successful reformist party leader in [[Guangdong]] province, he was purged during the [[Cultural Revolution]] and forced to work in a factory. Rehabilitated by [[Zhou Enlai]] in 1973, he became party chief in [[Sichuan]], where his reforms were seen as a model by [[Deng Xiaoping]]. As Deng rose, so did Zhao: in 1980 he replaced the hapless [[Hua Guofeng]] as Prime Minister and in this role presided over economic reform and the introduction of market economics to the monolithic socialist economy of China.

In 1987 he replaced [[Hu Yaobang]] as CCP General Secretary, but he was increasingly unpopular with hard-line communist elements in the leadership, and his failure to control events in [[Tiananmen Square]] in 1989 - he entered the square and engaged in dialogue with the pro-democracy protesters, something unheard of for a Chinese leader -  cost him the support of Deng. Zhao was the sole Politburo member not to vote for the imposition of martial law which preceded the [[Tiananmen Square Massacre]]; he was dismissed from his posts and spent the reminder of his life under house arrest.

[[Category:People's Republic of China]]

[[Category:People's Republic of China]]