Beijing Spring
Encyclopedia
The Beijing Spring refers to a brief period of political liberalization
in the People's Republic of China
which occurred in 1977 and 1978. The name is derived from "Prague Spring
", an analogous event which occurred in Czechoslovakia
in 1968.
During the Beijing Spring, the general public was allowed greater freedom to criticize the government than the Chinese people had previously been allowed under the government of the People's Republic of China
. Most of this criticism was directed towards the Cultural Revolution
and the government's behavior during that time; it was made public with the Democracy Wall Movement.
The phrase 'Beijing Spring' was also used during a more recent period of political thaw in the PRC, September 1997 to mid November 1998. During this 'new Beijing Spring' the Chinese authorities relaxed some control over political expression and organisation. The relatively trouble-free handover of Hong Kong to China, and the death of Deng Xiaoping
were precursors to this brief period of liberalisation. It was during this second 'Beijing Spring' that the China Democracy Party
was founded and legally registered by some local authorities, Democracy Wall dissident Wei Jingsheng
was released and exiled, China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
, and China was visited by US President Bill Clinton
and UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson
. By the end of 1998 the government had again cracked down on leading dissidents and those involved in the fledgling CDP.
Liberalization
In general, liberalization refers to a relaxation of previous government restrictions, usually in areas of social or economic policy. In some contexts this process or concept is often, but not always, referred to as deregulation...
in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
which occurred in 1977 and 1978. The name is derived from "Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
", an analogous event which occurred in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in 1968.
During the Beijing Spring, the general public was allowed greater freedom to criticize the government than the Chinese people had previously been allowed under the government of the People's Republic of China
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
. Most of this criticism was directed towards the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
and the government's behavior during that time; it was made public with the Democracy Wall Movement.
The phrase 'Beijing Spring' was also used during a more recent period of political thaw in the PRC, September 1997 to mid November 1998. During this 'new Beijing Spring' the Chinese authorities relaxed some control over political expression and organisation. The relatively trouble-free handover of Hong Kong to China, and the death of Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
were precursors to this brief period of liberalisation. It was during this second 'Beijing Spring' that the China Democracy Party
China Democracy Party
Democracy Party of China is a political party that started in the People's Republic of China, and was banned by the Communist Party of China . The history of the DPC and its foundation date is unclear because it has many historical paths under different groups of founders...
was founded and legally registered by some local authorities, Democracy Wall dissident Wei Jingsheng
Wei Jingsheng
Wei Jingsheng is a Chinese activist known for his involvement in the Chinese democracy movement, most prominent for authoring the document Fifth Modernization on the "Democracy Wall" in Beijing in 1978. He is generally known for getting arrested and spending 15 years in prison due to the document...
was released and exiled, China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
, and China was visited by US President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
. By the end of 1998 the government had again cracked down on leading dissidents and those involved in the fledgling CDP.