Li Xianniàn
Encyclopedia
Li Xiannian was President of the People's Republic of China
between 1983 and 1988 and then chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
until his death. He was an influential political figure throughout the PRC, having been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China
from 1956. He is one of the architects of China's economic recovery after the Cultural Revolution, and is considered one of the Eight Immortals of Communist Party of China
.
in 1927, and served as an army captain and political commissar for the Chinese Red Army during the Long March
.
Province in China from 1949–1954, and Commander of the Hubei Province's military garrison and political commissar. In 1950, Li was elected the first Chairman of the Hubei People's Government. While he was working in Hubei, Li was appointed Party Secretary of Wuhan
and Vice-Chairman of the PRC's Military Commission South-Central China.
In 1954, Li was appointed China's Minister of Finance, and held on to this position for 13 years, until the Cultural Revolution. Li was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister during 1954–1967. In 1967, he fell out of favour during the Cultural Revolution
.
Li was notable as the only civilian official to serve with Premier Zhou Enlai
throughout the entire Cultural Revolution. In 1976, during the final days of the Cultural Revolution. Li played an instrumental role in destroying the Gang Of Four
. Li was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Politburo
and a member of the Central Military Commission.
rose to leadership after the death of Mao Zedong, Li became Hua's chief economic adviser. If Hua had been successful in his efforts to achieve supreme power, Li would have become one of the most powerful officials in China, but Li's political career stalled when Deng Xiaoping
eclipsed Hua as China's "paramount leader". For the rest of his career, Li grumbled that his own achievements during the brief Hua interregnum were not sufficiently recognized as the basis of the progress experienced in China during the 1980s.
Li resented the younger officials who Deng promoted above Li, most notably Zhao Ziyang
. Li was a prominent opponent of Zhao's efforts to reform the Chinese economy, and disliked Zhao personally for Zhao's appreciation of "foreign stuff" and for Zhao's willingness to learn from the economic models that had been successful for the Asian Tiger economies and for the West. According to Zhao, Li "hated me because I was implementing Deng Xiaoping's reforms, but since it was difficult for him to openly oppose Deng, he made me the target of his opposition."
In 1983, after the passing of a new Constitution, Li was appointed President
at the age of 74. In the political environment of China in the 1980s, the role of President was "largely ceremonial", but recognized Li's role as a respected Party elder. In 1984, Li Met with US President Ronald Regan during Regan's visit to China, notably discussing the status of Taiwan
with the President. Li visited the United States
in July 1985, the first time a Head of State from the People's Republic China visited the USA.
In 1988, Li resigned from his position as President of the People's Republic Of China and was replaced by Yang Shangkun
. Li was then named Chairman of the CPPCC. During the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, Li was one of the hardline Party elders who pushed for a strong response to the demonstrations, and supported Li Peng
's desire to use military force to suppress the protests. Li continued to serve in government until his death in 1992.
President of the People's Republic of China
The President of the People's Republic of China is a ceremonial office and a part of State organs under the National People's Congress and it is the head of state of the People's Republic of China . The office was created by the 1982 Constitution...
between 1983 and 1988 and then chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
until his death. He was an influential political figure throughout the PRC, having been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
from 1956. He is one of the architects of China's economic recovery after the Cultural Revolution, and is considered one of the Eight Immortals of Communist Party of China
Eight Immortals of Communist Party of China
The Eight Great Eminent Officials , abbreviated as the Eight Elders were a group of elderly members of the Communist Party of China who held substantial power during the 1980s and 1990s...
.
Early career
Li joined the Communist Party of ChinaCommunist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in 1927, and served as an army captain and political commissar for the Chinese Red Army during the Long March
Long March
The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
.
Maoist politician
After the Communists victory in China, Li was appointed Party Secretary of HubeiHubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
Province in China from 1949–1954, and Commander of the Hubei Province's military garrison and political commissar. In 1950, Li was elected the first Chairman of the Hubei People's Government. While he was working in Hubei, Li was appointed Party Secretary of Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
and Vice-Chairman of the PRC's Military Commission South-Central China.
In 1954, Li was appointed China's Minister of Finance, and held on to this position for 13 years, until the Cultural Revolution. Li was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister during 1954–1967. In 1967, he fell out of favour during 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...
.
Li was notable as the only civilian official to serve with Premier Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
throughout the entire Cultural Revolution. In 1976, during the final days of the Cultural Revolution. Li played an instrumental role in destroying the Gang Of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
. Li was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Politburo
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
and a member of the Central Military Commission.
Post-Mao politician
When Hua GuofengHua Guofeng
Su Zhu, better known by the nom de guerre Hua Guofeng , was Mao Zedong's designated successor as the Paramount Leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China. Upon Zhou Enlai's death in 1976, he succeeded Zhou as the second Premier of the People's Republic of China...
rose to leadership after the death of Mao Zedong, Li became Hua's chief economic adviser. If Hua had been successful in his efforts to achieve supreme power, Li would have become one of the most powerful officials in China, but Li's political career stalled when 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...
eclipsed Hua as China's "paramount leader". For the rest of his career, Li grumbled that his own achievements during the brief Hua interregnum were not sufficiently recognized as the basis of the progress experienced in China during the 1980s.
Li resented the younger officials who Deng promoted above Li, most notably Zhao Ziyang
Zhao Ziyang
Zhao Ziyang was a high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China . He was the third Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1980 to 1987, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1987 to 1989....
. Li was a prominent opponent of Zhao's efforts to reform the Chinese economy, and disliked Zhao personally for Zhao's appreciation of "foreign stuff" and for Zhao's willingness to learn from the economic models that had been successful for the Asian Tiger economies and for the West. According to Zhao, Li "hated me because I was implementing Deng Xiaoping's reforms, but since it was difficult for him to openly oppose Deng, he made me the target of his opposition."
In 1983, after the passing of a new Constitution, Li was appointed President
President of the People's Republic of China
The President of the People's Republic of China is a ceremonial office and a part of State organs under the National People's Congress and it is the head of state of the People's Republic of China . The office was created by the 1982 Constitution...
at the age of 74. In the political environment of China in the 1980s, the role of President was "largely ceremonial", but recognized Li's role as a respected Party elder. In 1984, Li Met with US President Ronald Regan during Regan's visit to China, notably discussing the status of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
with the President. Li visited the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in July 1985, the first time a Head of State from the People's Republic China visited the USA.
In 1988, Li resigned from his position as President of the People's Republic Of China and was replaced by Yang Shangkun
Yang Shangkun
Yang Shangkun was President of the People's Republic of China from 1988 to 1993, and was permanent Vice-chair of the Central Military Commission...
. Li was then named Chairman of the CPPCC. During the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, Li was one of the hardline Party elders who pushed for a strong response to the demonstrations, and supported Li Peng
Li Peng
Li Peng served as the fourth Premier of the People's Republic of China, between 1987 and 1998, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, from 1998 to 2003. For much of the 1990s Li was ranked second in the Communist Party of China ...
's desire to use military force to suppress the protests. Li continued to serve in government until his death in 1992.
Sources
- Anderson, Kurt."History Beckons Again". TIME Magazine. May 7 1984. Retrieved August 19 2011.
- MacFarquhar, Roderick. "Foreword". In Zhao Ziyang, Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang. New York, NY: Simon and Shuster. 2009. ISBN:1-4391-4938-0.