Low-Key Commemoration of Deng Xiaoping’s Death Sparks Controversy
Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the death of former leader of the Communist Party of China Deng Xiaoping, but the official commemoration was notably low-key. The Chinese Communist Party did not hold any large-scale events to honor Deng, in stark contrast to previous years.
Although a flower-laying ceremony was held in Deng Xiaoping’s hometown of Guang’an, Sichuan, and a one-minute short video was released by Xinhua Newspaper Network in commemoration of Deng Xiaoping, the official recognition was minimal.
However, controversy arose when the Maoist website “Red China” published a short article on Sunday night titled “Congratulations on the 27th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s death.” The article referred to Deng as “the chief architect of reform and opening up” and praised him as a “revolutionary leader of the proletariat.” The article has not been blocked or removed from the website, causing concern in a country known for strict speech control.
Qin Peng, a political and economic observer in the United States, commented on the significance of the article, noting that the song referenced in the article, Luo Dayou’s “Song of the Dwarf,” was written in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square massacre and is a mockery of Deng Xiaoping and other communist leaders. Peng stated that the article’s continued presence on the Chinese internet reflects Xi Jinping’s ongoing efforts to belittle Deng and effectively bring an end to the CCP’s reform and opening up policies.
In another controversial development, the day before the anniversary of Deng’s death, the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China announced a so-called “discussion event on emancipating the mind.” Notably, the notice from the Hunan authorities omitted any reference to Deng Xiaoping’s original proposal of “liberating the mind” in 1978, instead emphasizing adherence to Xi Jinping’s ideological guidance.
Critics have denounced the Hunan Committee’s actions as a thinly-veiled attempt to stifle opposing viewpoints and maintain the party’s strict control over ideology. Independent commentator “Xiang Yang Xiangyang” criticized the party’s announcement, suggesting that the emphasis on “Xi Thought” was a diversion from genuine political reform and likening it to a “stupid parody.”
Gao Yu, a senior media figure in Beijing, described the Hunan Committee’s activities as a repressive political movement aimed at restricting liberalized thoughts.
The events surrounding the anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s death and the controversial actions of the Hunan Provincial Committee have ignited debate and raised concerns about the state of political freedom and ideological diversity in China. As the ongoing discourse unfolds, the international community will be watching closely to see how these developments impact the future direction of the Chinese Communist Party.