Hu Qiaomu; Marxist Purged China’s Liberals

Hu Qiaomu, a hard-line Marxist theorist who played a key role in purging liberal intellectuals in the last 10 years, died Monday at 81. He was the fourth important hard-liner to die this year, further weakening the position of the Marxist faction of the national Communist Party just before its congress this month.

The state-run New China News Agency said Hu died of an unspecified illness.

He was an important figure among the leftist ideologues who have opposed senior leader Deng Xiaoping’s efforts to push market-style reforms and more openness to the outside world.

Hu’s main post at his death was on the standing committee of the party’s Central Advisory Commission, a body of retired party officials. But his influence was based on the connections he developed during 57 years in the party. For several years in the 1940s, Hu was secretary to revolutionary leader Mao Tse-tung.

He later was director of the New China News Agency, deputy director of the party propaganda department, director of the party history research office and a Politburo member.

In the early 1980s, Hu was the top party official in charge of ideological matters. He and his assistant, Deng Liqun, helped draft key party documents, including a 1983 decision that affirmed Mao as a hero despite condemning the far-leftist Cultural Revolution he started.