Beijing Reaffirms Stance That Zhao Erred in Uprising
China’s Communist Party refused Friday to even partially clear the name of former party chief Zhao Ziyang, who was purged for his failure to quash the 1989 Tian An Men Square pro-democracy uprising.
Zhao did not publicly support the protests. But he is believed to have opposed the use of military force that left hundreds dead after he was removed and the demonstrations were put down in June of that year.
The official New China News Agency said Friday that the party’s main policy-making body, the Central Committee, had completed its investigation of Zhao’s conduct and reaffirmed its decision three years ago that he had seriously erred.
The party is unlikely to reconsider its ruling before the deaths of senior leader Deng Xiaoping and other elderly officials who supported the military crackdown.
The Central Committee issued its finding at its last meeting before a national party congress convenes Monday to map the country’s economic and political direction.
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