This was intended to be the last word on the Tiananmen tragedy. Four important pointers for the future emerge from the records of this meeting. First, the party saw itself as under permanent siege from opponents at home, backed by enemies abroad. Secondly, the weapons in this siege were Western liberal democratic values, which were contrary to the Chinese way. Thirdly, economic reforms were needed to keep the party in power. And, finally, ideological discipline must be enforced; if the party is allowed to become internally divided by factions, it will fall. These remain the party’s credo
...more
