Zhao Ziyang

former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Zhao Ziyang was a high-ranking politician in China. He was the Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1980 to 1987, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of China from 1981 to 1982 and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1987 to 1989.


Zhao Ziyang
赵紫阳
Zhao Ziyang in 1985
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
In office
1 November 1987 – 23 June 1989
acting from 16 January 1987
PresidentLi Xiannian
Yang Shangkun
PremierLi Peng
Preceded byHu Yaobang
Succeeded byJiang Zemin
Premier of the People's Republic of China
In office
10 September 1980 – 24 November 1987
PresidentPost abolished
Li Xiannian
DeputyDeng Xiaoping
Wan Li
Preceded byHua Guofeng
Succeeded byLi Peng
Personal details
Born(1919-10-17)17 October 1919
Hua County, Henan
Died17 January 2005(2005-01-17) (aged 85)
Beijing, People's Republic of China
Cause of deathStroke
NationalityChinese
Political partyCommunist Party of China
Spouse(s)Liang Boqi(1918–2013)
ChildrenZhao Daijun (eldest son)
Zhao Erjun (second son)
Zhao Sanjun (third son)
Zhao Sijun (fourth son)
Zhao Liang (daughter)
Zhao Wujun (fifth son)

Zhao did not like Maoist policies. He received support from Deng Xiaoping after the Cultural Revolution. Zhao tried to stop corruption and to make general market economic changes. His views made him unpopular with important leaders including Premier Li Peng, former President Li Xiannian and Party elder Chen Yun. After the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 Zhao was not allowed to be a politician. He was placed under house arrest.[1]

References

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  1. Pomfret, John (15 May 2009). "In Posthumous Memoir, China's Zhao Ziyang Details Tiananmen Debate, Faults Party". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 September 2016.