Li Rui | Hu Yaobang and China’s Political Reform: Reflections of 12 Old Communists

This book is a large collection of essays launched to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Hu Yaobang, a reformist leader of the Communist Party of China.
20 years ago, on April 15, 1989, Hu Yaobang passed away, triggering a widespread democratic movement in China, which ultimately ended tragically on June 4 due to the authorities’ bloody suppression. On April 15, 2009, 20 years later, as the 20th anniversary of “June 4th” approached, the flames of memory among the people ignited, and various commemorative activities were frequently held, with the Beijing authorities highly nervous and vigilant against any unusual movements.

Twelve old Communist Party members, who were originally old comrades-in-arms and subordinates of Hu Yaobang, collectively wrote and presented this book in Hong Kong on the 20th anniversary of Hu Yaobang’s death. They had close working relationships or personal contact with Yaobang; some were important party and government officials and scholars during Yaobang’s administration.

The open commemoration of a former top leader of the Communist Party of China, who passed away 20 years ago, from the people and from the democratic faction within the Communist Party, still cannot be carried out in mainland China today, and has to be transferred to Hong Kong under the “capitalist system” to be completed. This phenomenon constitutes a peculiar and “eerie” landscape of “socialism with Chinese characteristics”, which is thought-provoking and makes people sigh. It also provides a new focus and hotspot for the sensitive and subtle development of the Chinese political situation on the eve of the 20th anniversary of “June 4th”.

The book truthfully records the deep reflections of a generation of old Communist Party members on current Chinese issues, expressing their patriotism, “saving the party”, and their eager desire to promote China’s political reform and democratization process.