Forty years after Deng opened China, reformists are cowed
Some wonder whether Donald Trump’s tariffs might help their cause
THOUGH IT DOES not believe in saints, the Communist Party of China came close to canonising its former paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, back in 2004. On the centenary of his birth, Deng—who died in 1997—was hailed as the immortal “chief architect” of reforms that had made China prosperous and strong. The eulogies had some basis. Thanks to his support for policies dubbed “reform and opening up”, Deng can take credit for a secular miracle: the greatest economic recovery in history.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Seeking salvation”
From the December 8th 2018 edition
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Why are Chinese soldiers fighting in Ukraine?
They have been showing up on both sides of the battlefield throughout the war
China’s shoemakers seem more sanguine than its politicians
A trade war will cause a lot of damage, but many have weathered storms before
To secure exports to Europe, China reconfigures its rail links
A new line will bypass its best friend, Russia
The Panama ports deal is delayed, as China signals dissent
Xi Jinping may be wanting to increase leverage over America
China has a thriving black market for personal data
The surveillance state is good at collecting information but bad at keeping it safe
China could greatly reduce its reliance on coal. It probably will not
Even though solar and wind power are growing at a blistering pace