Unstable Support for Hua

Despite this desperate attempt by Hua to rub off some charisma from Mao and to secure some solid backing from the established members of the CCP, the Chinese masses supported him basically because they-identify with Chou and Teng and the policies which the people believe would improve their lot.

His tenuous position was underlined by an escalating series of demonstrations and wall posters that began in Peking on January 6 this year, which praised Teng and demanded Hua to "reverse the verdict" on the Tien An Men demonstration. The following days new posters with increasingly bold demands appeared, describing Teng as a "very good comrade" and demanded "arrangements for Teng Hsiao-ping to be working again".

The posters called for pardons for those who had been victimised on the grounds of being supporters of Teng. Perhaps the most serious warning to Hua of his vulnerability was a small graffiti of January 10 on the construction site at Tien An Men Square. On it the reference to Teng as vice-premier has been crossed out and replaced by the title "chairman".

These challenges present a dilemma for Hua. While he cannot continue to ignore the popular support for Teng, he is also aware that Teng, next to Chou, was the most important leader of the moderate faction, possessing much more influence and experience than anyone in the current leadership. His rehabilitation would be a serious threat to Hua's position.

One possible move by Hua to release at least some of the pressure is to adopt the economic policies of Chou and Teng, first advanced at the Fourth People's Congress calling for the "Four Modernisations". There is some evidence already which indicates this move from the ideological campaigns of the post Cultural Revolution period towards an emphasis on economic construction. This shift was hinted in the editorials of the October 25 issue of the "People's Daily" and other official organs. The editorials called for accomplishing "the comprehensive modernisation of agriculture, industry, national defence and science and technology and building China into a powerful socialist country before the end of the century. . ."

Whatever they do the new leadership cannot resolve these problems without making a radical break with the Stalinist policies first instituted by Mao. What they are likely to do is to appease the masses with short term concessions, which will only raise the expectations of the masses to press harder for an end to the present intolerable situation.