Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping {{Audio|zh-Deng_Xiaoping.ogg|listen}} ({{zh-stpw |t=鄧小平 |s=邓小平 |p=Dèng Xiǎopíng |w=Teng Hsiao-p'ing}}; August 22, 1904—February 19, 1997) was a revolutionary elder in the Communist Party of China (CPC) who served as the de facto ruler of the People's Republic of China from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, forming the core of the "second generation" CPC leadership. Under his tutelage, China developed one of the fastest growing economies in the world while the Communist Party retained tight control over the country.

Opening up

Under Deng's direction, relations with the West improved markedly.

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Deng traveled abroad and had a series of amicable meetings with western leaders, traveling to the United States in 1979 to meet President Carter at the White House shortly after the U.S. broke diplomatic relations with the Republic of China and established them with the PRC. Sino-Japanese relations also improved significantly. Deng used Japan as an example of a rapidly progressing economic power that sets a good example for China's future economic directions.

Related Topics:
United States - Carter - White House - Republic of China - Sino-Japanese relations

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Another achievement was the agreement signed by Britain and China on December 19, 1984 (Sino-British Joint Declaration) under which Hong Kong was to be handed over to the PRC in 1997. With the end of the 99-year lease on the New Territories expiring, Deng agreed that the PRC would not interfere with Hong Kong's capitalist system for 50 years. A similar agreement was signed with Portugal for the return of colony Macau. Dubbed "one country-two systems," this approach has been touted by the PRC as potential framework within which Taiwan could be reunited with the Mainland in more recent years.

Related Topics:
Britain - December 19 - 1984 - Sino-British Joint Declaration - Hong Kong - 1997 - New Territories - Portugal - Macau - One country-two systems - Taiwan - The Mainland

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Deng, however, did little to improve relations with the Soviet Union, continuing to adhere to the Maoist line of the Sino-Soviet Split era that the Soviet Union was a superpower equally as "hegemonist" as the United States, but even more threatening to China because of its closer proximity.

Related Topics:
Soviet Union - Maoist - Sino-Soviet Split

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