Seizing Hold of the Foxtails

Once again, China seems to be embroiled in a power struggle between its ideological factions. One week after the unexpected appointment of the relatively unknown Hua Kuo-feng as the country's acting Premier (TIME, Feb. 16), leftists in Peking's leadership launched a violent attack on their "rightist" enemies. The radicals' rhetorical onslaught, if it continues to grow, could upset the plans for a smooth leadership succession carefully worked out by Chou En-lai before his death last month.

The principal target of the radicals' campaign was First Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-p'ing, the man most Sinologists had believed would succeed Chou as Premier. Last week a series of wall posters appeared at Peking University, as well as universities in Shanghai and Wuhen. The posters, mentioning no names, virulently attacked "an old capitalist reader," as well as "people who say ideology is not important and the only thing that matters is economic progress." The references were clear. Teng had been denounced as a "capitalist reader" during the Cultural Revolution, and he is known to be a man committed to a pragmatism in economic development. Foreigners were allowed to inspect the posters in Peking--proof that this was not an isolated and unapproved campaign. Some students even said explicitly that Teng was the target.

Violent Polemic. That was not all. Shortly after Hua's appointment, People's Daily published its most violent polemic in years--an attack on the large group of bureaucrats, Teng chief among them, who had been restored to power since their disgrace during the Cultural Revolution. "Before it is too late," urged the editorial, "go and tear down their masks, arrest the black hands that have attacked the proletariat, and seize hold of the tails of these foxes who push for the restoration of capitalism."

Despite the blunt language of these polemics, it was too early to say whether China was on the verge of another drastic revolutionary upheaval. One snippet of evidence: Richard Nixon's visit to Peking later this month--commemorating the fourth anniversary of the Peking summit that inaugurated an era of Sino-American detente--had not been canceled. In welcoming the former President, Peking seemed to be rebuking the present Administration in Washington for failing to take a harder line against China's revisionist enemies in Moscow. Nonetheless, the visit affirmed the importance that Peking continues to attach to its relations with the U.S.--as well as to the moderate foreign policy forged by Chou Enlai.

The renewed radical campaign also does not necessarily mean that the wily, tough Teng Hsiao-p'ing is finished. Obviously his chances of becoming Premier are dim at best; but he still holds more top posts than any other official in China--First Vice Premier of the government, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party and Chief of Staff of the Army. It is possible that Teng and the rehabilitated bureaucrats now under attack have the strength to withstand any radical effort to oust them from their positions. A majority of China's powerful regional military commanders are believed to have good relations with Teng. Sinologists were betting that the army would back him and the moderates if it came to a showdown. Moreover, previous leftist campaigns during the past three years--none of them so serious as the current one--fizzled out when the moderates proved able to hold their ground. Late last week, hints of the counterattack by Teng's group could be found in radio broadcasts from China emphasizing "party leadership" and "unity," code words for anti-radical policies.

Still, last week's offensive was ominous, coming as it did so soon after the death of the moderate pragmatist Chou Enlai. At the very least, the new radical attack raised serious questions about China's ability to transfer power smoothly to new leaders. Certainly, the biggest immediate test facing inexperienced acting Premier Hua will be keeping Peking's quarrelsome factions at peace. Moreover, the biggest test of all--managing the world's most populous country after the death of its feeble 82-year-old Chairman--is yet to come.

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