The .22Gao Gang Affair.22 Gao Gang

1 gao gang affair

1.1 preliminary discussions party leaders
1.2 negative party reactions , death
1.3 conclusions

the gao gang affair

the so-called “gao gang affair” gao gang s attempt displace liu shaoqi , zhou enlai key posts in government , try increase own personal standing within party. gao thought had mao zedong s approval such move , began approach senior cadres asking support in summer of 1953. activities revealed mao chen yun , deng xiaoping , chairman informed gao actions out of order. efforts made deal risk party unity gao s attempts had provoked. under considerable pressure, gao took own life in august 1954.

preliminary discussions party leaders

mao had series of private conversations gao in late 1952 or 1953 believed expressed degree of dissatisfaction liu , zhou, apparently remarking cautious in attitude towards pace of socialist transformation in china. details of mao told gao still unclear. although cannot know intentions, whether approving action towards liu , zhou or merely expressing frustrations friend in private, significant thing gao took mao s words consent move against these 2 senior cadres.

following this, gao approached senior party members , expressed views regarding liu , zhou, making important point hint had mao s approval. rao shushi, military figure had power base in east china , chief of organisational department of central committee, gave support gao. after conference rao, gao toured southern , eastern provinces in order discuss views other military leaders, lin biao, peng dehuai, , zhu de.

gao approached key figure of lin biao; while lin gave no practical support, agreement gao s views influenced gao continue seek backing. peng dehuai, known have antipathy against gao s main target liu shaoqi, expressed support, lin did nothing in particular aid gao. when gao approached key military figure luo ronghuan, luo demanded know mao s exact thoughts. doubtful whether mao had endorsed such suggestions , told gao inappropriate them discuss such significant matter.

negative party reactions , death

when gao expressed thoughts li xiannian, chen yun , deng xiaoping, both concerned attempts clear threat party unity. chen , li informed zhou enlai first gao s activities , spoke mao. deng spoke mao directly gao s approach. @ politburo meeting on 24 december 1953, mao confronted gao , gave him serious warning activities severe threat party unity. @ conference, mao s position clear: condemned gao forming anti-party alliance .

this marked end of gao s attempts advance position realised did not in fact have mao s support. mao entrusted liu shaoqi, 1 of targets of gao s brief attempt gain power, organisation of plenum in february 1954 focus on party unity. mao s reaction seen signal of both mao s lack of tolerance sought threaten integrity of ccp, , public endorsement of liu.

at february discussion meetings, zhou enlai made various charges against gao gang. zhou accused gao first of setting independent kingdom , reference gao s power base in northeast; , second of having mixed right , wrong in soviet relations , hint @ gao s alleged close ties ussr; , of fabricating comrade mao zedong s words , gao had told others plans had mao s support. zhou publicly contradicted gao s belief military should play preeminent role in politics of prc, deplored gao s attempts spread rumors liu , other leaders, , concluded gao s intention sow discord , usurp power within party , state. zhou condemned gao s dissolute lifestyle.

apparently distraught, gao made several attempts talk mao refused audience chairman. possible mao avoided facing gao because of secret talks between 2 men had prompted gao s attempts advance own position. gao tried shoot himself during february meetings , succeeded in poisoning himself in august 1954. after suicide, in 1955, gao formally expelled party. gao s ally, rao, expelled party, , jailed until death in 1975. gao s death not brought closure of immediate sort “affair”, made sure duly remembered in dishonourable fashion traitor party.

conclusions

gao s assumption mao support elimination of zhou , liu, despite mao s dissatisfaction them, mistaken. @ time, mao still relatively tolerant of differing opinions, confident both liu , zhou align views mao if pressed. mao satisfied unity had been achieved yan rectification movement, , had no intention of altering basic party structure had been established @ 1945 party congress. mao disagreed gao s own opinion of role in revolution (which mao thought inflated), , believed party should retain clear command on state , military. if gao s views of importance of army in revolution had prevailed, have contradicted mao s interpretation of ccp history, , have threatened mao s preeminent position of leadership.

the “gao gang affair” showed real risk of factional splits within chinese communist party during first few years of people s republic, period seen era of party unity. attempting exploit grievances held cadres against others, gao able attract interests of several significant cadres, if none of them backed him. “gao gang affair” can viewed stillborn coup attempt within politburo, significance not failed succeed or gather basic support. rather, showed there possibility of power struggles within party involve targeting of senior party members. following “gao gang affair” there calls greater party unity , there increase in centralisation old regional administrations party , military bodies abolished, change had been planned time no doubt spurred on gao s attempts use regional power gain power @ centre.

another factor has been explored, , had great importance @ time, soviet connection. gao s attempt gain power not seen soviet-backed move against chinese communists, gao s connections ussr made people suspicious of him. @ time when sino-soviet relations close tense, ccp endorsed soviet methods of economic planning wanted make sure ussr did not gain increased influence on prc, impression (however slight) gao s attempts gain power might have had links friendship soviets have been viewed alarm. can seen in zhou enlai s public comments against gao @ february 1954 discussion meetings charged him having mixed right , wrong in soviet relations .

perhaps more significant how case shows dominating power , manipulation of mao zedong, during period when, assumed, mao s commitment democratic intra-party decision-making @ highest. mao s comments influenced gao , led him believe that, though going against party , senior cadres, actions justified because had chairman s backing. senior cadres lin biao , peng dehuai expressed (admittedly limited) support because thought gao had mao s approval. entire plot (if indeed can call that) ended in 1 stroke mao, needed express true thoughts @ 1 politburo meeting in order stop gao s activities , make other cadres admit mistakes. mao s role in whole affair can seen important indeed.