16th March 1968 – My Lai Massacre

Posted on 16/03/2015 by Michael

My Lai Monument

16th March 1968 – My Lai Massacre

Just after dawn on the morning of 16th March 1968, when the peasants were starting off to tend their paddies and the children were starting to have their breakfast, the quiet of the spring morning was broken by the arrival of US helicopters firing into people’s homes. This was soon followed by the arrival of troop carrying helicopters who also started to fire indiscriminately at anything that moved. Four hours later, by the end of this ‘military action’ 504 Vietnamese civilians were killed and soon after a village structure that had existed for hundreds of years was wiped out. The Vietnamese knew this group of villages as Song My, the rest of the world, when the news finally broke 18 months later, were to know the site of this massacre as My Lai.

My Lai Massacre

Earlier that year the US invading forces and their South Vietnamese lackeys had been taken by surprise by the Tet Offensive. This began on the night of the 29/30th January when units of the Vietnamese People’s Army (from the North Vietnam) and guerrilla units of the National Liberation Front (the NLF from the South) simultaneously attacked numerous military bases and cities in the south of the country, even coming out of the ground in the middle of Da Nang, the principal close to the border with the People’s Republic of the North.

The action didn’t achieve any lasting military objectives but the very fact that it could have been organised on such a scale in the first place started to create the realisation amongst the American imperialists that they wouldn’t be able to win the war. It would be another seven years before the panic-stricken Yankees and their hangers-on (literally as the last helicopters took off) fought tooth and nail against each other to get on the last helicopters from the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon as North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the compound gates.

But like a wounded animal, knowing it is about to die, the Americans lashed out with the aim of causing as much damage and suffering as possible. The cost of defeating the most powerful military nation on the earth would have to be paid for at a high price.

The area which encompassed Song My was considered to be more than just sympathetic to the NLF and was known by the Americans as ‘Pinkville’. The guerrilla units in the south followed the military principals of People’s War, developed by Mao Tse-tung in China in the war, first, against the Japanese Fascist invaders and then the reactionary, Western Imperialist supported, Nationalist Kuomintang.

Mao coined the phrase of the guerrilla army ‘swimming like fish amongst the people’ and the Vietnamese followed this lesson well. However, not only do revolutionaries learn from the experience of those who have gone before them. Reactionaries also learnt and decided that if the revolutionaries were swimming amongst the people then they would deny them the water. The fact that many innocent people would bear the cost of this approach wasn’t (and still isn’t – witness what has happened in the last 14 years with the imperialist wars of intervention in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East) of concern to the American commanders in Vietnam nor their political masters in Washington. As far as they were concerned ALL the ‘gooks’ (their racist term for the Vietnamese) were guilty, if not for crimes of commission then for crimes of omission, even babies only a matter of a few weeks old or those yet to be born.

My Lai Massacre

It’s difficult to imagine what went through the minds of those soldiers who carried out the massacre that covered three separate hamlets in Song My. There were no reports whatsoever that these brave troops came under any sort of enemy fire. In fact there was only one casualty amongst the G.I.s – and his wound was self-inflicted in an effort not to indulge in the blood lust.

My Lai Massacre

Most of the troops involved were relatively new to the country and therefore couldn’t really argue that they were battle weary and bitter from what they had seen happen to their fellow conscripts – although I have heard one soldier argue that case. Neither could they use the excuse given in Northern Ireland by the British Paratroopers after the murder of Irish Republican demonstrators on ‘Bloody Sunday’ in 1972 when one reason given for them opening fire was that these ‘elite’ troops were frightened by being shot at.

My Lai Massacre

The majority of US troops in Vietnam by this time of the war were conscripts. The majority of them were in their late teens or early twenties. The majority of them were from poor, working class backgrounds. A disproportionate number of them were poor working class black Americans (in a tableau in the My Lai museum they are given equal status to the whites in killing women and children), living in a society that was even more racist and segregationist than it is now. Yet these working class boys, under the orders of officers with little more stake in US society than the soldiers under their command, just went wild.

My Lai Massacre Museum

Shooting at everything that moved, regardless of age or gender; burning of buildings, sometimes with people inside alive; destroying all foodstuffs including domesticated animals; trapping people in confined spaces and then throwing in fragmentation grenades; gang raping of the women regardless of age and even those in late stages of pregnancy; killing babies only a few weeks old; mutilating the bodies of their victims including cutting out tongues, cutting off hands, disembowelment and taking scalps; pulling out unborn foetuses from pregnant women; shooting the wounded if they made the mistake of lettering their murderers know they were still alive; this orgy of death and destruction went on for hours until they had killed all that they thought was alive.

My Lai Massacre

There was little evidence of any of the soldiers making any effort to put a stop to all this or to try to bring some element of civilisation back into their mission – although a few are said to have ‘not participated’ (but that begs questions about crimes of commission or omission). Apart from one exception. The three-man crew of one of the support helicopters put their machine between a group of G.I.’s and their intended victims. Whilst the gunner held his heavy machine gun on soldiers from his own side a handful of villagers were able to be escape the mayhem. One of the helicopter crew was killed soon after (in combat) but the two that survived were invited to the thirtieth anniversary commemoration at the Quang Ngai General Museum in 1998.

Even though the trials at Nuremberg (after World War Two) had, supposedly, rejected the argument of ‘just obeying orders’ as being no excuse or vindication for committing such atrocities this was the case put by many of those who attended (many didn’t) the Peers Commission that was set up more than 18 months after the event. Whatever orders might have been given that doesn’t excuse what these teenagers did, many of them going way above and beyond the ‘call of duty’, their obvious enjoyment of the opportunity to kill and maim with impunity being proof of that.

My Lai Massacre

(This wasn’t the first time American soldiers had been given orders by their officers and then executing them with a gusto that bordered on fanaticism. On November 29th 1864 the American army carried out a similar massacre against, mainly, unarmed Cheyenne and Arapaho at Sand Creek in Colorado. The film ‘Soldier Blue’, released in 1970, making a clear parallel between the two events separated by just under a hundred years.)

My Lai Massacre

So those who actually did the killing have no excuse (and shouldn’t be excused) but what were their orders? The same that had been given to other units before them, that is to go out and ‘search and destroy’ in what was designated as a ‘free fire zone’. This gave a virtual carte blanche for the soldiers to do whatever they wished and they would not be held responsible. This had been happening throughout the country for a number of years causing widespread devastation, through acts of the military on the ground, artillery bombardments, the widespread use of napalm and defoliation with chemicals such as Agent Orange. Therefore the idea of a ‘free fire zone’ was basically part of the philosophy of the American military and this would have been known by even such rookie troops as those that were sent into the Song My area.

My Lai Massacre

At the same time the military did not act totally under their own volition and were under the control of the politicians in Washington. Even if the rest of the world wasn’t aware of what was happening in Vietnam those in the White House and the Pentagon certainly did. And the fact that the very villages were bulldozed soon after the massacre indicates that the commanders in the field knew that things had gone slightly to far.

My Lai Massacre

So what made the My Lai Massacre different? It seems that news of what had happened was circulating very soon after the event. Although the murder of civilians and the destruction of their homes wasn’t new at Song My the Americans had taken their task of murder into a new league and it would have been impossible to have completely suppressed the news. At the same time the military would have wanted this news to have spread throughout the south of Vietnam as a warning, threat and promise to those Vietnamese who supported the NLF and the North Vietnamese.

My Lai Massacre

The reports and letters that went around, both the military structure in Vietnam and the offices of politicians and newspapers in the United States were only words. By 1968 it was images that were to make the difference. Anyone who was of an age to watch and understand the TV images being shown everyday throughout the world in the late 60s and early 70’s will understand the importance of images. TV news programmes showed, daily, American wounded and dead being collected from the battlefield as well as the scenes played out on the streets of Saigon (such the summary execution by a bullet to the head of a Vietnamese guerrilla or the self-immolation of a Buddhist monk). The power of those images is the reason why, ever since, photographers and journalists are ’embedded’ – read controlled – by the US, UK or NATO armies.

My Lai Massacre

Ron Haeberle, an army photographer, had only just started his tour of duty when he was sent to Song My. Although not believing what he saw he continued to take photos during the morning. After the massacre he handed in 40 black and white pictures to the military but kept 18 in colour. It was those pictures which were to make the written reports even more potent.

Wisely, for self-preservation reasons, Haeberle didn’t release those pictures until he had returned from Vietnam – war zones are very easy places to get yourself killed. Even though the extent of the furore after the release of his photographs was worldwide, to the best of my knowledge none of the other pictures he took that spring morning have ever been made public. However, it’s difficult to believe that any other pictures would tell us much more about what happened. The suppression, or destruction of his other pictures only goes to demonstrate the lack of openness of governments when caught out doing the direct opposite to what they say. (Most of the pictures on this page are from among those Haeberle kept to himself for the best part of 18 months.)

The Report of the Peers investigation set up when the news of the massacre was too widespread to be ignored seemed to give the impression that this was a ‘one off’, an aberration and not a matter of policy. However, the widespread deployment of ‘search and destroy’ missions, the ‘Strategic Hamlet Programme’ – whereby villagers were gathered together in virtual concentration camps in order to make contact between the ordinary peasants and the guerrillas that much more difficult – and the designation of huge swathes of the country as being ‘free fire zones’ meant that the lives of the Vietnamese people held no value in the minds of the occupation forces.

Atrocities carried out by the Americans and the South Vietnamese Army were not new, only the scale was different. Eighteen months before My Lai the Democratic Republic of Vietnam had produced a pamphlet, with photographs, of examples of war crimes committed by US troops and at about the time of the My Lai Massacre they produced evidence (presented to Bertrand Russell International Tribunal) claiming genocide on the part of the Americans. There’s no significant difference between the pictures in these pamphlets from those of Haeberle taken in March 1968.

After all the fuss, all the publicity, all the demonstrations on the streets throughout the world, all the words spoken, all the investigations carried out, all the crocodile tears of politicians, no one was held accountable for what happened at Song My/My Lai. A junior officer (Calley) was chosen as a scapegoat (which doesn’t mean him any less culpable) and found guilty but later given a Presidential pardon by Richard Nixon. The Peers investigation report was even told not to refer to it as a massacre and described it as an ‘incident’. Ultimately no one was held responsible.

And nothing has really changed in the policies of the American nor any other country that considers it has the right to enter in the internal affairs of another country. My Lai wasn’t the first of such massacres, neither was it the last.

For a period after defeat in Vietnam the US ‘sub-contracted’ the killing of innocent villagers, although really the concept of ‘innocence’ seems now to have been lost. In Latin America the fascist, right-wing murder squads ran amok throughout the 70s and 80s from Mexico down to the Tierra del Fuego. If these killers needed training they received that at the ‘anti-communist insurgency’ School of the Americas at Fort Benning. To keep their eye in the US invaded Granada and Panama, on both occasions civilians got in the way.

In the Middle East surrogates kept their populations quiet with the use of terror. Some of these lost the support of the US and have fallen. Others still carry out the will of the US although they would maintain they are independent nations. Sometimes things don’t need to be said for them to happen. Israel continues to murder Palestinians and destroy their homes. Indeed Israel was in the game of massacres before it was even established as a state, killing indiscriminately Palestinians in the village of Deir Yassin on 9th April 1948. The Zionists then sub-contracted the killing to the Christian militia in Lebanon and over two days in September 1982 they murdered thousands in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila.

Since the beginning of the 21st century the US has again got more directly involved and thousands have been killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East following western government attempts at ‘regime change’. The Americans, and their allies, got around the embarrassment of large numbers of civilians being killed by not actually counting them, as they did in Fallujah.

And presently in India, the present and previous governments, since 2009, have been pursuing what they call ‘Operation Green Hunt’ against the dalits and adivasis (the ethnic and tribal groups) who in some of the most mineral rich areas of the country. However, in India the people are not just accepting this and are fighting back under the leadership of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

If people thought that the massacre at My Lai was an aberration they should think again.

The voices of those who killed

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the massacre in 2008 the BBC’s Radio Four broadcast a programme in its Archive Hour slot which includes interviews with some of those involved in the murderous attack. Personally, I don’t have any sympathy whatsoever for those young soldiers who have subsequently suffered from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder for what they did that day so long ago.

Here is a recording of that programme, entitled The My Lai Tapes is presented in two parts, Part 1, Part 2.

Beijing Review 1979 – 1991

Posted on 16/01/2024 by Michael

Carry out the Four Modernisations of the Fatherland

Beijing Review 1979 – 1991

1979 – Volume 22

1 – January 5, 1979, 32 pages.

2 – January 12, 1979, 40 pages.

3 – January 19,1979, 32 pages.

4 – January 26, 1979, 32 pages.

5 – February 2, 1979, 32 pages.

6 – February 9, 1979, 32 pages.

7 – February 16, 1979, 32 pages.

8 – February 23, 1979, 32 pages.

9 – March 2, 1979, 32 pages.

10 – March 9, 1979, 32 pages.

11 – March 16, 1979, 32 pages.

12 – March 23, 1979, 32 pages.

13 – March 30, 1979, 32 pages.

14 – April 6, 1979, 32 pages.

15 – April 13, 1979, 32 pages.

16 – April 20, 1979, 32 pages.

17 – April 27, 1979, 32 pages.

18 – May 4, 1979, 32 pages.

19 – May 11, 1979, 32 pages.

20 – May 18, 1979, 32 pages.

21 – May 25, 1979, 32 pages.

22 – June 1, 1979, 32 pages.

23 – June 8, 1979, 32 pages.

24 – June 15, 1979, 32 pages.

25 – June 22, 1979, 32 pages.

26 – June 29, 1979, 32 pages.

Supplement, Subject index for issues 1-26 in 1979, 16 pages.

27 – July 6, 1979, 48 pages.

28 – July 13, 1979, 32 pages.

29 – July 20, 1979, 32 pages.

30 – July 27, 1979, 32 pages.

31 – August 3, 1979, 32 pages.

32 – August 10, 1979, 32 pages.

33 – August 17, 1979, 32 pages.

34 – August 24, 1979, 32 pages.

35 – August 31, 1979, 32 pages.

36 – September 7, 1979, 32 pages.

37 – September 14, 1979, 32 pages.

38 – September 21, 1979, 32 pages.

39 – September 28, 1979, 32 pages.

40 – October 5, 1979, 40 pages.

41 – October 12, 1979, 32 pages.

42 – October 19, 1979, 32 pages.

43 – October 26, 1979, 32 pages.

44 – November 2, 1979, 32 pages.

45 – November 9, 1979, 32 pages.

46 – November 16, 1979, 32 pages.

47 – November 23, 1979, 32 pages.

48 – November 30, 1979, 32 pages.

49 – December 7, 1979, 32 pages.

50 – December 14, 1979, 32 pages.

51 – December 21, 1979, 32 pages.

52 – December 28, 1979, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1979, 32 pages.

1980 – Volume 23

1 – January 7, 1980, 32 pages.

2 – January 14, 1980, 32 pages.

3 – January 21, 1980, 32 pages.

4 – January 28, 1980, 32 pages.

5 – February 4, 1980, 32 pages.

6 – February 11, 1980, 32 pages.

7 – February 18, 1980, 32 pages.

8 – February 25, 1980, 24 pages.

9 – March 3, 1980, 32 pages.

10 – March 10, 1980, 32 pages.

11 – March 17, 1980, 32 pages.

12 – March 24, 1980, 32 pages.

13 – March 31, 1980, 32 pages.

14 – April 7, 1980, 32 pages.

15 – April 14, 1980, 32 pages.

16 – April 21, 1980, 32 pages.

17 – April 28, 1980, 32 pages.

18 – May 5, 1980, 32 pages.

19 – May 12, 1980, 32 pages.

20 – May 19, 1980, 32 pages.

21 – May 26, 1980, 32 pages.

22 – June 2, 1980, 32 pages.

23 – June 9, 1980, 32 pages.

24 – June 16, 1980, 32 pages.

25 – June 23, 1980, 32 pages.

26 – June 30, 1980, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1980, 32 pages.

27 – July 7, 1980, 32 pages.

28 – July 14, 1980, 32 pages.

29 – July 21, 1980, 32 pages.

30 – July 28, 1980, 32 pages.

31 – August 4, 1980, 32 pages.

32 – August 11, 1980, 32 pages.

33 – August 18, 1980, 32 pages.

34 – August 25, 1980, 32 pages.

35 – September 1, 1980, 32 pages.

36 – September 8, 1980, 32 pages.

37 – September 15, 1980, 32 pages.

38 – September 22, 1980, 48 pages.

39 – September 29, 1980, 40 pages.

40 – October 6, 1980, 32 pages. (Announces upcoming trial of “Gang of Four” and also of surviving Lin Biao conspirators.)

41 – October 13, 1980, 32 pages.

42 – October 20, 1980, 32 pages.

43 – October 27, 1980, 32 pages.

44 – November 3, 1980, 32 pages.

45 – November 10, 1980, 32 pages.

46 – November 17, 1980, 32 pages.

47 – November 24, 1980, 32 pages.

48 – December 1, 1980, 32 pages.

49 – December 8, 1980, 32 pages.

50 – December 15, 1980, 32 pages.

51 – December 22, 1980, 32 pages.

52 – December 29, 1980, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1980, 40 pages.

1981 – Volume 24

1 – January 5, 1981, 32 pages.

2 – January 12, 1981, 32 pages.

3 – January 19, 1981, 32 pages.

4 – January 26, 1981, 32 pages.

5 – February 2, 1981, 32 pages.

6 – February 9, 1981, 32 pages.

7 – February 16, 1981, 24 pages.

8 – February 23, 1981, 32 pages.

9 – March 2, 1981, 32 pages.

10 – March 9, 1981, 32 pages.

11 – March 16, 1981, 32 pages.

12 – March 23, 1981, 32 pages.

13 – March 30, 1981, 32 pages.

14 – April 6, 1981, 32 pages.

15 – April 13, 1981, 32 pages.

16 – April 20, 1981, 32 pages.

17 – April 27, 1981, 32 pages.

18 – May 4, 1981, 32 pages.

19 – May 11, 1981, 32 pages.

20 – May 18, 1981, 32 pages.

21 – May 25, 1981, 32 pages.

22 – June 1, 1981, 32 pages.

23 – June 8, 1981, 32 pages.

24 – June 15, 1981, 32 pages.

25 – June 22, 1981, 32 pages.

26 – June 29, 1981, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1981, 32 pages.

27 – July 6, 1981, includes ‘On Questions of Party History‘, adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the CPC on June 27, 1981, 30 pages. (This is the notorious revisionist summation of, and slander against, the Mao years of the CCP.) 40 pages.

28 – July 13, 1981, 32 pages.

29 – July 20, 1981, 32 pages.

30 – July 27, 1981, 32 pages.

31 – August 3, 1981, 24 pages.

32 – August 10, 1981, 32 pages.

33 – August 17, 1981, 32 pages.

34 – August 24, 1981, 32 pages.

35 – August 31, 1981, 32 pages.

36 – September 7, 1981, 32 pages.

37 – September 14, 1981, 32 pages.

38 – September 21, 1981, 32 pages.

39 – September 28, 1981, 32 pages.

40 – October 5, 1981, 32 pages.

41 – October 12, 1981, 32 pages.

42 – October 19, 1981, 32 pages.

43 – October 26, 1981, 32 pages.

44 – November 2, 1981, 32 pages.

45 – November 9, 1981, 32 pages.

46 – November 16, 1981, 32 pages.

47 – November 23, 1981, 32 pages.

48 – November 30, 1981, 32 pages.

49 – December 7, 1981, 32 pages.

50 – December 14, 1981, 32 pages.

51 – December 21, 1981, 40 pages.

52 – December 28, 1981, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1981, 40 pages.

1982 – Volume 25

1 – January 4, 1982, 32 pages.

2 – January 11, 1982, 32 pages.

3 – January 18, 1982, 32 pages.

4 – January 25, 1982, 32 pages.

5 – February 1, 1982, 24 pages.

6 – February 8, 1982, 32 pages.

7 – February 15, 1982, 32 pages.

8 – February 22, 1982, 32 pages.

9 – March 1, 1982, 32 pages.

10 – March 8, 1982, 32 pages.

11 – March 15, 1982, 32 pages.

12 – March 22, 1982, 32 pages.

13 – March 29, 1982, 32 pages.

14 – April 5, 1982, 32 pages.

15 – April 12, 1982, 32 pages.

16 – April 19, 1982, 32 pages.

17 – April 26, 1982, 32 pages.

18 – May 3, 1982, 32 pages.

19 – May 10, 1982, 48 pages.

20 – May 17, 1982, 32 pages.

21 – May 24, 1982, 32 pages.

22 – May 31, 1982, 32 pages.

23 – June 7, 1982, 32 pages.

24 – June 14, 1982, 32 pages.

25 – June 21, 1982, 32 pages.

26 – June 28, 1982, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1982, 32 pages.

27 – July 5, 1982, 32 pages.

28 – July 12, 1982, 32 pages.

29 – July 19, 1982, 32 pages.

30 – July 26, 1982, 32 pages.

31 – August 2, 1982, 32 pages.

32 – August 9, 1982, 32 pages.

33 – August 16, 1982, 32 pages.

34 – August 23, 1982, 32 pages.

35 – August 30, 1982, 32 pages.

36 – September 6, 1982, 32 pages.

37 – September 13, 1982, 48 pages.

38 – September 20, 1982, 32 pages.

39 – September 27, 1982, 32 pages.

40 – October 4, 1982, 32 pages.

41 – October 11, 1982, 32 pages.

42 – October 18, 1982, 32 pages.

43 – October 25, 1982, 32 pages.

44 – November 1, 1982, 32 pages.

45 – November 8, 1982, 32 pages.

46 – November 15, 1982, 32 pages.

47 – November 22, 1982, 32 pages.

48 – November 29, 1982, 32 pages.

49 – December 6, 1982, 32 pages.

50 – December 13, 1982, 32 pages.

51 – December 20, 1982, 40 pages.

52 – December 27, 1982, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1982, 48 pages.

1983 – Volume 26

1 – January 3, 1983, 32 pages.

2 – January 10, 1983, 32 pages.

3 – January 17, 1983, 32 pages.

4 – January 24, 1983, 32 pages.

5 – January 31, 1983, 32 pages.

6 – February 7, 1983, 32 pages.

7 – February 14, 1983, 32 pages.

8 – February 21, 1983, 24 pages.

9 – February 28, 1983, 32 pages.

10 – March 7, 1983, 32 pages.

11 – March 14, 1983, 32 pages.

12 – March 21, 1983, 48 pages. Includes ‘The radiance of the great truth of Marxism lights our way forward’, by Hu Yaobang. Nominally a commemoration of the centenary of the death of Marx, but also a major statement of the revisionist line of the CCP, 16 pages.

13 – March 28, 1983, 32 pages.

14 – April 4, 1983, 32 pages.

15 – April 11, 1983, 32 pages.

16 – April 18, 1983, 40 pages.

17 – April 25, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

18 – May 2, 1983, 32 pages.

19 – May 9, 1983, 40 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 40 pages.

20 – May 16, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

21 – May 23, 1983, 48 pages, includes a 16-page supplement: ‘The 6th Five-Year Plan (1981-85) of the People’s Republic of China for Economic and Social Development’ [First part.]

22 – May 30, 1983, 48 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 48 pages.

23 – June 6, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

24 – June 13, 1983, 32 pages.

25 – June 20, 1983, 32 pages.

26 – June 27, 1983, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1983, 48 pages.

27 – July 4, 1983, 48 pages, includes a 24-page supplement: ‘Report on the work of the Government’, by Zhao Ziyang.

28 – July 11, 1983, 48 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 48 pages.

29 – July 18, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

30 – July 25, 1983, 32 pages.

31 – August 1, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

32 – August 8, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

33 – August 15, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

34 – August 22, 1983, 32 pages.

35 – August 29, 1983, 32 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 32 pages.

36 – September 5, 1983, 32 pages.

37 – September 12, 1983, 48 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 48 pages.

38 – September 19, 1983, 32 pages.

39 – September 26, 1983, 32 pages.

40 – October 3, 1983, 32 pages.

41 – October 10, 1983, 48 pages, includes 16-page supplement: ‘Regulations for the implementation of the law of the People’s Republic of China on joint ventures using Chinese and Foreign investment’ (September 20, 1983)

42 – October 17, 1983, 40 pages, includes 12-page supplement: ‘The Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Party Consolidation (October 11, 1983). [I.e., on ‘rectifying’ or purging any remaining Party members with Maoist revolutionary sympathies.]

43 – October 24, 1983, 32 pages.

44 – October 31, 1983, 32 pages.

45 – November 7, 1983, 32 pages.

46 – November 14, 1983, 32 pages.

47 – November 21, 1983, 32 pages.

48 – November 28, 1983, 32 pages.

49 – December 5, 1983, 32 pages.

50 – December 12, 1983, 32 pages.

51 – December 19, 1983, 32 pages.

52 – December 26, 1983, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1983, 48 pages.

1984 – Volume 27

1 – January 2, 1984, 36 pages.

2 – January 9, 1984, 36 pages.

3 – January 16, 1984, 36 pages.

4 – January 23, 1984, 36 pages.

5-6 – January 30, 1984, 44 pages.

7 – February 13, 1984, 36 pages.

8 – February 20, 1984, 36 pages.

9 – February 27, 1984, 36 pages.

10 – March 5, 1984, 36 pages.

11 – March 12, 1984, 36 pages.

12 – March 19, 1984, 36 pages.

13 – March 26, 1984, 36 pages.

14 – April 2, 1984, 36 pages.

15 – April 9, 1984, 44 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China’ (March 12, 1984), 8 pages.

16 – April 16, 1984, 40 pages.

17 – April 23, 1984, 36 pages.

18 – April 30, 1984, 36 pages.

19 – May 7, 1984, 36 pages.

20 – May 14, 1984, 44 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Communique on fulfilment of China’s 1983 National Economic Plan’, by the State Statistical Bureau, 12 pages.

21 – May 21, 1984, 36 pages.

22 – May 28, 1984, 36 pages.

23 – June 4, 1984, 36 pages.

24 – June 11, 1984, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Report on the work of the Government’, by Zhao Ziyang, at the 2nd Session of the Sixth National People’s Congress, May 15, 1984, 16 pages.

25 – June 18, 1984, 44 pages, includes two internal supplements: ‘Independent and peaceful foreign policy’ (3 pages) and ‘Expanding economic exchanges and promoting common prosperity’ (4 pages) Relating to the policy of ‘opening up’ China to foreign investment.

26 – June 25, 1984, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1984,

27 – July 2, 1984, 36 pages.

28 – July 9, 1984, 40 pages.

29 – July 16, 1984, 36 pages includes the article ‘Investment environment seen as favourable’, by Gu Ming, discussing the political and legal changes from 1979 on which opened up China to foreign investment.

30 – July 23, 1984, 36 pages.

31 – July 30, 1984, 36 pages.

32 – August 6, 1984, 36 pages.

33 – August 13, 1984, 36 pages.

34 – August 20 1984, 28 pages.

35 – August 27 1984, 52 pages includes the 20-page article ‘China’s industry on the upswing’, by Lu Dong, which includes charts and statistics admitting that the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was overall actually a period of rapid economic growth.

36 – September 3, 1984, 36 pages.

37 – September 10, 1984, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

38 – September 17, 1984, 36 pages.

39 – September 24, 1984, 36 pages.

40 – October 1, 1984, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Sino-British joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong’, 20 pages.

41 – October 8, 1984, 40 pages.

42 – October 15, 1984, 36 pages.

43 – October 22, 1984, 36 pages.

44 – October 29, 1984, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on reform of the economic structure’, adopted by the 12th Central Committee of the CCP at its Third Plenary Session on October 20, 1984, 16 pages.

45 – November 5, 1984, 36 pages.

46 – November 12, 1984, 36 pages.

47 – November 19, 1984, 36 pages.

48 – November 26, 1984, 36 pages.

49 – December 3, 1984, 36 pages.

50 – December 10, 1984, 36 pages.

51 – December 17, 1984, 36 pages.

52 – December 24, 1984, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1984, 52 pages.

1985 – Volume 28

1 – January 7, 1985, 48 pages.

2 – January 14, 1985, 36 pages.

3 – January 21, 1985, 36 pages.

4 – January 28, 1985, 36 pages.

5 – February 4, 1985, 36 pages.

6 – February 11, 1985, 36 pages.

7-8 – February 18, 1985, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Regulations on implementing the Patent Law of the PRC’, 14 pages.

9 – March 4, 1985, 40 pages.

10 – March 11, 1985, 36 pages.

11 – March 18, 1985, 36 pages.

12 – March 25, 1985, 44 pages.

13 – April 1, 1985, 36 pages.

14 – April 1, 1985, 36 pages.

15 – April 8, 1985, 36 pages.

16 – April 15, 1985, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘The current economic situation and the reform of the economic structure’, by Zhao Ziyang, 16 pages.

17 – April 22, 1985, 44 pages, includes two internal supplements: ‘Report on the execution of the State Budget for 1984 and on the Draft State Budget for 1985’ (3 pages), and ‘Report on the Draft 1985 Plan for National Economic and Social Development’ (5 pages).

18 – May 6, 1985, 36 pages.

19 – May 13, 1985, 36 pages.

20 – May 20, 1985, 36 pages.

21 – May 27, 1985, 36 pages.

22 – June 3, 1985, 40 pages.

23 – June 10, 1985, 36 pages. [Some water damage making a few words illegible.]

24 – June 17, 1985, 36 pages.

25 – June 24, 1985, 36 pages.

26 – July 1, 1985, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1985, 44 pages.

27 – July 8, 1985, 52 pages, includes two internal supplements: ‘Foreign economic contract law of the PRC’ (4 pages), and ‘The accounting regulations of the PRC for the joint ventures using Chinese and foreign Investment’ (12 pages).

28 – July 15, 1985, 36 pages.

29 – July 22, 1985, 36 pages.

30 – July 29, 1985, 36 pages.

31 – August 5, 1985, 32 pages.

32 – August 12, 1985, 36 pages.

33 – August 19, 1985, 36 pages.

34 – August 26, 1985, 40 pages.

35 – September 2, 1985, 36 pages.

36 – September 9, 1985, 36 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘China pledges to maintain world peace’, by Peng Zhen, 8 pages.

37 – September 16, 1985, 36 pages.

38 – September 23, 1985, 36 pages.

39 – September 30, 1985, 36 pages.

40 – October 7, 1985, 44 pages, includes two internal supplements: ‘Explanation of the Proposal for the Seventh Five-Year Plan’, by Zhao Ziyang (5 pages) and ‘Proposal of the CC of the CCP for the Seventh Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development’ (19 pages).

41 – October 14, 1985, 36 pages.

42 – October 21, 1985, 36 pages.

43 – October 28, 1985, 36 pages.

44 – November 4, 1985, 36 pages.

45 – November 11, 1985, 36 pages.

46 – November 18, 1985, 36 pages.

47 – November 25, 1985, 36 pages.

48 – December 2, 1985, 36 pages.

49 – December 9, 1985, 36 pages.

50 – December 16, 1985, 36 pages.

51 – December 23, 1985, 36 pages.

52 – December 30, 1985, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1985, 44 pages.

1986 – Volume 29

1 – January 6, 1986, 52 pages.

2 – January 13, 1986, 40 pages.

3 – January 20, 1986, 36 pages.

4 – January 27, 1986, 36 pages.

5 – February 3, 1986, 36 pages.

6-7 – February 10, 1986, 52 pages.

8 – February 24, 1986, 40 pages.

9 – March 3, 1986, 36 pages.

10 – March 10, 1986, 36 pages.

11 – March 17, 1986, 36 pages.

12 – March 24, 1986, 44 pages.

13 – March 31, 1986, 40 pages.

14 – April 7, 1986, 36 pages.

15 – April 14, 1986, 36 pages.

16 – April 21, 1986, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Report on the Seventh Five-Year Plan’, by Premier Zhao Ziyang, 20 pages.

17 – April 28, 1986, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘The Seventh Five-Year Plan of the PRC for Economic and Social Development (1986-1990): Excerpts’, 24 pages.

18 – May 5, 1986, 40 pages.

19 – May 12, 1986, 36 pages.

20 – May 19, 1986, 44 pages.

21 – May 26, 1986, 36 pages.

22 – June 2, 1986, 36 pages.

23 – June 9, 1986, 36 pages.

24 – June 16, 1986, 40 pages.

25 – June 23, 1986, 36 pages.

26 – June 30, 1986, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1986, 44 pages.

27 – July 7, 1986, 36 pages.

28 – July 14, 1986, 40 pages.

29 – July 21, 1986, 36 pages.

30 – July 28, 1986, 32 pages.

31 – August 4, 1986, 36 pages.

32 – August 11, 1986, 36 pages.

33 – August 18, 1986, 36 pages.

34 – August 25, 1986, 32 pages.

35 – September 1, 1986, 36 pages.

36 – September 8, 1986, 36 pages.

37 – September 15, 1986, 36 pages.

38 – September 22, 1986, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

39 – September 29, 1986, 40 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 40 pages.

40 – October 6, 1986, 44 pages. Includes internal supplement: ‘Resolution of the CC of the CPC on the guiding principles of building a Socialist society with an advanced culture and ideology’, adopted by the 6th Plenary Session of the 12th CC on Sept. 28, 1986, 8 pages.

41 – October 13, 1986, 36 pages.

42 – October 20, 1986, 36 pages. Includes the article: ‘China improves climate for foreign investment’ (p. 5).

43 – October 27, 1986, 36 pages.

44 – November 3, 1986, 40 pages.

45 – November 10, 1986, 36 pages.

46 – November 17, 1986, 36 pages.

47 – November 24, 1986, 36 pages.

48 – December 1, 1986, 36 pages. Includes the article: ‘A probe into theories backing China’s reform’, an academic discussion designed to further camouflage and ‘justify’ the transition back to capitalism (pp. 14-15).

49 – December 8, 1986, 36 pages. Includes the article: ‘Socialist features re-examined’, by Zhao Yao, reinterpreting socialism away from the Maoist understanding of it as a transition period between capitalism and communism (pp. 14-15).

50 – December 15, 1986, 36 pages.

51 – December 22, 1986, 36 pages.

52 – December 29, 1986, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1986, 44 pages.

1987 – Volume 30

1 – January 5, 1987, 40 pages.

2 – January 12, 1987, 36 pages.

North American edition, issue 2, 44 pages. (Includes 8 pages of material especially for North America.)

3 – January 19, 1987, 36 pages.

4 – January 26, 1987, 36 pages.

5-6 – February 9, 1987, 44 pages.

7 – February 16, 1987, 36 pages.

8 – February 23, 1987, 36 pages.

9 – March 2, 1987, 40 pages, includes: ‘Communique on the Statistics of 1986 Economic and Social Development’ (7 p.)

10 – March 9, 1987, 36 pages.

11 – March 16, 1987, 36 pages.

12 – March 23, 1987, 36 pages.

13 – March 30, 1987, 44 pages.

14 – April 6, 1987, 44 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao’, 12 pages.

15 – April 13, 1987, 36 pages.

16 – April 20, 1987, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Report on the work of the Government’, by Premier Zhao Ziyang, 20 pages.

17 – April 27, 1987, 48 pages, includes internal supplements: ‘Report on the Draft 1987 Plan for National Economic and Social Development (Excerpts)’, by Song Ping, 4 pages; and ‘Report on the implementation of the State Budget for 1986 and the Draft State Budget for 1987 (Excerpts)’, by Wang Bingqian, 4 pages.

18 – May 4, 1987, 40 pages.

19 – May 11, 1987, 36 pages.

20 – May 18, 1987, 36 pages.

21 – May 25, 1987, 36 pages.

22 – June 1, 1987, 36 pages.

23 – June 8, 1987, 36 pages.

24 – June 15, 1987, 36 pages.

25 – June 22, 1987, 36 pages.

26 – June 29, 1987, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1987, 44 pages.

27 – July 6, 1987, 36 pages.

28 – July 13, 1987, 36 pages.

29 – July 20, 1987, 36 pages.

30 – July 27, 1987, 36 pages.

31 – August 3, 1987, 36 pages.

32 – August 10, 1987, 36 pages.

33 – August 17, 1987, 36 pages.

34 – August 24, 1987, 28 pages.

35 – August 31, 1987, 36 pages.

36 – September 7, 1987, 36 pages.

37 – September 14, 1987, 36 pages.

38 – September 21, 1987, 36 pages.

39 – September 28, 1987, 36 pages.

40 – October 5, 1987, 36 pages.

41 – October 12, 1987, 36 pages.

42 – October 19, 1987, 36 pages.

43 – October 26-November 1, 1987, 36 pages.

44 – November 2-8, 1987, 36 pages.

45 – November 9-15, 1987, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Advance along the road of Socialism with Chinese characteristics’, report presented by Zhao Ziyang at the 13th National Congress of the CCP on October 25, 1978, 27 pages.

46 – November 16-22, 1987, 44 pages.

47 – November 23-29, 1987, 40 pages.

48 – November 30-December 6, 1987, 36 pages.

49 – December 7-13, 1987, 36 pages.

50 – December 14-20, 1987, 36 pages.

51 – December 21-27, 1987, 40 pages.

52 – December 28, 1987-January 3, 1988, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1987, 52 pages.

1988 – Volume 31

1 – January 4-10, 1988, 36 pages.

2 – January 11-17, 1988, 36 pages.

3 – January 18-24, 1988, 36 pages.

4 – January 25-31, 1988, 36 pages.

5 – February 1-7, 1988, 36 pages.

6 – February 8-14, 1988, 36 pages.

7-8 – February 15-28, 1988, 40 pages.

9 – February 29-March 6, 1988, 36 pages.

10 – March 7-13, 1988, 44 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Statistics for 1987 Socio-Economic Development’, 8 pages.

11 – March 14-20, 1988, 40 pages.

12 – March 21-27, 1988, 40 pages.

13 – March 28-April 3, 1988, 36 pages.

14 – April 4-10, 1988, 40 pages.

15 – April 11-17, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

16 – April 18-24, 1988, 40 pages. Missing front and back covers.

17 – April 25-May 1, 1988, 50 pages. Missing back cover.

18 – May 2-8, 1988, 40 pages.

19 – May 9-15, 1988, 52 pages.

20 – May 16-22, 1988, 42 pages. Missing back cover. Includes internal supplement: ‘Report on the Draft 1988 Plan for National Economic and Social Development.

21 – May 23-29, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

22 – May 30-June 5, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

23 – June 6-12, 1988, 32 pages. Missing both front and back covers.

24 – June 13-19, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

25 – June 20-26, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover. Includes: ‘Law of the PRC on Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures’, 4 pages.

26 – June 27-July 3, 1988, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1988, 42 pages. Missing back cover.

27 – July 4-10, 1988, 34 pages. Missing front cover.

28 – July 11-17, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

29 – July 18-24, 1988, 40 pages.

30 – July 25-31, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

31 – August 1-7, 1988, 26 pages. Missing back cover.

32 – August 8-14, 1988, 28 pages.

33 – August 15-21, 1988, 36 pages.

34 – August 22-28, 1988, 36 pages.

35 – August 29-September 4, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

36 – September 5-11, 1988, 36 pages.

37 – September 12-18, 1988, 34 pages. Missing back cover.

38 – September 19-25, 1988, 35 pages. Missing back cover.

39 – September 26-October 2, 1988, 36 pages. Back cover photo upside down.

40 – October 3-9, 1988, 36 pages.

41 – October 10-16, 1988, 36 pages.

42 – October 17-23, 1988, 36 pages.

43 – October 24-30, 1988, 36 pages.

44 – October 31-November 6, 1988, 36 pages.

45 – November 7-13, 1988, 36 pages.

46 – November 14-20, 1988, 44 pages , includes articles: ‘Re-understanding Capitalism’ and ‘The privatization of urban housing’ as well as the internal supplement: ‘Report to the Third Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee’, by Zhao Ziyang, 8 pages.

47 – November 21-27, 1988, 36 pages.

48 – November 28-December 4, 1988, 36 pages.

49 – December 5-11, 1988, 36 pages.

50 – December 12-18, 1988, 36 pages.

51 – December 19-25, 1988, 36 pages, includes: ‘The reform of China’s labour system’, about the mass lay-offs from state-owned enterprises, etc.

52 – December 26, 1988 – January 1, 1989, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1988, 44 pages.

1989 – Volume 32

1 – January 2-8, 1989, 36 pages.

2 – January 9-15, 1989, 36 pages.

3 – January 16-22, 1989, 36 pages.

4 – January 23-29, 1989, 36 pages.

5 – January 30-February 5, 1989, 36 pages.

6 – February 6-12, 1989, 36 pages.

7-8 – February 13-26, 1989, 52 pages.

9 – February 27-March 5, 1989, 36 pages.

10 – March 6-12, 1989, 52 pages, includes 4 internal supplements (16 pages): ‘Statistics for 1988 Socio-Economic Development’; ‘Interim regulations on private enterprises of the People’s Republic of China’; and 2 others.

11 – March 13-19, 1989, 52 pages, includes internal supplement: ‘Basic Law of HKSAR,PRC (Draft)’ [Hong Kong], 16 pages.

12 – March 20-26, 1989, 36 pages.

13 – March 27-April 2, 1989, 36 pages.

14 – April 3-9, 1989, 36 pages.

15 – April 10-16, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

16 – April 17-23, 1989, 52 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 52 pages.

17 – April 24-30, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

18 – April 24-30, 1989, The official government condemnations of the world-famous student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square begin in this issue. 52 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 52 pages.

19 – May 8-14, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

20 – May 15-21, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

21 – May 22-28, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

22 – May 29-June 4, 1989, 40 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 40 pages.

23 – June 5-11, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

24-25 – June 12-25, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

26 – June 26-July 2, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

27 – July 3-9, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

28 – July 10-16, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

29 – July 17-23, 1989, 52 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 52 pages.

30 – July 24-30, 1989, 40 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 40 pages.

31 – July 31-August 6, 1989, 40 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 40 pages.

32 – August 7-13, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

33 – August 14-20, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

34 – August 21-27, 1989, 28 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 28 pages.

35 – August 28-September 3, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

36 – September 4-10, 1989, 36 pages, includes the absurd 1-page article ‘Why China will not practise privatization”, by Jin Qi, attempting to discount both the massive privatization occurring during this period and also the state capitalist relations of production of even that part of industry which was not being privatized.

37 – September 11-17, 1989, 36 pages.

38 – September 18-24, 1989, 36 pages.

39 – September 25-October 1, 1989, 36 pages.

40 – October 2-8, 1989, 56 pages. Includes a lot of statistical information.

41 – October 9-15, 1989, 52 pages.

42 – October 16-22, 1989, 36 pages.

43 – October 23-29, 1989, 36 pages.

Second copy – clearer but a much bigger file, 36 pages.

44 – October 30-November 5, 1989, 36 pages, includes the article: ‘China announces foreign debts for the first time’ (p. 29).

45 – November 6-12, 1989, 36 pages.

46 – November 13-19, 1989, 36 pages.

47 – November 20-26, 1989, 56 pages.

48 – November 27-December 3, 1989, 36 pages.

49 – December 4-10, 1989, 36 pages.

50 – December 11-17, 1989, 36 pages.

51 – December 18-24, 1989, 36 pages.

52 – December 25-31, 1989, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1989, 52 pages.

1990 – Volume 33

1 – January 1-7, 1990, 36 pages.

2 – January 8-14, 1990, 36 pages.

3 – January 15-21, 1990, 36 pages.

4 – January 22-28, 1990, 36 pages.

5-6 – January 29-February 11, 1990, 40 pages.

7 – February 12-18, 1990, 52 pages, includes the internal supplement: ‘Decision on further improving the economic environment, straightening out the economic order and deepening the reforms’, 16 pages.

8 – February 19-25, 1990, 36 pages.

9 – February 26-March 4, 1990, 52 pages, includes the internal supplement: ‘Statistics for China’s National Socio-Economic Development in 1989’, 8 pages.

10 – March 5-11, 1990, 36 pages.

11 – March 12-18, 1990, 36 pages.

12 – March 19-25, 1990, 36 pages.

13 – March 26-April 1, 1990, 36 pages.

14 – April 2-8, 1990, 36 pages.

15 – April 9-15, 1990, 36 pages.

16 – April 16-22, 1990, 52 pages, includes the internal supplement: ‘Continue to work for stable political, economic and social development in China – report on the work of the Government’, by Premier Li Peng, 24 pages.

17 – April 23-29, 1990, 52 pages, includes the internal supplements: ‘Report on implementation of the 1989 Plan for National Development and the Draft 1990 Plan’, by Zou Jiahua, 8 pages; and ‘Report on the implementation of the State Budget for 1989 and on the Draft State Budget for 1990’, by Wang Bingqian, 6 pages.

18 – April 30-May 6, 1990, 52 pages, includes the internal supplement: ‘The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China’, and related documents, 24 pages.

19 – May 7-13, 1990, 36 pages.

20 – May 14-20, 1990, 36 pages.

21 – May 21-27, 1990, 36 pages.

22 – May 28-June 3, 1990, 48 pages, includes a 12-page special section on the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone as an ‘ideal place for foreign investment’.

23 – June 4-10, 1990, 36 pages.

24 – June 11-17, 1990, 36 pages.

25 – June 18-24, 1990, 36 pages.

26 – June 25-July 1, 1990, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1990, 52 pages.

27 – July 2-8, 1990, 36 pages.

28 – July 9-15, 1990, 36 pages.

29 – July 16-22, 1990, 36 pages.

30 – July 23-29, 1990, 40 pages.

31 – July 30-August 5, 1990, 36 pages.

32 – August 6-12, 1990, 28 pages.

33 – August 13-19, 1990, 36 pages.

Second copy , 36 pages.

34 – August 20-26, 1990, 44 pages.

35 – August 27-September 2, 1990, 36 pages.

36 – September 3-9, 1990, 36 pages.

37 – September 10-16, 1990, 36 pages.

38 – September 17-23, 1990, 36 pages.

39 – September 24-30, 1990, 36 pages.

40 – October 1-7, 1990, 36 pages.

41 – October 8-14, 1990, 36 pages.

42 – October 15-21, 1990, 40 pages.

43 – October 22-28, 1990, 36 pages.

44 – October 29-November 4, 1990, 36 pages.

45 – November 5-11, 1990, 36 pages.

46 – November 12-18, 1990, 36 pages.

47 – November 19-25, 1990, 36 pages.

48 – November 26-December 2, 1990, 36 pages.

49 – December 3-9, 1990, 36 pages.

50 – December 10-16, 1990, 36 pages.

51 – December 17-23, 1990, 40 pages.

52 – December 24-30, 1990, includes an index for issues 27-52 in 1990, 52 pages.

1991 – Volume 34

1 – January 7-13, 1991, 36 pages, includes: ‘Communique of the 7th Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee of the CCP’, 3 pages.

2 – January 14-20, 1991, 36 pages, includes: ‘China opens first Securities Exchange’ [stock market], 2 pages.

3 – January 21-27, 1991, 36 pages.

4 – January 28-February 3, 1991, 36 pages.

5 – February 4-10, 1991, 36 pages.

6 – February 11-17, 1991, 36 pages.

7-8 – February 18-March 3, 1991, 56 pages.

9 – March 4-10, 1991, 36 pages.

10 – March 11-17, 1991, 52 pages, includes: ‘Economic restructuring in the 1990s’, 2 pages; and ‘Statistical Communique of the State Statistical Bureau…’, 8 pages.

11 – March 18-24, 1991, 36 pages.

12 – March 25-31, 1991, 36 pages.

13 – April 1-7, 1991, 36 pages.

14 – April 8-14, 1991, 36 pages, includes: ‘Development of China’s Special Economic Zones’, 7 pages.

15 – April 15-21, 1991, 52 pages includes article: ‘China to enact its Copyright Law’, 1 page; and ‘Report on the Outline of the Ten-Year Programme and of the Eighth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development’, by Premier Li Peng, 24 pages.

16 – April 22-28, 1991, 52 pages, includes: ‘Report on the implementation of the 1990 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Draft 1991 Plan’, by Zou Jiahua, 32 pages; and a report on the 1990 & 1991 state budgets.

17 – April 29-May 5, 1991, 36 pages.

18 – May 6-12, 1991, 36 pages, includes short article: ‘China raises food prices’.

19 – May 13-19, 1991, 36 pages.

20 – May 20-26, 1991, 40 pages.

21 – May 27-June 2, 1991, 36 pages.

22 – June 3-9, 1991, 36 pages.

23 – June 10-16, 1991, 40 pages.

24 – June 17-23, 1991, 36 pages.

25 – June 24-30, 1991, 36 pages.

26 – July 1-7, 1991, includes an index for issues 1-26 in 1991, 52 pages.

27 – July 8-14, 1991, 52 pages, includes: ‘Building Socialism the Chinese Way’”, speech by Jiang Zemin, July 1, 1991, 18 pages.

28 – July 15-21, 1991, 36 pages, includes: ‘How has the CPC developed Marxism?’, by Hu Qiaomu, 6 pages. [Item 8 on this list consists of the capitalist-road methods of economic ‘reforms’ and ‘opening up’; item 9 is the ‘socialist commodity economy’ (i.e. so-called ‘market socialism’]

29 – July 22-28, 1991, 36 pages.

30 – July 29-August 4, 1991, 52 pages.

31 – August 5-11, 1991, 36 pages.

32 – August 12-18, 1991, 36 pages.

33 – August 19-25, 1991, 36 pages.

34 – August 26-September 1, 1991, 36 pages.

35 – September 2-8, 1991, 36 pages.

Capitalist China – the reality post-Mao

Posted on 30/03/2023 by Michael

Shanghai Stock Exchange

More on the People’s Republic of China

View of the world – up to end of 2022

View of the world – 2023

Ukraine – what you were’nt told – 2022

Ukraine – what you’re not told – 2023

Capitalist China – the reality post-Mao

On this page you will be able to read a series of articles and analyses of the situation as it developed in the People’s Republic of China very soon after the death of Comrade Mao in 1976.

In recent years organisations have mushroomed which seek to claim that China still follows the ‘socialist road’. The information included here seeks to challenge such a proposition.

The construction of socialism is not only about increasing the material wealth of a population. What many (but not all) of the population may have gained under the so-called ‘modernisations’ they have lost in their real control of the society, as they had between 1949 and 1976.

The overwhelming number of the documents here have been provided by the comrades at bannedthought. We thank them for their effort.

Communist Party of China

19th Party Congress: 2017

Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party, adopted at the 19th Party Congress, October 24, 2017, 28 pages.

17th Party Congress: 2007

Resolution of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on the Amended Constitution of the CPC, adopted October 21, 2007, 8 pages.

Resolution of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on the Report of its 16th Central Committee, adopted October 21, 2007, 9 pages.

Resolution of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on the Report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, adopted October 21, 2007, 3 pages.

Speech at a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, July 1, 2021, Xi Jinping, 13 pages.

Chinese Government and Official Functions

Report on the work of the Government, 4th Session of the 13th National People’s Congress, Premier Li Keqiang, March 2021, 128 pages.

Speech at the Centenary of the Revolution of 1911, Liu Jun, Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, October 9, 2011, 6 pages.

Speech at the Centenary of the Revolution of 1911, by Zhou Tienong, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, October 9, 2011, 6 pages.

China’s Economy

China’s Socialist Economy, Xue Muqiao, China Knowledge Series, Beijing, New World Press, 1981, 340 pages.

Almanac of China’s economy, 1981, with economic statistics for 1949-1980, compiled by the Economic Research Centre, The State Council of the People’s Republic of China and the State Statistical Bureaux, editor in chief Xue Muqiao, Eurasia Press, Hong Kong, 1982, 1144 pages.

China’s Socialist Economy, Xue Muqiao, China Knowledge Series, Beijing, New World Press, 1986 revised edition, 332 pages.

New strategy for China’s economy, Ma Hong, China Studies Series, Beijing, New World Press, 1983, 176 pages.

Smashing the Communal Pot – formulation and development of China’s rural responsibility system, Wang Guichen, Zhou Qiren and others, China Studies Series, Beijing, New World Press, 1985, 208 pages.

Chinese reforms, inflation and the allocation of investment in a Socialist Economy, by Oktay Yenal, World Bank Internal Discussion Paper, Asia Regional Series, Report No. IDP 52, October 1989, 48 pages.

The facts and China’s position on China-US trade friction, ‘White Paper’ by the Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, September 25, 2018, in reaction to the trade war started by the Trump Administration, 72 pages.

Ten Crises: the political economy of China’s development 1949-2020, Wen Tiejun, Open Access, 2021, 539 pages. An unconventional book which ignores or blurs the fundamental distinction between the Maoist socialist period and the capitalist-imperialist period in China which developed after Mao’s death. Points of interest; but of course it is deeply and fundamentally bourgeois in outlook.

The Great Reversal – the privatization of China, 1978-1989, William Hinton, Monthly Review Press, New York, 1990, 191 pages.

China’s Military

Military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China, 2020, Annual Report of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to Congress, 200 pages.

Understanding Chinese nuclear thinking, ed. by Li Bin and Tong Zhao, Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment, 2016, 286 pages. Expressing the point of view of the current Chinese political and military authorities as they wish it to be understood in the West.

Chinese lessons from other peoples’ wars, ed. by Andrew Scobell, David Lai and Roy Kamphausen, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, November 2011, 339 pages.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy: A Modern Navy with Chinese Characteristics, by the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, August 2009, 51 pages.

Suppression of News and Ideas in China

In support of young left-wing activists detained and wanted for organizing a reading group on November 15, 2017, the Borderless Movement, March 2018, 5 pages.

Internet censorship and China’s new Online Publication Law, Dezan Shira and Associates, May 17, 2016, 3 pages.

Although this article focuses on the ramifications of this new censorship law for foreign corporations operating in China, it also has information of a more general character. It notes for example that in recent years under the regime of Xi Jinping China has expanded the fraction of the web sites in the world which it blocks from 14% to 25%. It says:

‘The [new Chinese Internet censorship] law stipulates that an internet publication cannot include any content that opposes the principles of the constitution, threatens national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity or security, divulges state secrets, damages the reputation or interests of the state, incites ethnic hostility or discrimination, endangers social morals or ethnic cultural traditions, advocates heresy or feudal superstition, disseminates rumours, disturbs social order and stability, disseminates obscenity, pornography, gambling, violence, or incites crime or insults others or infringes on their legal rights and interests.’ [In other words, the Chinese rulers openly state that they will block anything and everything that they disapprove of, and that there will be no such thing as free speech on the Internet in China.]

China’s Xi calls for cooperation over Internet Regulation, AP, December 16, 2015, 2 pages. Quotes one commentator as saying: ‘Under the guise of sovereignty and security, the Chinese authorities are trying to rewrite the rules of the Internet so censorship and surveillance become the norm everywhere.’

China is leading jailer of journalists, Group Says, New York Times, December 15, 2015, 1 page.

China’s defiance stirs fears for missing dissident, New York Times, February 3, 2010, 3 pages. About the arrest and disappearance of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

Google, citing attack, threatens to exit China, New York Times, January 13, 2010, 3 pages.

Furious Google throws down gauntlet to China over censorship, Ars Technica, January 12, 2010, 4 pages.

Trial in China signals new limits on dissent, New York Times, December 24, 2009, 3 pages. About the trial of Liu Xiaobo, an advocate of bourgeois democracy.

Film makers barred from Chinese festival, New York Times, September 2, 2009.

Chinese Capitalist-Imperialism

Chinese Society Research — Phase I, a volume first published in Chinese in December 2020. Prepared by contemporary Chinese Maoists and presenting their extensive investigations into the current organization of capitalist production in China, industrial zones, factory conditions, class relations, wages and benefits, the attitudes of the workers and of management, the living conditions of the workers, etc. Includes investigations of a number of specific workplaces, interviews with some individuals, and a discussion of both the traditional and newly emerging petty bourgeois strata. English Version of this Book, translated by Nick G., Chairperson of the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist), August 2022, 173 pages.

Poor households mired in the cycle of poverty and illness, author unspecified, January 2020, 21 pages.

China is turning Ethiopia into a giant fast-fashion factory, Bill Donahue, Bloomberg Businessweek, Asia Edition, March 5, 2018, 12 pages. About the export of Chinese capital to Ethiopia and the effects it is having there.

Capital accumulation, private property and rising inequality in China, 1978-2015, a scholarly study by Thomas Piketty, Li Yang, and Gabriel Zucman, October 7, 2018, 41 pages.

Is China an Imperialist Country?, by N.B. Turner, et al. An extensive essay on the growth and development of China as a major contending imperialist power, together with discussion of the nature and changes within the current world imperialist system and of the contradictions within it, www.red-path.net, March 2014, 129 pages.

The Political Economy of Chinese State Capitalism, Li Xing and Timothy M. Shaw, JCIR 1:1 2013, 26 pages.

Billions in hidden riches for family of Chinese Leader [Wen Jiabao], David Barboza, New York Times, October 25, 2012, 12 pages.

‘Princelings’ in China use family ties to gain riches, New York Times, May 17, 2012, 5 pages.

May Day means pay day for university student swindlers in Lanzhou, China, Jerry Leonard and Xie Yingjun, May 4, 2012, 7 pages. A telling little personal story illustrating how the once very militant workers’ holiday in Mao’s China has changed into just a vacation period, and one in which you might very well get swindled by the new class of ‘entrepreneurs’.

The Chinese Communist Party’s Capitalist Elite, an article about the huge number of members of the National People’s Congress who are capitalist billionaires, Bloomberg Businessweek, March 1, 2012, 2 pages.

The rise of China and its implications, Fred Engst, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing. This is the edited and approved version of this important essay, parts of which were presented at the ILPS 4th International Assembly in the Philippines on July 9, 2011. 15 pages.

China’s ‘State Capitalism’ sparks a global backlash, Wall Street Journal, November 16, 2010, 7 pages.

Chinese military seeks to extend its naval power, New York Times, April 23, 2010, 5 pages.

China emerges as a major exporter of capital, John Chan, World Socialist Web Site, May 19, 2009, 3 pages. [Note: While this article is from a Trotskyist publication, it seems accurate and quite useful to us.]

China-India maritime rivalry, Cdr. Gurpreet S. Khurana, Indian Defence Review, October-December 2009, 8 pages.

The realities of China today, Martin Hart-Lansberg, Against the Current, number 137, November-December 2008, 15 pages. Though the author is not a Maoist, and makes at least one very unsupported and unjustified criticism of Maoist economic policies, overall this article strongly debunks the notions of some people on the ‘left’ today that China is still a socialist country, or that it at least is supposedly advancing the welfare of the Chinese masses. It shows that nothing could be further from the truth!

China’s emerging role in the international financial system, speech by Chen Yuan, Governor, China Development Bank, Shanghai, November 10, 2008, 9 pages.

China offers India help to defeat Maoists, UPI Press report, October 27, 2005, 1 page.

Mass Struggles in China

Big events of 2020 for the labourers: The oppression by the bourgeoisie and the resistance of the proletariat, a revolutionary perspective, prepared by ‘Gonghao 51’, 21 pages. Includes an internal link to the original Chinese language version.

Workers, police clash in China’s Yanan; 100 Injured, Hong Kong Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy (via BBC), May 7, 2010, 2 pages.

They’re not going to take it: China’s women, facing pervasive discrimination, decide to fight for their rights, Newsweek, August 1, 2009, 3 pages.

Chinese workers beat manager to death; farmers block highway, Asia News, July 27, 2009.

Pro-Maoist Sentiment in Contemporary China

(N.B. Radio Free Asia is fully funded by the US Government. That should be taken into account when reading any articles they publish but some are included here for historical interest. Mind you, few of the other mainstream media sources are any better.)

History project of the Republic: the history and logic of revolution and restoration, by an anonymous group of Chinese Marxist-Leninist-Maoists, probably originally written in the 2016-2019 time frame. English translation, by Nick G., Chairperson of the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist), August 2022, 355 pages.

‘This book, banned in China, traces the history of all the major contradictions within the Communist Party of China both during and after the period of Mao Zedong’s leadership. It explains why the genuine Left was unable to carry on Chairman Mao’s behest to continue the revolution under the conditions of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and then examines the contradictions between the different groupings of capitalist-roaders who seized power after Mao’s death; the struggle between them, on the one hand, and their collusion, on the other, to strip the workers and peasants of their rights and to suppress them under a bourgeois state machine of inherent violence.’ From the translator’s introduction.

Democratic Socialism is Capitalism: A criticism of Xie Tao’s ‘Only Democratic Socialism can save China’, Wu Bing, 82 pages. [The original Chinese version, which appeared years ago on the maoflag.net website, is no longer available, and was written in March 2007. This is a 2022 English translation by Nick G., Chairman of the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist). Nick notes that though this article refers to ‘democratic socialism’, the issue is really about what is more commonly called ‘social-democracy’, which of course is not really socialism at all. ‘Wu Bing’ is a pseudonym meaning ‘armed soldier’, and the person criticized, Xie Tao, is a reactionary academic. Xie advocated for a freer development of capitalism in China under the cloak of what he called ‘democratic socialism’.

China’s Maoists mark death of Great Helmsman with tributes, street events, from the website of the so-called Radio Free Asia, September 9, 2021, 2 pages.

‘Who are our enemies?’ China’s bitter youths embrace Mao, Li Yuan, New York Times, July 8, 2021, 5 pages.

China’s ruling party cancels Maoist gatherings on Cultural Revolution anniversary, from the website of Radio Free Asia, May 17, 2021, 3 pages.

Anti-Capitalist tirades go viral in China: Marxist rhetoric is gaining currency among young, overworked netizens, The Economist, February 6, 2021, 3 pages.

New Years Greeting: the return of Marxism and the opening of a New Age, ‘Zuo Yi 23’, circa January 1, 2021, from a social media site in China, 14 pages.

Big events of 2020 for the labourers: the oppression by the bourgeoisie and the resistance of the proletariat, a summary of the year’s events by ‘Gonghao 51’, 24 pages.

Seven Maoist students detained in Beijing after talking to foreign media, from the website of Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2019, 3 pages.

Chinese police detain Marxist student leader on Mao’s birthday, from the website of Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2018, 3 pages. This student leader at Peking University was on his way to a meeting he organized on the 125 anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong.

Marxist students detained, manhandled by security guards at Peking University, from the website of Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2018, 3 pages. This is a follow-up to the report above.

Police detain Maoist labour activists on campuses across China, from the website of Radio Free Asia, November 12, 2018, 3 pages. This is about the further spreading of Maoist struggle by youth which was originally sparked by the Jasic Workers’ Solidarity Group in Guandong.

Cornell University cuts ties with Chinese school after crackdown on students, Javier Hernández, New York Times, October 29, 2018, 2 pages. In connection with support by students at Renmin University in Beijing for the Jasic Workers’ struggle.

Maoists call on China’s official union to stand up for workers, follow-up report on the Jasic Workers’ Solidarity Group, from the website of Radio Free Asia, October 25, 2018, 2 pages. One of the prominent activists in the JWSG, Yue Xin, has not been seen in more than 60 days. She has apparently been arrested or exiled to the countryside. Other JWSG workers are also still detained in what can only be viewed as an attempted fascist suppression of the working class struggle.

China’s Government censors shut down references to Mao-inspired labour movement, further report on website of Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2018, 3 pages.

Dozens detained amid Maoist-led rights campaign at Chinese factory, report on website of Radio Free Asia, July 30, 2018, 4 pages.

Maoist labour campaigner ‘kidnapped’, believed detained, in China’s Guandong, report on website of Radio Free Asia, August 13, 2018, 4 pages. The Maoist woman referred to is Shen Mengyu. This is a follow-up to the next item above.

Hong Kong’s May 16 demonstration commemorating the 52 Anniversary of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, May 2018, 8 pages.

Maoist writer jailed for subversion, report on website of Radio Free Asia, January 19, 2012, 3 pages. About a 10-year prison sentence handed down to self-identified Maoist, Li Tie.

Yu Quan-yu, a truly unforgettable committed revolutionary in our era, Li Zhen-cheng. A remembrance of a Maoist revolutionary who was falsely labelled as a ‘rightist’ back in the 1950s, but who remained a revolutionary nevertheless. In both Chinese and English translation. August 17, 2010, 11 pages.

A memorial meeting for Chairman Mao and other martyrs, at Luoyang City, Henan Province. Posted on the ‘Utopia’ website (www.wyzxsx.com) on April 14, 2010. Includes a link to the video of the original memorial speech in Chinese.

Economic bust is big boom for Mao, an article in the Toronto Star about the Utopia Bookshop in Beijing, a centre for Maoist books and magazines. March 25, 2009, 4 pages.

Some thoughts regarding our future revolution, by a Revolutionary Old Guard, Wei Wei, 5 pages. This article was distributed on the Maoist Revolution email list in the U.S. on November 9, 2008, along with the notice that it was translated from Chinese from the www.hongqiwang.com web site. The author seems to take a fairly strong nationalist line, and views the current regime as that of a bureaucrat and comprador bourgeoisie (rather than a national bourgeoisie). But he also is a strong supporter of Paris Commune style democracy.

China: signs of ultra-leftist support to Maoists of India and Nepal, D. S. Rajan, October 5, 2005.

On December 24, 2004, Maoists in China get three year prison sentences for leafleting: a report on the case of the Zhengzhou Four, Monthly Review, January 2005, 5 pages.

Without rejection, there can be no rebirth, My declaration of withdrawal from the Party, by Zhang Lushi, an old Chinese Communist Party member, July 19, 2001, 5 pages. A very powerful and touching letter.

From victory to defeat, China’s Socialist Road and Capitalist Reversal, Pao-Yu Ching, Collection New Roads, No. 1, Foreign Languages Press, Paris, 2019, 128 pages.

China, a new Social-Imperialist power! It is integral to the world capitalist-imperialist system, Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), 2021, 84 pages.

Revolution and Counter-revolution, China’s continuing class struggle since liberation, Pao-Yu Ching, Collection New Roads, No. 11, Foreign Languages Press, Paris, 2021, 448 pages.

Left side of the road

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Category Archives: Asia

16th March 1968 – My Lai Massacre

16th March 1968 – My Lai Massacre

The voices of those who killed

Beijing Review 1979 – 1991

Beijing Review 1979 – 1991

1979 – Volume 22

1980 – Volume 23

1981 – Volume 24

1982 – Volume 25

1983 – Volume 26

1984 – Volume 27

1985 – Volume 28

1986 – Volume 29

1987 – Volume 30

1988 – Volume 31

1989 – Volume 32

1990 – Volume 33

1991 – Volume 34

Capitalist China – the reality post-Mao

Capitalist China – the reality post-Mao

Communist Party of China

Chinese Government and Official Functions

China’s Economy

China’s Military

Suppression of News and Ideas in China

Chinese Capitalist-Imperialism

Mass Struggles in China

Pro-Maoist Sentiment in Contemporary China

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