The Problematic Future of China's Economic Reforms

Ever since the Tiananmen Incident of June 1989, Chinese leaders have been attempting to assure foreigners of their continuing commitment to economic reform. As early as five days after the massacre, Deng Xiaoping informed a meeting of military officers that the policies of economic reform and opening to the outside world would continue despite the political turmoil of the preceding months. ¹ The Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee, meeting two weeks later on June 23-24, likewise declared that the policies of the 13th Party Congress, including those concerning economic reform, would be sustained. ² The Fifth Plenum, which met in November 1989, issued similar reassurances. ³ In virtually every meeting with foreign visitors, top Chinese officials, including Jiang Zemin and Li Peng, have reiterated that China remains committed to the transformation of the country's economic system and to extensive interaction with the international economy.