ABSTRACT
The prodemocracy activity of the 1990s appeared to be less of a threat to the stability of the Chinese government than the economic strain caused by the continuation of Deng Xiaoping's reforms. In 1984 Jiang Zemin was selected by Premier Zhao Ziyang to draw up plans for a new economic development program for Shanghai. The Central Committee's election of economic reformer Jiang Zemin as the party's general secretary in June 1989 assured that Deng's open door policy and free market experiment would continue. In 1984 Jiang was selected by Premier Zhao Ziyang to draw up plans for a new economic development program for Shanghai. Jiang candidly admitted his lack of experience in military affairs but expressed a willingness to learn from the veterans. The United States initially refused to support World Trade Organization (WTO) membership for China unless Beijing made several broad concessions concerning international trading norms.
