Hu Yaobang's Reformist Corruption Clash

Chinese politician Hu Yaobang, whose 1989 funeral helped trigger the Tiananmen Square protests, backed reforms that angered powerful Communist Party elders. In office, he supported giving Tibetans and Uyghurs more control over their own affairs, pushed improved Sino-Japanese relations, and joined Chinese politician Zhao Ziyang in an anti-corruption program that investigated protected children of senior party officials. In December 1986 and January 1987, student protests spread across China, and Deng Xiaoping ordered Hu to dismiss several reformist intellectuals from the party. Hu refused, and in January 1987 party elders, senior military officials, and Deng forced him to resign as General Secretary for being too lenient toward the protesters.

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