The most famous Red Guard during China’s Cultural Revolution, a decade of violence and chaos from the mid-1960s to 1970s, died last month at the age of 77. However, experts told The Epoch Times that the spirit of Cultural Resolution is far from dead in China. Members of the current Chinese communist leadership received high school and college education during that period and still bear the Red Guard marks shown in their policies and behaviors, experts said, such as the infamous “wolf warrior” diplomacy and the relentless pursuit of unifying Taiwan with force.
Shi Shan, a China expert and contributor to The Epoch Times, said these behaviors continue the Cultural Revolutionary tradition of aggression without compromise. He said that by referring to the “hundred-year storm” repeatedly since 2017, Chinese leader Xi Jinping meant establishing a new world order in a style mirroring the late Chinese communist chairman Mao Zedong’s claim of “daring to make the sun and moon shine in new skies,” a famous poem by Mao describing peasants usurping landlords in China.
Shi said that Deng Xiaoping, known for starting China’s economic reform in the 1980s, wanted to designate cadres born in the 1960s to lead China following Hu Jintao—a head figure widely perceived as transitory. According to Shi, Deng deliberately sought to bypass Red Guards in leadership roles because of their violent tendencies and lack of proper education during their formative years.
However, Deng’s successor Jiang Zemin supported Xi’s succession to Hu. In 1975, a year before the end of Cultural Revolution,Xi attended Tsinghua University as a “worker-peasant-soldier” student.Xi’s family is not part any those three categories.China is thus under governance people who went college during cultural revolution based on identity workers,farmers or soldiers not academic merits.
Shi said that China’s education past decade returned cultural revolution style under Xi such generation might behave accordingly international community future.Song Binbin,the most famous red guard symbol violence cultural revolution was daughter Song Renqiong,a high-ranking CCP official.She became widely known after meeting Mao Zedong Tiananmen Square where he praised her revolutionary zeal.During cultural revolution,Song was known for alleged organization attack deputy principal her high school Beijing;educator died severe beatings Aug5th1966.Years later,Song left china study United States keeping low profile distancing herself past.In2014,she issued public apology role violence expressed regret harm caused during cultural revolution.She died Sept16th United States where she spent last years receiving cancer treatments.Most red guards grew up hateful environment took toll mental health according Wang Weiluo hydrology expert who grew up during cultural revolution.“It great misfortune chinese people this generation now power china,”Wang told The Epoch Times.Six members seven-member Politburo Standing Committee,the CCP top decision-making body,reached college age before end cultural revolution1976.The only exception Ding Xuexiang,sixth-ranked member turned14 when violent political movement ended.Inside CCP leaders younger generation—10 more years younger than red guards—hold very different views.Many chinese military generals belong this younger demographic have degrees prestigious universities strong technical expertise.According Shi,in view,Xi often acts irrationally even defies common sense leading subordinates harbor private disagreements conflicts between them Xi administration bound intensify further.“Wolf warrior diplomacy” has lesser-known heritage—”Red Guard diplomacy.”In March2021,chinese embassy France publicly called French think tank scholar“mad hyena”“furiously attacks china”because he criticized Beijing stance Taiwan.In same year,chinese diplomat Pakistan,Mao worshiper,said Twitter way deal with china enemies give them middle finger.Late Huang Hua former foreign minister CCP from1976to1982said his article“Absurd Diplomacy During Cultural Revolution”after start almost all ambassadors counselors abroad brought back many them became targets denunciation harsh crackdowns.Suddenly foreign embassies could function normally,Huang wrote.Under influence ultra-leftist ideology,the ccp focused propaganda foreign countries promoting mao zedong thought.The newly installed envoys disregarded diplomatic norms forcibly educated other countries beijing world center revolutions.Ultimately aggressive actions led deterioration bilateral relations nearly30of40countries ccp established diplomatic quasi-diplomatic relations some point complete severance according Huang.Sheng Xue,Toronto-based democracy activist writer on china affairs described xi foreign policy brutal overbearing style.“Lacking ability engage wisely outside world red guard generation relies hardline Marxist-Leninist principles framework dealing world.This misguided approach brought us wanton confrontation entire world,” Sheng said.Sheng also among generations ccp leaders,Xis style helps world see ccp what it.Deng who became paramount leader shortly after end cultural revolution victim political upheaval.He fell out political favor1960s advocating economic reforms clashed mao vision forced resign all positions.His family like many others suffered turbulent time.His eldest son,Deng Pufang particularly affected—red guards severely beat him threw him window leaving paralyzed waist down.Despite personal tragedy,Deng avoided extensive criticism mao.Instead sought maintain political stability preserving maos image great leader70percent right30percent wrong.shi believes deng pragmatic approach negative impact—it deprived chinese people opportunity truly reflect onculturalrevolution.Now shisees new opening forchina.“Song Binbin iconic figure red guards has died.Her passing signals beginning generations gradual exit fromworld stage,”he said.”I hope may offer chinas youth opportunity break free ghostculturalrevolution.”