Deng Xiaoping: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Main|Death and state funeral of Deng Xiaoping}}

[[File:Deng Funeral.jpg|thumb|Deng Xiaoping's ashes lie in state in Beijing whose banner reads "Memorial Service of Comrade Deng Xiaoping", February 1997]]

Deng died on 19 February 1997 at 9:08&nbsp;p.m. Beijing time, aged 92 from a lung infection and [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hsü |first=Immanuel C.Y. |title=The Rise of Modern China |date=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195125047 |edition=6th |location=New York |page=974 |author-link=Immanuel C. Y. Hsu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Deng Xiaoping, leader of China's economic reforms, dies |url=https://apnews.com/c47e171cfed30e65e724dd709474c8fa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026221211/https://apnews.com/c47e171cfed30e65e724dd709474c8fa |archive-date=26 October 2021 |access-date=18 July 2021 |website=Associated Press}}</ref> The public was largely prepared for his death, as there had been rumors that his health was deteriorating. At 10:00 on the morning of 24 February, people were asked by Premier [[Li Peng]] to pause in silence for three minutes. The nation's flags flew at [[half-mast]] for over a week. The nationally televised funeral, which was a simple and relatively private affair attended by the country's leaders and Deng's family, was broadcast on all cable channels. After the funeral, his organs were donated to medical research, the remains were cremated at [[Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery]], and his ashes were subsequently scattered at sea, according to his wishes. For the next two weeks, Chinese state media ran news stories and documentaries related to Deng's life and death, with the regular 19:00 ''[[Xinwen Lianbo|National News]]'' program in the evening lasting almost two hours over the regular broadcast time.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

Deng's successor, Jiang Zemin, maintained Deng's [[Deng Xiaoping Theory|political and economic philosophies]]. Deng was eulogized as a "great Marxist, great Proletarian Revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, and diplomat; one of the main leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, the [[People's Liberation Army]] of China, and the People's Republic of China; the great architect of China's socialist opening-up and modernized construction; the founder of [[Deng Xiaoping Theory]]".<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/24/china.deng/ CNN: China officially mourns Deng Xiaoping] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021119122614/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/24/china.deng/ |date=19 November 2002 }} 24 February 1997</ref> Some elements, notably modern Maoists and radical reformers (the far left and the far right), had negative views, however. In the following year, songs like "[[Story of Spring]]" by [[Dong Wenhua]], which were created in Deng's honour shortly after Deng's southern tour in 1992, once again were widely played.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

Deng's death drew international reaction. UN Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] said Deng was to be remembered "in the international community at large as a primary architect of China's modernization and dramatic economic development". French President [[Jacques Chirac]] said "In the course of this century, few men have, as much as Deng, led a vast human community through such profound and determining changes"; British Prime Minister [[John Major]] commented about Deng's key role in the return of Hong Kong to Chinese control; Canadian Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] called Deng a "pivotal figure" in Chinese history. The [[Kuomintang]] chair in Taiwan also sent its condolences, saying it longed for peace, cooperation, and prosperity. The [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] voiced regret that Deng died without resolving questions over Tibet.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/19/deng.world.reax/index.html CNN:World leaders praise Deng's economic legacy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816133436/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/19/deng.world.reax/index.html |date=16 August 2007 }} 24 February 1997</ref>