HONG KONG -- The recent political rehabilitation of former party chief Hu Yaobang, whose death in April 1989 triggered massive student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, is encouraging to the progressive wing of the Chinese Communist Party, even though there is little indication that the current leadership is about to ease its hardline policies anytime soon.
The fact that the late leader was honored on the 90th anniversary of his birth by the top leadership does not mean that the party is about to reverse its position on the June 4 massacre. While his death was the catalyst for the demonstrations and subsequent crackdown, the former party chief personally had nothing to do with it.
In the long run, though, the Chinese leadership will be bound to reassess the decision to use tanks against unarmed students. It may not be while President Hu Jintao is the party leader, but it will happen at some point.