2014-10-27
Hu Deping (C), son of late, liberal-minded premier Hu Yaobang, is interviewed at a political conference in Beijing, March 4, 2012.
ImagineChina
The princeling son of late, liberal-minded premier Hu Yaobang will take over the editorship of a cutting-edge political magazine in China, according to its deputy editor.
Hu Deping, 72, will edit Yanhuang Chunqiu, which often publishes views that are at odds with the official line of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, following the departure of nonagenarian publisher Du Daozheng, deputy editor Yang Jisheng told RFA in an interview at the weekend.
“The powers that be wanted a change in editorship,” Yang said, referring to China’s Ministry of Culture. “The venerable Du is very elderly; he’s 91 now.”
“So we spoke to those in charge and decided on Hu Deping.”
“[They should take effect] in two months’ time; at the end of November, is what we discussed,” Yang said.
Yang said officials had promised that the magazine, which is backed by retired senior officials, would maintain its current editorial direction after it was ordered last month to answer directly to the ministry, rather than to the quasi-government Yanhuang Culture Association of China.
Retirement announced
A Beijing source close to the magazine said Du’s retirement was announced at a meeting of all staff at the magazine on Friday.
He said Lu De, son of late vice-premier Lu Dingyi, was confirmed as deputy publisher and legal representative.
“But whether or not Yanhuang Chunqiu will become more liberal or have more freedom of expression after they take over is very hard to say right now,” said the source, who asked to remain anonymous.
But he said the overall direction of the magazine would likely remain the same.
“The appointment of Hu Deping and Lu De is really the princeling generation helping out the princeling generation,” the source said, referring to the elite children of veteran revolutionary leaders.
A welcomed change
Bao Tong, a former top aide to late ousted premier Zhao Ziyang, welcomed the move.
“This is good, because Yanhuang Chunqiu can do things that the leadership can’t,” said Bao, who has been under house arrest at his Beijing home since serving a seven-year jail term in the wake of the 1989 military crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square.
The movements were sparked when thousands took to the streets during grave-sweeping festival in a show of mass public mourning for Hu Yaobang, who had been instrumental in righting many of the injustices of the Mao-era Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
His successor, and Bao’s former political mentor, Zhao Ziyang, was also ousted for taking a conciliatory line towards the 1989 student movement, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest, where he died in January 2005.
