Deng Pufang, the eldest son of Deng Xiaoping. AFP
SCMP: Deng Xiaoping’s son urges China to ‘know its place’ and not be ‘overbearing’
* Deng Pufang says the economic and cultural changes introduced by his father 40 years ago are ‘irreversible’
* Comments in unpublished speech to disabled group offer counterweight to current assertive foreign policy
An influential son of Deng Xiaoping, the former Chinese leader who steered the country towards decades of economic growth, urged his government to “keep a sober mind” and “know its place”, delivering a counterpoint to Beijing’s increasingly ambitious foreign policy and military assertiveness.
“We must seek truth from fact, keep a sober mind and know our own place,” Deng Pufang, the eldest son of Deng Xiaoping, said in a recent speech that was not made public but was obtained by the South China Morning Post. “We should neither be overbearing or belittle ourselves.”
Later in the speech, Deng urged China to embrace a “cooperative and win-win international environment”.
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WNU Editor: Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's thinking was always based on this principle .....
.... "hide your edge and nurture your strength", which means behaving humbly and never taking the lead in world affairs.
If Deng Xiaoping was alive today I am sure that he would be proud of China's domestic accomplishments, but horrified by its aggressive foreign policy. To him he never saw any long-term upside that could be gained by being a "bully" on the international stage .... a view that many in Asia now have on China. He would also be horrified by the cult of personality that Chinese President Xi is trying to develop for himself. Deng Xiaoping strongly believed that in order for the Chinese Communist Party to survive, its leadership must also be flexible and changing to the needs of its people. Chinese President Xi's decision to stay in the top job beyond his term limit has thrown that rule into the garbage can. As for Deng Pufang's remarks .... they are going to be ignored by China's elite.
