Zhao Ziyang

Zhao Ziyang was a Chinese statesman, diplomat, and reformist who served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1987 to 1989. He was also the premier of the People's Republic of China from 1980 to 1987. He joined the CCP in 1938 and held various positions in the party and the government, such as the secretary of the CCP Guangdong Provincial Committee, the minister of the State Economic Commission, and the vice premier of the State Council. He was known for his economic reforms, his diplomatic skills, and his moderate views. He was involved in several important events, such as the Three Links, the Taiwan Relations Act, the Geneva Conference, the Bandung Conference, the Sino-Soviet split, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the Ping Pong Diplomacy, and the Shanghai Communique. He was also a supporter of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, and tried to persuade the party leaders to negotiate with the student demonstrators. He was ousted from power after the military crackdown on the protests, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. He died in 2005 at age 85. He was regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in modern Chinese history.