Word: mao
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...mood at the 25th anniversary of the People's Republic was almost unpolitical, by Peking's standards. Unlike past celebrations of Chairman Mao Tse-tung's triumph, which were usually dominated by purposive displays of military muscle, this year's holiday had an air of festive gaiety...
...main propaganda theme of the anniversary was the need for unity-understandable in light of the uncertainties facing China. Chairman Mao did not show up for any of the proceedings, feeding speculation that the 81-year-old leader was too frail to withstand the strains of a public appearance...
...appear on Oct. 1 did. The night before, Chou had presided triumphantly at a banquet in Peking's Great Hall of the People. While 1,500 Chinese viPs and 4,500 foreign guests thunderously applauded, Chou had drunk a toast to unity "on behalf of Great Leader Chairman Mao, of the Party's Central Committee and of the Chinese government." After his 45-minute appearance, Chou, 76, apparently returned to a Peking hospital to continue treatment for what most analysts believe is a serious heart ailment...
Chou's illness probably brought about this apparent political ceasefire. With Chou weakened-he was recently reported by Nigerian Chief of State Yakubu Gowon to be recovering from surgery-Mao has mediated among the factions striving to move into the post-Chou vacuum, diffusing power among the rehabilitated party bureaucrats, Madame Mao and Wang Hung-wen. In what appears to be a final, desperate effort to pave the way for his succession, Mao seems to be pushing hard for a collective leadership dominated by the regular Communist Party...
...question is, who will belong to that collective leadership? As China's leaders mount the rostrum in Peking for the silver anniversary of their rule, Sinologists will be trying to determine which individuals or groups among them will be able to engineer a smooth succession to the post-Mao...