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Article: Deng Gambles On Army Saving Him;Choice of Successor Rides on Outcome
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 20, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Confronting massive public protests demanding his resignation,
Deng Xiaoping turned to the Chinese army today in a gamble to save
his reputation and restore his weakening grip on power.
By daybreak today, after a night in which human walls of
protesters prevented the army from getting to Tiananmen Square, the
protest center, Deng's odds looked no better than even.
The success or failure of the military intervention is likely to
determine not only Deng's fate, but the identity of his successor,
diplomats and other analysts said here.
The decision to send units of the People's Liberation Army into
Beijing to restore order was announced by Premier Li Peng and
seconded publicly by President ...