The quote you give from Deng is entiely apt. --- But as one that worked on China affairs for around 10 years (language, two assignments in Beijing and two more working on East Asia), China abandoned Marxism quite soon after the PRC was formed. The Great Leap of 58, and the ensuing famine of 4 years, and the Cul Rev of 65-70 had nothing to do with Marx or any other orthodoxy....But your deeper Q is very important -- we need today to understand China and its actions, as best as we can, even while so much about China is opaque and hidden. The real meaning of its statements is often very different from the words used.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com