Deng Xiaoping and the Reform-Era Leadership (1978–1992)

1. Third Plenum launches “reform and opening up”

   Dec 18, 1978Labels: Third Plenum, Deng Xiaoping

   • Third Plenum
   • Deng Bio

2. China launches Sino-Vietnamese War offensive

   Feb 17, 1979Labels: Sino-Vietnamese War, PLA

   • Hoover Essay
   • Sino Vietnam War

3. Zhao Ziyang becomes Premier of China

   Sep 10, 1980Labels: Zhao Ziyang, State Council

   • Zhao Bio
   • Britannica

4. Deng becomes CCP Central Military Commission chair

   Jun 28, 1981Labels: Central Military, Deng Xiaoping

   • CMC Chair
   • CPPCC Bio

5. 12th Party Congress sets modernization framework

   Sep 1, 1982Labels: 12th Party, CCP

   • 12th Congress

6. Third Plenum adopts urban economic reform decision

   Oct 20, 1984Labels: Third Plenum, Economic Reform

   • 12th CC
   • China org cn

7. Sino-British Joint Declaration signed on Hong Kong

   Dec 19, 1984Labels: Sino-British Joint, Hong Kong

   • Joint Decl
   • Britannica

8. State launches the 863 high-tech development program

   Mar 3, 1986Labels: 863 Program, State High-Tech

   • 863 Program

9. Student demonstrations begin in Hefei and spread

   Dec 5, 1986Labels: Hefei Protests, Student Movement

   • 1986 Protests
   • UPI Archive

10. Hu Yaobang resigns as CCP General Secretary

    Jan 16, 1987Labels: Hu Yaobang, General Secretary

    • Washington Post
    • Hu Yaobang

11. Tiananmen protests begin after Hu Yaobang’s death

    Apr 15, 1989Labels: Tiananmen Movement, Hu Yaobang

    • 1989 Protests
    • Hu Death

12. Beijing martial law declared amid escalating protests

    May 20, 1989Labels: Martial Law, Beijing

    • UPI Archive
    • 1989 Protests

13. Military crackdown ends Tiananmen movement

    Jun 4, 1989Labels: June Fourth, PLA

    • 1989 Protests

14. Deng resigns as CCP Central Military Commission chair

    Nov 9, 1989Labels: Deng Xiaoping, Central Military

    • CMC Chair
    • CPPCC Bio

15. Deng’s Southern Tour reinvigorates economic reform

    Jan 18, 1992Labels: Southern Tour, Deng Xiaoping

    • Southern Tour

16. 14th Party Congress endorses “socialist market economy” goal

    Oct 12, 1992Labels: 14th Party, CCP

    • 14th Congress