Warning One: The allocation of citizens' income should benefit everyone
-- We are a socialist country, and the distribution of national income should benefit everyone. There won't be people who are too rich or too poor, so life will generally improve for all. (Striving for the great unity of all ethnic groups in China, 1986 p161-162)
Warning Two: If polarization occurs, China will face revolutionary issues
-- Common prosperity is something we have been talking about since the beginning of reform, and it will eventually become the central topic. Socialism isn't about a few getting rich while most remain poor; that's not how it works. The greatest advantage of socialism is common prosperity, which reflects the essence of socialism. If polarization occurs, ethnic, regional, and class contradictions will develop, as well as conflicts between the center and localities, potentially leading to chaos. (Skillfully using opportunities to solve development problems, 1990 p363+1)
-- If capitalism were implemented, a few might get rich, but the majority would remain in poverty for a long time, and China would face revolutionary issues. (Learning from historical lessons and avoiding wrong tendencies, 1987 p226-229)
Warning Three: If reform leads to polarization, then reform has failed
-- The characteristic that distinguishes socialism from capitalism is common prosperity, avoiding polarization. (Privatization liberalization equals taking the capitalist road, 1985 p123)
-- If reform leads to polarization, then reform has failed. (Reform is the only way for China to develop productivity, 1985 p138-140)
-- Now we are pursuing four modernizations under socialism, not some other kind of modernization. The goal of socialism is common prosperity for all people, not polarization. If our policies lead to polarization, we have failed; if a new bourgeoisie emerges, we have strayed. We advocate certain regions becoming prosperous first to encourage and lead others to prosperity. This applies similarly to individuals. (Unity requires ideals and discipline, 1985 p110-112)
Warning Four: By the end of the 20th century, the problem of polarization should be prominently addressed
-- Following the socialist path means gradually achieving common prosperity. The idea of common prosperity is proposed like this: some regions with conditions can develop faster, others may take longer, and the developed regions will help the less developed ones until common prosperity is achieved. If the rich get richer and the poor poorer, polarization will occur, and the socialist system should prevent it. ... When and on what basis this issue is prominently raised and resolved needs study. It can be imagined that when we reach a moderately prosperous society by the end of this century, this issue will need to be prominently raised and resolved. (Key points of talks in Wuhan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shanghai, etc., 1992 p370-383)
Warning Five: No matter how beautiful cities become, they cannot do without the stable foundation of rural areas
-- Eighty percent of China's population lives in rural areas. Whether China remains stable depends primarily on whether these eighty percent remain stable. Cities can be made more beautiful, but without the stable foundation of rural areas, it won't work. (Building socialism with Chinese characteristics, 1984 p63-66)
-- To invigorate the domestic economy, we start with the countryside. Eighty percent of China's population is in the countryside. Whether Chinese society is peaceful, whether the economy can develop, depends first on whether the countryside can develop and farmers' lives improve. Doubling our output largely depends on improving the lives of these eighty percent. (Our grand goals and basic policies, 1984 p77-78)
Warning Six: Ideological, cultural, educational, and health sectors must prioritize social benefits as the sole criterion for all activities
-- The "money above all" mentality, which commodifies spiritual products, also manifests in other aspects of spiritual production. (The urgent tasks of the Party in organizational and ideological fronts, 1983 p43)
-- All sectors of ideology, culture, education, and health must make social benefits the sole criterion for all activities, and their enterprises must prioritize social benefits as the highest standard. (Speech at the National Congress of the Communist Party, 1985 pp145)
Warning Seven: If the education problem isn't properly addressed, it will lead to major issues, and one will bear historical responsibility
-- We have said multiple times that by the centenary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, our economy could approach the level of developed countries. One reason we say this is because within this period, we fully have the ability to improve education, enhance scientific and technological levels, and cultivate hundreds of millions of talents at various levels. Our nation's strength and the sustainability of economic development increasingly depend on the quality of workers and intellectuals. A billion-person country with advanced education has a talent advantage no other country can match. With such a talent advantage and an advanced socialist system, our goals are achievable. The Central Committee emphasizes putting enormous effort into education, starting from primary and secondary schools, which is a strategic move. If we don't propose such tasks now to the entire Party, it will lead to major issues, and we will bear historical responsibility. Some comrades, including high-ranking officials, lack sufficient understanding of the necessity of developing and reforming education, lack urgency, or verbally acknowledge its importance but don't act accordingly when solving practical problems. Leaders who neglect education lack foresight and maturity, incapable of guiding modernization. All party committees and governments must not only manage education but also expedite and strictly require it, minimizing empty talk and focusing on practical actions. (Serious efforts to improve education, 1985 p120-122)
Warning Eight: If China faces problems, they will likely originate within the Communist Party
-- If China encounters problems, they will arise within the Communist Party. (Key points of talks in Wuhan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shanghai, etc., 1992 p370-383)
Warning Nine: The ultimate success of all reforms hinges on political reform
-- Political reform must adapt to the situation. Reform should include political reform and use it as a sign of progress. (Remarks during an economic briefing, 1986 p160)
-- Political reform must go hand-in-hand with economic reform. Without political reform, economic reform won't proceed smoothly due to human obstacles. Matters require people to execute them; you advocate decentralization, but they concentrate power, leaving you powerless. From this perspective, the ultimate success of all reforms depends on political reform. (Establishing a legal mindset among all citizens, 1986 p163+1)
-- To develop, we must maintain openness to the outside world and reform domestically, including political reforms in the superstructure. (Strengthening education on the four cardinal principles and persisting with reform and opening-up policies, 1987 p202)
Warning Ten: Political reform will involve many people's interests and encounter numerous obstacles
-- When we proposed reform, it included political reform. Every step forward in economic reform deepens our sense of the necessity of political reform. Without reforming the political system, the results of economic reform cannot be guaranteed, nor can economic reform continue, hindering productivity and the realization of the four modernizations. Political reform will touch many people's interests and encounter numerous obstacles. Through reform, we must handle the relationship between rule of law and rule by man, and between the Party and government. Without political reform, economic reform will be hard to implement. (Regarding political reform, 1986 p176-180)
-- Reform is comprehensive, including economic reform, political reform, and corresponding reforms in other fields. Political reform measures involve countless people, mainly broad cadres, not just us old folks. (The pace of reform must accelerate, 1987 p237-243)