1989, April 15

According to political and military analyst Larry M. Wortzel, it was "Hu Yaobang’s death on April 15, 1989, that threw the Communist Party leadership into turmoil and paralyzed inner-Party decisionmaking at the highest levels". This internal conflict among China's top leaders has probably contributed to the failed crisis management that let to the Tiananmen massacre. It paralyzed decision making und delayed the crisis management that could have prevented the Tiananman crisis.

Literature:

Wortzel, L. M. (2005): The Tiananman massacre reappraised. Public protest, urban warfare, and the People's Liberation Army. In: Scobell, Andrew / Wortzel, Larry: Chinese national security decision making under stress. Strategic Studies Institute.