A Pivotal Meeting on the Eve of Lunar New Year

On February 13, 1991—the night before Lunar New Year’s Eve—a quiet but momentous gathering took place in Shanghai. Zhou Ruijin, then deputy editor-in-chief and Party Committee Secretary of Jiefang Daily (the official newspaper of Shanghai’s Municipal Committee), summoned two colleagues: Shi Zhihong from the municipal policy research office and Ling He, deputy director of the newspaper’s commentary department.

What began as an apparent planning session for Zhou’s annual New Year editorial soon revealed deeper ambitions. Rather than drafting a routine holiday piece, Zhou proposed a bold series of signed articles. His rationale cut to the heart of China’s historical moment: 1991 marked the Year of the Sheep (辛未年), and in Chinese cyclical tradition, every twelfth year brings transformation. The last such pivot had been 1979—the dawn of China’s reform era.

The Birth of “Huang Fuping”

After two days of intensive writing and revision, Jiefang Daily published the first installment on February 15, 1991. Titled Be the Vanguard of Reform and Opening-Up, the piece occupied the lower half of the front page, framed conspicuously beside coverage of Deng Xiaoping’s Spring Festival activities. Its opening lines set the tone:

“As we exchange Lunar New Year greetings, do we recognize the profound historical transition before us?”

The author’s pseudonym—”Huang Fuping” (皇甫平)—would soon become a lightning rod. Zhou later explained the layered meaning: while phonetically suggesting “Huangpu Commentary” (黄浦江评论), the name also encoded a Minnan dialect homophone for “Following the People’s Mandate to Assist Deng Xiaoping.”

1991: China at a Crossroads

The articles emerged against a backdrop of global and domestic upheaval:

– The Soviet Collapse: As the hammer-and-sickle flag descended over the Kremlin, shockwaves reverberated through China’s political establishment.
– Economic Strains: Official statistics revealed alarming trends—industrial profits had plummeted 67%, with state enterprise losses reaching 31 billion yuan.
– Shanghai’s Stagnation: Foreign observers likened the city to “a warzone just vacated,” its skyline devoid of skyscrapers while Tokyo gleamed nearby.

Amid this “valley” (as chronicler Ling Zhijun termed it), Deng Xiaoping made an ostensibly private visit to Shanghai. His remarks at Jinjiang Hotel’s revolving restaurant carried unmistakable urgency:

“Pudong should have been developed earlier, like Shenzhen… Shanghai’s talent pool was overlooked when we created special economic zones.”

To then-Mayor Zhu Rongji, Deng emphasized: “Reform must remain our mantra for decades. Fear is natural—but we need courage to pioneer.”

The “Huang Fuping” Storm Unleashed

Four biweekly commentaries followed, each escalating the debate:

1. March 2: New Thinking for Reform challenged ideological rigidity, arguing market mechanisms weren’t inherently capitalist.
2. March 22: Stronger Awareness for Opening-Up called for bolder experimentation.
3. April 12: Reform Needs Capable Cadres stressed personnel selection.

The backlash was swift. By June, journals like Contemporary Trends accused Huang Fuping of “steering reform toward capitalism.” The People’s Daily joined the fray in September with Three Issues in Current Reform, framing the debate as:

“Every citizen has the right to ask: Is this socialism or capitalism?”

The Invisible Hand of History

Behind the scenes:

– International Speculation: Foreign wires and Taiwan’s United Daily speculated about Deng’s involvement, while Soviet TASS dispatched reporters to investigate.
– Bureaucratic Pressure: An unnamed central newspaper editor stormed Jiefang Daily demanding: “Who authorized these?” Zhou stood firm: “As editor-in-chief, I need no authorization for signed columns.”
– Scholarly Support: Economist Wu Jinglian publicly defended the articles, though he mistakenly assumed high-level endorsement.

Crucially, Deng remained silent—until his 1992 Southern Tour shattered the impasse:

“Planning vs. market isn’t socialism vs. capitalism… The criteria are whether it develops productive forces, strengthens national power, and improves living standards.”

Legacy: How a Pen Name Changed China

The aftermath proved revelatory:

– Vindication: “Huang Fuping” swept national journalism awards in 1992.
– Personnel Shifts: Zhou Ruijin’s subsequent promotion to People’s Daily deputy editor signaled Beijing’s alignment.
– Historical Echoes: The pseudonym entered reform lore as shorthand for courageous truth-telling.

Decades later, Zhou reflected: “History confirmed that reform and opening-up reflected the people’s will.” The 1991-92 debate crystallized a fundamental tension in China’s modernization—between ideological purity and pragmatic progress, a tension that continues to shape its path today.

The “Huang Fuping” episode reminds us that even seemingly settled historical trajectories are often forged through unseen struggles, where a handful of determined individuals can alter a nation’s course with nothing but ink and conviction.