Li Rui

Li Rui (Chinese: 李锐; pinyin: Lǐ Ruì) (April 13, 1917 – February 16, 2019) was a Chinese politician, historian, and intellectual. He is best known for having served as the secretary to Mao Zedong in the 1950s, and subsequently becoming a vocal critic of Mao's policies, particularly the Great Leap Forward.

Li Rui joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1937 and initially worked in the Party's propaganda apparatus. He later became involved in industrial planning and power generation. His proximity to Mao Zedong offered him unique insights into the inner workings of the Chinese government.

During the Lushan Conference in 1959, Li Rui openly criticized the Great Leap Forward, a disastrous economic and social campaign that resulted in widespread famine. As a result of his dissent, he was labeled a rightist, stripped of his official positions, and subjected to political persecution, including imprisonment and hard labor.

After Mao Zedong's death and the subsequent rise of Deng Xiaoping, Li Rui was rehabilitated and allowed to return to public life. He became a vice-minister of water resources and later served as deputy head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. He devoted his later years to researching and writing about the history of the CPC, particularly the errors and excesses of the Maoist era.

Li Rui was a staunch advocate for political reform and constitutionalism in China. He repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability within the CPC, as well as a re-evaluation of Mao Zedong's legacy. He remained a critical voice within Chinese intellectual circles until his death in 2019.

His writings include memoirs and historical analyses, providing valuable first-hand accounts of key events in modern Chinese history and offering insights into the political dynamics of the Communist Party. He became a significant figure in the discourse surrounding China's past and future.