Mao"s secretary diaries spark legal battle over China’s history
- Stanford University is involved in a legal battle over the ownership of Li Rui's diaries, which document significant historical events.
- Li Rui, who served as Mao Zedong's personal secretary, passed away in 2019, and his diaries were donated to Stanford shortly before his death.
- The outcome of the trial could impact the preservation of historical narratives in China, as there are concerns about potential censorship.
The diaries of Li Rui, a prominent Chinese official and critic of the Beijing government, are at the center of a legal dispute in the U.S. Stanford University is suing Li's widow for ownership of these diaries, which are feared to be censored by the Chinese Communist Party. Li Rui, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 101, served as Mao Zedong's personal secretary and documented significant historical events, including the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The trial, which began in California, will determine whether the diaries should remain at Stanford's Hoover Institution, where they were donated by Li's daughter shortly before his death. The Chinese authorities are suspected of influencing the widow's actions, raising concerns about the potential censorship of the diaries if they are returned to her. Li's diaries contain detailed accounts of his experiences and thoughts during critical moments in Chinese history, including internal party disputes and policy failures. These writings are considered invaluable for understanding the complexities of China's past, especially since few officials documented their experiences in such detail after the Cultural Revolution. The case highlights the ongoing struggle over historical narratives in China, as the Communist Party often alters historical records to fit its agenda. Scholars emphasize the importance of retaining the original diaries for research and authenticity, as they provide insights into the realities of political life in China that are often suppressed by the government.