Hua Kuo-Feng

Hua Kuo-Feng (Hua Guofeng; 1920– ), Chinese political leader. Achieving swift promotion during the Cultural Revolution, he was made premier following Chou En-Lai's death and then succeeded Mao Tse-Tung as Communist party chairman in 1976. As China turned toward more pragmatic policies, Hua's close identification with Mao proved a handicap, and he fell from power in 1981.

See also: China.