University experts say that yesterday's death of former Chinese Communist Party Chair Deng Xiaoping will create new possibilities for the Chinese government during the next year.
"The succession of Deng began occuring several years ago. He has not had impact on the government for the past two years," said political science Prof. Kenneth Lieberthal, a national expert on China. "It is not an issue of impact immediately. It is a situation that will come about in the near future."
LSA senior Leia Chen said Deng's death will not have a drastic effect on China because it was expected.
"I think a lot of China expected it," Chen said. "I don't think it will cause a lot of chaos. It was announced in China last night, and the stockmarket hasn't gone down."
Lieberthal said Deng's death will likely affect China in two ways.
"Deng was a steady hand in Chinese politics," Lieberthal said. "(Deng's death) raises the possibility of future frictions in Chinese-American relations becoming out of hand. Also, it raises the possibility of an increased contingent in Chinese politics in the next year."
The possible change in the politics of China will be played out at the 15th Party Congress in September, Lieberthal said. Jiang Zemin has served as the country's active leader since 1990, but the death of Xiaoping will bring about the possibility of more candidates challenging Jiang.
"In the long run, it is much more likely that the succession will be challenged," political science graduate student Pierre Landry said. "There will be a party congress in the year, which may begin to indicate changes in the leadership."
Lieberthal said an attack on Jiang now will not be seen as an attack on Deng.
"Jiang was put into power by Deng," Lieberthal said. "With him not still alive, it will be easier for the addition of challengers to weaken (Jiang's) power without feeling that they are attacking Deng on his deathbed."
Lieberthal said it is important for Jiang to control the leadership during next fall's congress.
"The key task is to manage the leadership line-up of the 15th Party Congress this fall," Lieberthal said. "If he manages that, he will stay on top."
Political science associate Prof. Yasheng Huang said Chinese politics should stay status quo.
"This will be symbolically the end of an era. You have to remember (Deng) has not been involved in day-to-day politics for the last five years," he said.