Lin Biao Incident

Lin Biao's Rise

Lin Biao had been Mao's most loyal military commander and was elevated as his designated successor in the 1969 Party constitution — the first time any Chinese leader had been officially named an heir apparent. Lin's "Little Red Book" compilation of Mao's quotations became the Cultural Revolution's defining text, and the army under his command enforced order after the Red Guard chaos. By 1970, however, tensions were developing between Lin and Mao over the role of the state and Lin's own growing power.

The Alleged Coup and Flight

According to the official account, Lin's son Lin Liguo drafted a plan (codenamed "571") to assassinate Mao. When the plot was discovered in September 1971, Lin Biao, his wife Ye Qun, and Lin Liguo attempted to flee to the Soviet Union. Their Trident aircraft crashed in Mongolia on September 13, killing all aboard. No credible survivor testimony, flight recorder, or independent investigation has ever confirmed the coup plot.

Aftermath

The death of Mao's chosen successor in a plane headed for the Soviet Union was deeply disorienting for the Chinese public. Party members who had memorised Lin's political writings had their books confiscated. The incident exposed the Cultural Revolution's instability and the dangers of the cult of personality. It weakened the Gang of Four's position and created space for moderate forces, contributing to Deng Xiaoping's rehabilitation two years later.