Why did the Ninth Party Congress formally designate Lin Biao as Mao Zedong’s successor in 1969?

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Lin Biao, Zhou Enlai, and other Chinese officials stand in uniform, holding up Little Red Books during a 1967 Red Guard rally in China. — Lin Biao At a 1967 Red Guard rally, Lin Biao (left) and Zhou Enlai publicly display copies of *The Little Red Book*.

At the Ninth Party Congress in April 1969, Lin Biao was formally designated as Mao Zedong’s successor and written into the new party constitution.12

This designation occurred during the Cultural Revolution, a period during which the military had significantly expanded its influence over Chinese society and the Communist Party. Lin had previously replaced Liu Shaoqi—Mao’s long-time second-in-command—as the designated successor in August 1966. By 1969, Lin had established himself as the high priest of the Mao cult, and the military effectively dominated the party’s central leadership, positioning him as the primary figure to carry forward Mao’s political legacy.12