How did Lin Biao’s death in 1971 affect the balance of power in China?

The death of Lin Biao in September 1971 significantly altered the power structure of the Cultural Revolution by removing a dominant military faction and triggering a profound crisis of faith among the Chinese public.12

Shifts in Political Influence

• Military Purge: In the weeks following Lin’s death, virtually the entire high military command that had served under him was purged, effectively ending the military’s unchecked dominance over Chinese society.12
• Rise of Zhou Enlai: Zhou Enlai emerged as the primary beneficiary of the power vacuum. From late 1971 to 1973, he utilized his influence to nudge the system toward stability, encouraging the revival of educational standards, increasing international trade, and rehabilitating numerous officials who had been purged.2
• Public Disillusionment: Lin had been the high priest of the Mao cult. His fall—characterized by reports of an abortive assassination plot against Mao Zedong—exposed the internal power struggles of the leadership. This led millions of citizens to conclude that they had been manipulated for personal political purposes, undermining the ideological fervor of the movement.12

Ultimately, Lin’s demise left Mao searching for a new successor, leading to a volatile period of shifting power between radical factions and pragmatic reformers.2