California Court Rules Stanford University Can Keep Diaries of Mao Zedong's Former Secretary

Washington D.C. Stanford University in the United States is set to retain ownership of the diaries of Li Rui, the former secretary to modern China's founder Mao Zedong, following a ruling by a California court.

In his later years, Li Rui was known as a critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He meticulously kept diaries for decades, which are considered vital documents for understanding the history of modern China. These records include diaries, correspondence, meeting notes, personal reflections, poems, and photographs spanning from 1938 to 2019, covering a significant period of CCP rule.

During his lifetime, Li's daughter began donating his diaries to Stanford through the Hoover Institution, stating that the donation was in accordance with her father's wishes. However, after Li's death, his wife filed a lawsuit demanding the documents be returned to Beijing. Stanford argued that returning the diaries would subject them to Chinese government censorship, potentially leading to their restriction or destruction.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the court determined that the donation was legally valid and aligned with Li Rui's wishes. The court also concluded that Li Rui wanted his documents kept safe outside of China due to fears that they would be kept secret, edited, or destroyed by the CCP.

Condoleezza Rice, the current director of the Hoover Institution and former U.S. Secretary of State, stated that this decision ensures that these significant firsthand records of modern Chinese history will remain open for study.