Democracy in China by 1990

What if Hu Yaobang isn't discredited and lives longer, leading to a more sympathy for the Chinese Democratic movement? In the mid 1980's there was some talk in China of the 'Fifth modernization' of Democracy, and it had some sympathy in the government. If some disastrous student protests don't go as IOTL, the government might also be more sympathetic. What would be the effects of China becoming more democratic in the early 1990's?
 
I would say that as long as Deng Xiaoping is still around, we won't be seeing much democracy in China. There might, however, be a greater political discourse on democracy, political rights, rule of law, etc., but this would stay in the abstract while Deng is still alive.

But if Hu Yaobang and the other reformist types stay in power, and if there aren't any student protests like you say, I imagine there might be some democratic reforms within the Communist Party in the late 90's, but it would take a few more years after that before any real participation is allowed to the majority of China's citizens.
 
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