zhou enlai was an instrumental diplomat in the communist partys rise to power
after the cultural revolution was announced many of the most senior members of the ccp who had shared zhous hesitation in following maos direction including president liu shaoqi and deng xiaoping were removed from their posts almost immediately they along with their families were subjected to mass criticism and humiliation
 economic and diplomatic activities despite worsening relations with chiang kaishek zhou operated openly in chongqing befriending chinese and foreign visitors and staging public cultural activities especially chinese theater