The government and Zhao's family are at a stalemate on the appraisal of Zhao’s career, thus making a funeral date uncertain. Fearing that a long delay may bring trouble, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hopes to force a quick decision. Why doesn’t the CCP just go ahead and hold Zhao's funeral? Zhang Hua, a commentator for Apple Daily, maintains that there are formidable forces within the CCP who sympathize with Zhao Ziyang. That’s why Hu Jingtao is unable to act decisively.

According to many overseas media, there are plenty of Zhao sympathizers within the CCP. The legacies of many retired senior statesmen, including Wan Li, Tian Jiyun, Rui Xinwen, Hu Jiwei, Ye Jianying, Yang Shangkun, Xi Zhongxun, and Tao Zhu, who once ruled Guangdong Province, as well as the family members of deceased leaders Chen Yi, Hu Yaobang and others, offered condolences to Zhao Ziyang recently and have also expressed sympathy for his family. The Eastern Daily disclosed that some former leaders, including Qiao Shi, Zhu Rongji, and Li Ruihuan have expressed their desire to attend Zhao's farewell ceremony.

Chen Yizi, former director of the Chinese State Council Economic Reform Institute, indicated in the memorial ceremony held for Zhao in New York City that Wan Li was furious the night of Jan. 21 and cursed the present Chinese leader. Moreover, many conscientious cadres and ordinary citizens, who benefited from the reforms of the 1980's and who once worked with Zhao, are strongly urging the CCP to appraise Zhao fairly and hold a memorial ceremony for him.

In the Apple Daily article, Zhang proposes that the CCP fearfully tightened its control, arrested dissidents on a large scale, and suppressed public activities for honoring Zhao. Although the CCP has succeeded in preventing a large-scale mass movement, it has actually paid a serious price for the destruction of the legal system and the tarnished national image. However, the hardest factor for the CCP to control is the differences within the Party, especially those within Zhongnanhai. Such differences often develop into mass movements. The Tiananmen Square April 5th movement and the June 4th Massacre both occurred in this kind of situation.

Zhang further stated that although these senior statesmen wish to avoid setting themselves against the government directly in order to protect themselves and their families, they sent a clear message to the top- appraise Zhao Ziyang honestly and fairly. Since these senior statesmen are the leaders of various cliques within the CCP, they represent formidable forces sympathizing with Zhao. Due to their low-keyed resistance, government leaders are compelled to hold their tempers and put on a good face towards Zhao's family.

At the same time, Hu Jingtao and Wen Jiabao have been presenting a façade of honesty, pragmatism, and humaneness. If they force Zhao's family to hold a funeral, it is as good as shooting themselves in the foot. While most of the senior statesmen are firm supporters of the new administration under Hu Jingtao and Wen Jiaobao, they cannot be ignored.

Zhang Hua maintains that Hu Jingtao has two choices: either draw closer to the Jiang clique who benefited from the June 4th events thus overruling the wishes of Zhao's family and many senior statesmen, or take the historically correct position and make a fair appraisal of Zhao Ziyang with the courage and integrity of a true statesman.