The situation is familiar, and Mao was too sick to keep them in control, it took Mao's death and several years later for Deng and Zhou to retake control.
In a way, the end is similar with Abe vs. Kishida. The rotten branch must be cut for the tree to be saved.
No, Mao always held the supreme power in China.
Nixon was not the first American president to try to win over China, Americans were not so stupid and slow.
As early as the Johnson administration, the USA has repeatedly contacted China through a third party, but Mao Zedong still believed that he could reconcile with the Soviet Union. It was not until Mao Zedong felt that his life was coming to an end that he chose to accept Nixon.
Deng Xiaoping is the representative of the CCP's right wing, and Mao Zedong has repeatedly suppressed him.
However, after the reconciliation between China and the USA, Mao Zedong reactivated Deng Xiaoping in January 1975, and let Deng Xiaoping replace the seriously ill Premier Zhou Enlai to preside over the work of the govt.
In April 1976, riots against the Cultural Revolution took place in Beijing. Mao Zedong immediately dismissed Deng Xiaoping from his post.
In August, 1976, Mao Zedong resumed Deng Xiaoping's career after re talking with Deng Xiaoping.
Mao Zedong died on September 9, 1976.
Deng Xiaoping arrested the gang of four in October 1976.
BTW:
although the CCP, like the Soviet Union, also has a struggle between the left and the right. But the Chinese did a little better than the Soviets. No matter Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu, or Xi, they will not overthrow or damage the authority of former leaders. Even the losers in the political struggle like the gang of four will not lose their lives and large-scale cleansing will not occur. The political struggle within the CCP has always been rational.
We also want to thank Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. They are the two most prestigious people in the history of CCP. But they did not let their descendants inherit their rights. This has set a good example for later CCP leaders.