1934-5 Long March –
90% die, Mao left as the
sole leader of the CCP
WWII - KMT and CCP ally against the
Japanese; doesn’t work properly. KMT is
supplied with weapons and arms from
America, but the CCP isn’t. Jieshi uses
fights CCP, not Japan, while CCP is
fighting Japan – improves their standing
At Yalta and Potsdam,
Russia had been promised
land in SE Asia, in
exchange for their help in
crushing Japan. The Bomb
meant this help wasn’t
required.
1945 - WWII ends
1946 - Chinese
civil war outbreak
Mao wanted no Nationalist Army,
Jieshi wanted the CCP army under
his control. Jieshi was over
confident in his support from
America, while Mao disliked that
Chiang had American support
Jieshi ordered the Japanese to surrender to Nationalists
rather than Communists, and would be responsible for law
and order until they did. (further damaged Jieshi's
reputation). American Air force airlifted Jieshi's troops to key
cities (Beijing,Nanjing,Shanghai) USSR had also stripped
Manchuria, collapsing the Chinese economy. Manchuria
had been under USSR control (hindering Jieshi's forces),
and they slowly withdrew to give Chinese communists time
to take power
Most American aid
was lost and ended
up in communist
hands
Nationalist army
looted and were
arrogant – not popular
with people, and had
to use force to retain
power
CCP had land reform, democracy, freedom, low rent
1947, Marshall reduced aid to Jieshi, but the KMT
had some success. However, they were ultimately
awful, and corrupt, (the latter preventing decent
economic reform)
1949: America knew it had backed the
wrong side. Increasingly reluctant to
support him, but there was a China
Lobby, republicans who believed
America was being a bit too Pro
communist
Resulted in $570 million
going to KMT; wasn't
enough and led to CCP
seeing America as an
interfering outsider, and
the Republicans seeing
the State Department as
having betrayed Jieshi
1st October 1949 – PRC
declared. In December,
Jiang fled to Taiwan
Government set up in Taiwan,
recognised by America and
other powers as the legitimate
government of China
Consequences
Containment became a
blanket policy – all
communism is the same
Stalin had supported CCP during
the war, and USSR had looted
Manchuria, thoroughly irritating the
Chinese. America failed to
recognise this little issue, driving
Mao into a Sino-Soviet Pact