The Myth of America's "Lost Chance" in China: A Chinese Perspective in Light of New Evidence

Diplomatic History

Volumn 21, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 77-86

  Chen, Jian ^a  

^a NONE

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[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0005044285     PISSN: 01452096     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/1467-7709.00052     Document Type: Review

References (42)

1. CCP Central Committee to CCP Northeast Bureau, 10 November 1948. Part of the telegram is published in Jin Chongji et al., Zhou Enlai nianpu, 1898-1949 [A chronicle of Zhou Enlai] (Beijing, 1989), 796. The unpublished part of the telegram, the part concerning "squeezing out" Western diplomats in Shenyang, can be found in Chinese Central Archives, Beijing (hereafter CCA).
2. Mao Zedong to Gao Gang, 17 November 1948, CCA.
3. Mao Zedong to Gao Gang, 18 November 1948, CCA.
4. For a detailed account of the Ward case see Chen Jian, "The Ward Case and the Emergence of the Sino-American Confrontation, 1948-1949," Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs 30 (July 1993): 149-70.
5. For a discussion see ibid., 154-55.
6. For a discussion of the three principles see Zhang Beijia, "The Shaping of New China's Diplomacy" (trans. Chen Jian), Chinese Historians 7, no. 1-2 (1994): 45-46. See also Han Nianlong et al., Dangdai zhongguo waijiao [Contemporary Chinese diplomacy] (Beijing, 1989), chap. 2.
7. For a discussion of the three principles see Zhang Beijia, "The Shaping of New China's Diplomacy" (trans. Chen Jian), Chinese Historians 7, no. 1-2 (1994): 45-46. See also Han Nianlong et al., Dangdai zhongguo waijiao [Contemporary Chinese diplomacy] (Beijing, 1989), chap. 2.
8. CCP Central Committee to CCP Northeast Bureau, 23 November, 1949, cited in Jin et al., Zhou Enlai nianpu, 740.
9. CCP Central Committee, "Directive on Diplomatic Affairs," 19 January 1949, in Zhang Shuguang and Chen Jian, eds., Chinese Communist Foreign Policy and the Cold War in Asia: Documentary Evidence, 1944-1950 (Chicago, 1996), doc. 2. 11; for Mao Zedong's remarks on the directive see Dangde wenxian [Party history documents] no. 1 (1992): 27.
10. CCP Central Committee, "Directive on Diplomatic Affairs," 19 January 1949, in Zhang Shuguang and Chen Jian, eds., Chinese Communist Foreign Policy and the Cold War in Asia: Documentary Evidence, 1944-1950 (Chicago, 1996), doc. 2. 11; for Mao Zedong's remarks on the directive see Dangde wenxian [Party history documents] no. 1 (1992): 27.
11. Mao Zedong, "Report to the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee," Mao Zedong xuanji [Selected works of Mao Zedong] (Beijing, 1965), 4:1436.
12. See, for example, Mao Zedong's conclusion at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee, 13 March 1949, CCA; Zhou Enlai, "Report on Problems Concerning the Peace Talks," Zhou Enlai xuanji [Selected works of Zhou Enlai] (Beijing, 1984), 1:323; and idem, "New China's Diplomacy," Zhou Enlai waijiao wenxuan [Selected diplomatic papers of Zhou Entai] (Beijing, 1990), 4-5.
13. See, for example, Mao Zedong's conclusion at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee, 13 March 1949, CCA; Zhou Enlai, "Report on Problems Concerning the Peace Talks," Zhou Enlai xuanji [Selected works of Zhou Enlai] (Beijing, 1984), 1:323; and idem, "New China's Diplomacy," Zhou Enlai waijiao wenxuan [Selected diplomatic papers of Zhou Entai] (Beijing, 1990), 4-5.
14. For a recent Chinese account of the Huang-Stuart meetings see Huang Hua, "My contacts with Stuart after Nanjing's Liberation" (trans. Li Xiaobing), Chinese Historians 5, no. 1 (Spring 1992): 47-56.
15. See, for example, Mao Zedong, "Statement by the Spokesman of the General Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army," 30 April 1949, and "Address to the Preparatory Meeting of the New Political Consultative Conference," Mao Zedong xuanji 4:1464, 1470.
16. See, for example, Mao Zedong, "Statement by the Spokesman of the General Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army," 30 April 1949, and "Address to the Preparatory Meeting of the New Political Consultative Conference," Mao Zedong xuanji 4:1464, 1470.
17. Memorandum, "Mr. Chen Mingshu's Report on American Ambassador's Secret Visit to Shanghai," 26 March 1949, CCA. The secret meetings between Stuart and Chen Mingshu and the statements made by Stuart as reported in the memorandum are previously unknown. They cannot be confirmed by currently available American sources. This suggests that Stuart may have gone beyond the authorization of the State Department in an effort to provoke a CCP response that would help bring about a Sino-American accommodation.
18. Instruction, CCP Central Military Commission, "Our Policy toward British and American Citizens and Diplomats," 28 April 1949, in Zhang and Chen, eds., Chinese Communist Foreign Policy and the Cold War in Asia, doc. 2.22.
19. As far as the timing of Stuart's message is concerned, one should keep in mind that the PLA was preparing to cross the Yangzi River and "liberate" Nanjing and Shanghai, China's largest industrial and commercial center. The CCP leadership worried that this movement would result in America's military intervention and was eager to find ways to reduce its possibility. For a more detailed analysis see Chen Jian, China's Road to the Korean War: The Making of the Sino-American Confrontation (New York, 1994), 52-53.
20. CCP Central Committee to CCP Nanjing Municipal Committee, 10 May 1949, in Zhang and Chen, eds., Chinese Communist Foreign Policy and the Cold War in Asia, doc. 2.24.
21. Mao Zedong's conclusion at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee, 13 March 1949, CCA.
22. Huang Hua, "My contacts with Stuart," 26-28.
23. Remain ribao (People's Daily), 19 and 22 June 1949.
24. See Mao Zedong xuanji 4:1486-1520.
25. For a discussion see Chen Jian, China's Road to the Korean War, 65-69.
26. Andrei Ledovsky, "Mikoyan's Secret Mission to China in January and February 1949," Far Eastern Affairs (Moscow), 1995, no.2, 72-94, esp. 75-77; and Shi Zhe, Zai lishi juren shenbian: Shi Zhe huiyilu [Together with historical giants: Shi Zhe's memoirs] (Beijing, 1991), 370-72.
27. Andrei Ledovsky, "Mikoyan's Secret Mission to China in January and February 1949," Far Eastern Affairs (Moscow), 1995, no.2, 72-94, esp. 75-77; and Shi Zhe, Zai lishi juren shenbian: Shi Zhe huiyilu [Together with historical giants: Shi Zhe's memoirs] (Beijing, 1991), 370-72.
28. See Shi Zhe, "With Mao and Stalin: The Reminiscences of a Chinese Interpreter" (trans. Chen Jian), Chinese Historians 5, no.1 (Spring 1992): 45-56. For a Russian account of the visit see Ledovsky, "Mikoyan's Secret Mission."
29. See Shi Zhe, "With Mao and Stalin: The Reminiscences of a Chinese Interpreter" (trans. Chen Jian), Chinese Historians 5, no.1 (Spring 1992): 45-56. For a Russian account of the visit see Ledovsky, "Mikoyan's Secret Mission."
30. For a detailed account of Liu's visit to Moscow see Shi She, "With Mao and Stalin: The Reminiscences of Mao's Interpreter, Part II: Liu Shaoqi in Moscow" (trans. Chen Jian), Chinese Historians 6, no.1 (Spring 1993): 67-90.
31. For a more detailed analysis see Chen Jian, China's Road to the Korean War, 69-78.
32. See Chen Jian, "The Ward Case and the Emergence of the Sino-American Confrontation," 153-54.
33. The Russian originals of these telegrams between Stalin and Mao were published in the Journal of Modern and Contemporary History (Moscow), no. 4-5 (1994): 133-39. For an English translation see "Communications between Mao and Stalin, Seven Telegrams, January 1949" (trans. Song Datu), Chinese Historians 7, no. 1-2 (1994): 163-72.
34. The Russian originals of these telegrams between Stalin and Mao were published in the Journal of Modern and Contemporary History (Moscow), no. 4-5 (1994): 133-39. For an English translation see "Communications between Mao and Stalin, Seven Telegrams, January 1949" (trans. Song Datu), Chinese Historians 7, no. 1-2 (1994): 163-72.
35. Sergei N. Goncharov, John W. Lewis, and Xue Litai, Uncertain Partners: Stalin, Mao, and the Korean War (Stanford, 1994), 43.
36. For the text of the memorandum see Zhang and Chen, eds., Chinese Communist Foreign Policy and Cold War in Asia, doc. 2. 31.
37. Yang Kuisong, "The Ward Case and the Shaping of New China's America Policy," Lishi yanjiu [Historical studies], no.5 (1994): 113.
38. S. Tikhvinsky, "The Zhou Enlai 'Demarche' and the CCP's Informal Negotiations with the Americans in June 1949," Far Eastern Affairs (Russian version, Moscow), no.3 (1994).
39. Ibid.
40. In actuality, after the PLA occupied Shanghai, Qingdao, and China's other major coastal cities in the summer of 1949, Mao and the CCP leadership no longer regarded direct American military intervention as a real danger, although in open propaganda, the CCP would continue to call the Chinese people's attention to it. For a more detailed discussion see Chen Jian, China's Road to the Korean War, 16-17.
41. Mao Zedong, "Report to the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee," Mao Zedong xuanji 4:1425-26, 1428; Mao Zedong nianpu [A chronicle of Mao Zedong] (Beijing, 1993), 3:410-11.
42. Mao Zedong, "Report to the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee," Mao Zedong xuanji 4:1425-26, 1428; Mao Zedong nianpu [A chronicle of Mao Zedong] (Beijing, 1993), 3:410-11.