Yeah, the US Army officiers who visited Yan'an were quite impressed. Unfortunately they weren't listened to by the higherups in Washington and enmity developed quickly after the war.
When China's Army asked the U.S. for a favor
- Thread starter bladerunner
- Start date
Yeah, the US Army officiers who visited Yan'an were quite impressed. Unfortunately they weren't listened to by the higherups in Washington and enmity developed quickly after the war.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
Yes, good catch.
It was years ago and my memory is a bit foggy on the details.
Might look it up to brush up on the details once I get time now that I have a name to go by. Cheers!
Ender Wiggin
Junior Member
I think the Great Leap Forward is what needs to be looked at here, as its failure is what led to the Cultural Revolution.
To me I think *had* the Maoists and the Americans forged close ties in 1949 its very likely Mao would've been less desperate to launch the GLF, having likely secured Western investments and knowhow in basically a 1970's ish strategy of playing as a counter balance to the Soviet Union in the east. All the US would've wanted is open access to Chinese markets and free trade; the Soviet Union tended to tie all offers and loans and aid with political controls.
Afterall prior to the GFL economic growth *was* fairly impressive if albeit modest, some more open market reforms in special economic zones earlier on in the 50's could've spurred much faster growth, maybe even too fast and thus make Mao a little unwilling to suddenly desire 'leaps' forward in such growth.
To me I think *had* the Maoists and the Americans forged close ties in 1949 its very likely Mao would've been less desperate to launch the GLF, having likely secured Western investments and knowhow in basically a 1970's ish strategy of playing as a counter balance to the Soviet Union in the east. All the US would've wanted is open access to Chinese markets and free trade; the Soviet Union tended to tie all offers and loans and aid with political controls.
Afterall prior to the GFL economic growth *was* fairly impressive if albeit modest, some more open market reforms in special economic zones earlier on in the 50's could've spurred much faster growth, maybe even too fast and thus make Mao a little unwilling to suddenly desire 'leaps' forward in such growth.
Red___Sword
Junior Member
Very good point.
I would like to add however, that "THINGS MIGHT NOT TURNED OUT LIKE YOU WISHED" - even in "Alternative history".
"Racal identity" (not yet as "hot" as "racist"), is something keeps China together, throughout history. China and Chinese people do not accept chest thumbing - if someone is looking for "if we have loaned them that money, we(USA & China) would be buddy like as with Cuba(before 1959)..."
American's strategy during the final days of WWII (and soon after WWII), even if it's not "anti-commy", it is somewhat "chest-thumbing" to those who would be "emerging to power" after the war. And if China keeps her way of INDEPENDENT development, China the country, despite the ideology, would be soon became more "threatening" than "friendly" - in the eyes of USSR, or in the eyes of USA - even if we took the "alternative history".
"deal with concrete matters relating to work" - guys I can not find a better way of the term "务实". easily put, 务实 is the opposite of 务虚, which means "deal with ideal matters relating to work" - for those who do not read Chinese.
The thing is, at those days, neither the east nor west, have had a 务实 diplomatic strategy, no one LIKES to accept, that "someone else is emerging to power, while I am the superpower" - the chest-thumbing, would always comes one day.
As soon as chest-thumbing comes, China would not hesitate to "break the link" - be it broke with USSR, or "alternatively", someone else.
Ideology is only ONE FACTOR, not the WHOLE STORY.