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Chapter V
October 1, 1959 marked the beginning of the administration of Jiang Qing; the first female leader in modern Chinese history, and the first major Maoist figure to serve as Head of State in the People's Republic since Mao Tse-tung's resignation some six years prior. While at first, concern was raised that Jiang Qing would share much of her power with her husband, such a sort of affair did not arise.
Jiang Qing's administration was heavily antagonistic with the West and the Soviet Union, and rallied against the Korean states and the USSR for housing "counter-revolutionary traitors". During the administration of Jiang Qing, many former Japanese collaborators were redeemed and integrated into the new system, mostly to gain people who would be more inclined to back Maoists over moderates and reformists.
One such man was Aisin-Gioro Puyi; the last Emperor of China, and the first and only Emperor of Manchukuo. The 52 year old man was rehabilitated and brought into the system as a party cadre, serving as a governor in Manchuria. He, at least in public, supported the Chairwoman's policies, and vowed to defend the People's Republic until his death; in the years following his rehabilitation, he would rise through the ranks towards the Central Committee, a most unusual position for such a figure; the Last Emperor.
In late 1960, the Taiwan Crisis occurred after Jiang authorized the People's Liberation Navy (PLN) to conduct naval exercises near the Taiwan Strait. This action caused a stand-off between U.S. + ROC forces and the People's Republic; this actions strengthened Madame Mao's standing in the higher political system, and gave her room to extend her operational capacity for the moment.
As the famine worsened, Jiang instituted a radical purge of "landlords, thieves and enemies of the state", hoping to consolidate the state's power, and expand the authority of the state in regards to agriculture. However, in many cases, this just exacerbated the famine, and caused more death than was necessary.
In 1960, the United States elected Governor Nelson Rockefeller as President of the United States, making him the first Republican to hold the office since Herbert Hoover left office in 1933. Rockefeller and Jiang held high-level talks at arms length, but relations between the two soon soured after Jiang made demands that the United States stop bolstering the Kuomintang, to which Rockefeller blithely refused to do so; and continued to support the Republic of China's power in the UN. The Soviet Union's support on the matter was lukewarm at best as General Secretary Zhukov had no desire to bolster the radical People's Republic over his moderation attempts to preserve the USSR.
Under Jiang's administration, China's technological projects continued to move forward, and she directed the immediate process of developing China's first atomic weapon. On the back-end of her administration in 1964, the People's Republic successfully tested their first nuclear device, joining the rank of many powers that had atomic weapons. After this, a short shootout occurred along the Sino-Soviet Border over territorial disputes. The Soviet forces and PLA fought to a stalemate, and the two nations looked to reach diplomatic negotiations to fix the solution.
Jiang, however, was adamant against making treaties with the "counterrevolutionaries in Moscow", and advocated limited conflict with the Soviets to show Chinese strength. However, much of the Central Committee was reluctant to follow through on her desires, and as negotiations lagged through into 1965, further aided and abetted by her own refusals to put things in motion, she was rapidly abandoned by her allies in the Communist Party.
Madame Mao's government came to an end quietly in 1965.
Qilai! Qilai!
A history of Modern China
Jiang Qing (Communist Party)
(1959 - 1965)
"Madame Mao"
A history of Modern China
Jiang Qing (Communist Party)
(1959 - 1965)
"Madame Mao"
October 1, 1959 marked the beginning of the administration of Jiang Qing; the first female leader in modern Chinese history, and the first major Maoist figure to serve as Head of State in the People's Republic since Mao Tse-tung's resignation some six years prior. While at first, concern was raised that Jiang Qing would share much of her power with her husband, such a sort of affair did not arise.
Jiang Qing's administration was heavily antagonistic with the West and the Soviet Union, and rallied against the Korean states and the USSR for housing "counter-revolutionary traitors". During the administration of Jiang Qing, many former Japanese collaborators were redeemed and integrated into the new system, mostly to gain people who would be more inclined to back Maoists over moderates and reformists.
One such man was Aisin-Gioro Puyi; the last Emperor of China, and the first and only Emperor of Manchukuo. The 52 year old man was rehabilitated and brought into the system as a party cadre, serving as a governor in Manchuria. He, at least in public, supported the Chairwoman's policies, and vowed to defend the People's Republic until his death; in the years following his rehabilitation, he would rise through the ranks towards the Central Committee, a most unusual position for such a figure; the Last Emperor.
In late 1960, the Taiwan Crisis occurred after Jiang authorized the People's Liberation Navy (PLN) to conduct naval exercises near the Taiwan Strait. This action caused a stand-off between U.S. + ROC forces and the People's Republic; this actions strengthened Madame Mao's standing in the higher political system, and gave her room to extend her operational capacity for the moment.
As the famine worsened, Jiang instituted a radical purge of "landlords, thieves and enemies of the state", hoping to consolidate the state's power, and expand the authority of the state in regards to agriculture. However, in many cases, this just exacerbated the famine, and caused more death than was necessary.
In 1960, the United States elected Governor Nelson Rockefeller as President of the United States, making him the first Republican to hold the office since Herbert Hoover left office in 1933. Rockefeller and Jiang held high-level talks at arms length, but relations between the two soon soured after Jiang made demands that the United States stop bolstering the Kuomintang, to which Rockefeller blithely refused to do so; and continued to support the Republic of China's power in the UN. The Soviet Union's support on the matter was lukewarm at best as General Secretary Zhukov had no desire to bolster the radical People's Republic over his moderation attempts to preserve the USSR.
Under Jiang's administration, China's technological projects continued to move forward, and she directed the immediate process of developing China's first atomic weapon. On the back-end of her administration in 1964, the People's Republic successfully tested their first nuclear device, joining the rank of many powers that had atomic weapons. After this, a short shootout occurred along the Sino-Soviet Border over territorial disputes. The Soviet forces and PLA fought to a stalemate, and the two nations looked to reach diplomatic negotiations to fix the solution.
Jiang, however, was adamant against making treaties with the "counterrevolutionaries in Moscow", and advocated limited conflict with the Soviets to show Chinese strength. However, much of the Central Committee was reluctant to follow through on her desires, and as negotiations lagged through into 1965, further aided and abetted by her own refusals to put things in motion, she was rapidly abandoned by her allies in the Communist Party.
Madame Mao's government came to an end quietly in 1965.
- Asami
- Word Count: 620