Shining Star
In the first half of 1975, President Kennedy would undergo on of his historical trips. His famous visit to Asia would mark an imperative of the Administration: securing its allies in the East against the growing socialist threat. The fall of South Vietnam had sent ripples over the planet, declaring a glowing message too many: The United States is not what it once was. This left many in America scared that the east would soon fall over. Domino theory was still a common believe. Therefore, the visit would prove a true necessity.
This necessity, however, would not be the initial reason for the trip. That would fall on the event’s taking place in Taipei, that February.
Chiang Kai-Shek, President and Director General of the Republic of China and recognized head of state of the entirety of China fell dead on January 18, 1975. The victim of a sudden heart attack, Chiang had outlived his longtime opponent on the continent by almost five years. In the end, however, death came for him as for everyone. The death was wildly celebrated in the PRC, where Chairman Lin Biao, Paramount Leader, threw a large military parade.
“The Great Reactionary and tyrant lies dead and defeated!” was a notorious headline found in the People’s Republic.
His funeral would be attended by several heads of state, among them President Robert Kennedy. There President would meet with Yen Chia-Kan, Chiang’s successor, as well as his son, Chiang Ching-Kuo. The first would take the position of President, while the second the title of Chairman of the Kuomintang. It was after this meeting that Kennedy would proclaim to reporters that:
“It is of Paramount importance that it be made clear: The Republic of China, based here, in Taiwan, is the only legitimate Chinese government. The People’s Republic of China, having abandoned any semblance of legitimacy as a nation, after the incessant abuse of its own citizens, must not be given any leeway, or any kind of international generosity. We must stand firm against the advance of authoritarianism that seem to plague so many nation today, from cold Siberia to tropical Vietnam, we must proclaim that in Asia this advance stops!”
This speech solidified the Status of the Republic of China for years to come, and made clear that the PRC was now, indeed, isolated.
The following weeks President Kennedy would visit Japan and South Korea, seeking in any way possible to strengthen the bond between all of these countries. The results are still debatable, however the message it sent at the time was one of action in face of a threat, and resonated well with the people, both in the U.S. and abroad.
The trip came in a time of critical change in the PRC. Since his elevation to the position of Chairman and Paramount leader, Lin Biao had continued and expanded upon Mao’s Great Cultural Revolution, purging political opponents, and wiping out any possible opposition to his reforms. The Red Guard had been transformed into a well-tuned personal military force for the Chairman, and the brutality of the regime was one of few historical comparisons. Lin’s final move to solidify his position, after years of reform came in January 1975, when Madame Mao was imprisoned. The widow of the late Paramount Leader, Jiang Qing had been a deeply influential figure within the Communist Party of China since her husband’s death, five years prior. She had worked alongside Lin Biao to secure his position, and hers alongside him. Together both had been responsible for the continuation of the Cultural Revolution, and, in fact, Madame Mao had held a position second only to Biao. Now, it seemed that the Chairman desired to eliminate the last possible opponent to his rule.
The charges were of treason, counter-revolutionary activity, attempting to lead a coup, and a few others. Her arrest brought celebration across China, as she was blamed for many of the brutalities that took place in the last few years. She would go on to be imprisoned in Qincheng Prison until her death three years later.
The imprisonment of Madame Mao, along with the death of Chiang in Taiwan little over a month later, solidified Chairman Lin as the most notorious figure in East Asia for years to come. His power over China would become one not even Mao had held, and the brutality that would ensue from it is well known.
China Alone- A history of the Cultural Revolution, Anne Long
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