沒有國民黨就沒有中國, Without the Kuomintang there would be no China, A Republic of China Story
- Thread starter CELTICEMPIRE
- Start date
Will almost certainly happen IMO. Bangladesh being part of Pakistan was just unsustainable.
Do they develop a special relationship, with the US replacing OTL China?
Probably more like South Korea’s democratic transition than Taiwan’s, despite the same protagonists as the latter, I’d suspect
六十二, Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek’s life spanned many decades and he saw many changes throughout his lifetime. He was born in 1887, and spent his formative years in the final decades of the Qing Dynasty, a dynasty he played a small part in ending. Those were not China’s best years. The 1970s weren’t China’s best years either, but they were a lot better than what had come before. In 1887, airplanes had not yet been invented, and in 1972 a man landed on the moon. He saw the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union. He saw the fall of European colonialism, and he would live to see almost every European colony gain its independence. But most importantly, he oversaw China become a respected nation again, and that was a cause for pride.
(Chiang Kai-shek in 1907)
The Chiang Kai-shek of the 1970s spent a lot less time performing the duties associated with his position. He spent more time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He had two sons, one biological and one adopted. His adopted son was Chiang Wei-kuo, who was half-Japanese (Chiang Kai-shek had lived in Japan for part of the 1910s). Wei-kuo’s biological father was General Dai Jitao, one of Chiang Kai-shek’s friends. Neither child was born to Chiang’s wife Soong Mei-ling, who he married in 1927. Of Chiang’s grandchildren, Ching-kuo’s second son Chiang Hsiao-wu looked to be the most promising politically. In addition to spending time with his family, Chiang had more time for reading now. He often read ancient Chinese poetry and the Bible (Chiang Kai-shek converted to Christianity during the 1920s).
(An earlier picture of Chiang Ching-kuo and his family)
Chiang Kai-shek was not completely absent from government, however. He would attend cabinet meetings. He would also be present at military parades. In 1973 he gave medals to twenty who fought heroically in Vietnam and Laos, including the Medal of the Armed Forces, the Medal of the Brilliant Light, the Medal of Loyalty and Integrity, and the Medal of the Flying Dragon. The Order of Brilliant Jade was given to Saudi King Faisal in 1973 and Vietnamese President Nguyễn Tường Tam in 1974 for their support of China. Another recipient of the Order of Brilliant Jade, former US President William Knowland, came to visit China in 1973, and met with Chiang Kai-shek in Nanking. Chiang Kai-shek also oversaw some economic reforms, mostly consisting of the loosening of business regulations.
(Chiang Kai-shek in 1907)
The Chiang Kai-shek of the 1970s spent a lot less time performing the duties associated with his position. He spent more time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He had two sons, one biological and one adopted. His adopted son was Chiang Wei-kuo, who was half-Japanese (Chiang Kai-shek had lived in Japan for part of the 1910s). Wei-kuo’s biological father was General Dai Jitao, one of Chiang Kai-shek’s friends. Neither child was born to Chiang’s wife Soong Mei-ling, who he married in 1927. Of Chiang’s grandchildren, Ching-kuo’s second son Chiang Hsiao-wu looked to be the most promising politically. In addition to spending time with his family, Chiang had more time for reading now. He often read ancient Chinese poetry and the Bible (Chiang Kai-shek converted to Christianity during the 1920s).
(An earlier picture of Chiang Ching-kuo and his family)
Chiang Kai-shek was not completely absent from government, however. He would attend cabinet meetings. He would also be present at military parades. In 1973 he gave medals to twenty who fought heroically in Vietnam and Laos, including the Medal of the Armed Forces, the Medal of the Brilliant Light, the Medal of Loyalty and Integrity, and the Medal of the Flying Dragon. The Order of Brilliant Jade was given to Saudi King Faisal in 1973 and Vietnamese President Nguyễn Tường Tam in 1974 for their support of China. Another recipient of the Order of Brilliant Jade, former US President William Knowland, came to visit China in 1973, and met with Chiang Kai-shek in Nanking. Chiang Kai-shek also oversaw some economic reforms, mostly consisting of the loosening of business regulations.
Huh, with a summary like that, I was expecting it to end with an announcement of his death.
As Taiwanese, this TL was amazing, love it! ( please just ignore some grammar errors )
謝謝！I'm glad you like it. As the TL gets into the 1980s,more Taiwanese political figures and celebrities will appear.
六十三, The 1972 Arab-Israeli War
Israel’s founding immediately led to warfare between it and its neighbors. Multiple wars were fought, and yet the small country survived. Even when there wasn’t ongoing conflict, the peace that Israel felt was un uneasy one, as none of Israel’s neighbors recognized it as a legitimate state. In 1972, a war was fought between Israel and several Arab states that was perhaps the most wide-reaching in its affects across the globe. For four weeks in the Summer of 1972, Israel defended against Egypt and Syria. As in the previous wars, Israel emerged victorious, but this time with significant US help (The Soviet Union aided the Arab forces). The war had ended, but the consequences had not.
(Israeli soldiers)
American support for Israel would not be forgotten in the Arab world. Several oil producing nations in the Middle East enacted an embargo against the United States. This included Saudi Arabia, which was usually friendly towards the US. Several other Western countries were affected. China was friendly to Israel, but Israel’s biggest supporter in the ROC government, Sun Fo, had retired, and China didn’t actively help Israel. Thus, China remained on good terms with its Middle Eastern allies. Hubert Humphrey, who had authorized US military aid to Israel, suffered a setback due to rising gas prices. This was a factor in his loss to Gerald Ford (though it was likely that Ford would have won anyway). Ford would continue Humphrey’s pro-Israel policies, however.
The 1972 Arab-Israeli War was the final conventional war between Israel and its neighbors. Israel still found itself embroiled in conflict in the coming decades, however. After 1972, Israeli would have to fight enemies made up of Arabs living inside territories controlled by Israel. Yasser Arafat was the most notable leader of Palestinian Arabs opposing Israel. Israel meanwhile would gain control of the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, though it would later be returned to Egyptian control. Israel’s victory was seen as an American victory by proxy, and America needed foreign policy victories in the region. The Soviet Union was expanding its influence in the Middle East. As the 1970s went on, the western powers found that their access to Middle Eastern oil was increasingly under threat.
(Israeli soldiers)
American support for Israel would not be forgotten in the Arab world. Several oil producing nations in the Middle East enacted an embargo against the United States. This included Saudi Arabia, which was usually friendly towards the US. Several other Western countries were affected. China was friendly to Israel, but Israel’s biggest supporter in the ROC government, Sun Fo, had retired, and China didn’t actively help Israel. Thus, China remained on good terms with its Middle Eastern allies. Hubert Humphrey, who had authorized US military aid to Israel, suffered a setback due to rising gas prices. This was a factor in his loss to Gerald Ford (though it was likely that Ford would have won anyway). Ford would continue Humphrey’s pro-Israel policies, however.
The 1972 Arab-Israeli War was the final conventional war between Israel and its neighbors. Israel still found itself embroiled in conflict in the coming decades, however. After 1972, Israeli would have to fight enemies made up of Arabs living inside territories controlled by Israel. Yasser Arafat was the most notable leader of Palestinian Arabs opposing Israel. Israel meanwhile would gain control of the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, though it would later be returned to Egyptian control. Israel’s victory was seen as an American victory by proxy, and America needed foreign policy victories in the region. The Soviet Union was expanding its influence in the Middle East. As the 1970s went on, the western powers found that their access to Middle Eastern oil was increasingly under threat.
What will Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai-shek be remembered later on, will they become larger-then-life leaders like the Kim family in North Korea or Mao in China and how will those coming after them compare to their archivements, status and rule?
An interesting update! I am really curious how will China react to the following events if they happen: the Iranian Revolution, Iran-Iraq War and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. It will lead to major political shift in the Middle-East and each power (US, USSR and China) will want to expand its influence in the region even more than before.
There will be some of that, though Chiang will be a much more controversial figure than Sun.
Some of those things may happen.
If the Soviets invade Afghanistan, I can see the ROC being a large funnel for aid to the mujahideen.
They might reluctant due to the possibility of their own islamic population being inspired or radicalized to break away.
Or the Chinese in backing Muj Insurgents, could inspire a KMT in Afghanistan using a Three Principles with Islamic Characteristics. Plus I could see the ROC deploy Hui Muslim Advisors.
I could also see them giving the Hui Chinese and their former Ma Warlords more freedom and authonomy in the West against Communist Insurgencies and also use Three Principles with Islamic Characteristics not only in Afghanistan but also Persia/ Iran, Iraq the Central Asian Soviet Republics if it has proven it works to drive out the Soviets.
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