沒有國民黨就沒有中國, Without the Kuomintang there would be no China, A Republic of China Story

Here’s my results.
 

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八十, The USSR, 1975-1983
The late 1970s saw massive successes for the Soviet Union in foreign policy. The Soviet Union gained allies in Iran and Afghanistan. Their ally Iraq invaded Kuwait with Soviet support. The West was now cut off from much of the world’s oil supply. It was not without costs, however. Soviet troops would be sent to Iran and Afghanistan to help keep friendly regimes there in power. The USSR’s claims to be anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist were also damaged. Several Communist parties, mostly in the West, condemned the Soviet invasion. The Soviet invasions were condemned by much of the third world that they were courting favor with. Even more devastating was that India denounced the Russian invasion of Iran and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the USSR was in a good position in the late 70s and early 80s.

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(Soviet troops in Afghanistan)

The USSR finally had access to the Persian Gulf, and thus the Indian Ocean as well. Naval bases were being constructed on the Iranian coast. This fueled resentment against the new Iranian regime among conservative Muslims. They felt betrayed that they had toppled one secular government for another. The Islamic insurgency in Iran began in 1980 and by 1982 they controlled one fifth of Iranian territory (though all the major population centers were controlled by the regime). These rebels were funded by the US. The USSR did suffer some setbacks in the Middle East, however, as by 1980 Egypt was aligned more towards the west. The United States and the United Kingdom were pumping more and more money into their allies in the region, especially Saudi Arabia.

In addition to foreign policy, Malenkov’s success was seen in the Soviet economy. Soviet citizens liked having their standards of living increase. It had the effect of strengthening their faith in Communism. There were, however, signs that the good times would not last forever. By 1979, economic growth was slowing down and this trend would continue into the 1980s. And in the early 1980s, people were beginning feel the effects of it. America was going through a recession at the time, and the world economy was not in the greatest shape. But the west would recover while the Soviet Union’s economic problems persisted. And citizens would slowly lose faith in Soviet Communism.

Georgy Malenkov was an old man. Many assumed he would be dictator for life. This was, however, not to be the case. In 1982 he made it known that he was planning to retire soon. And in 1983, at the age of 81, Malenkov retired after 30 years in office. In his last year in office, he took time to find a worthy successor. He did not find anyone who lived up to his standards. Many of those who he wanted to succeed him were dead or not much younger than he was. Alexander Shelepin, former head of the KGB and member of the Poliburo, was a strong candidate. Yegor Ligachov, a party insider, was also considered. Malenkov eventually decided to pick Shelepin as his successor. In April 1983, Malenkov stepped down and retired, and died the following year.

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(Georgy Malenkov, 1901-1984)
 
Well, that went better than the last post implied. Unless the problems don't start until later.
It seems like Malenkov suffered the same fate as Brezhnev did IOTL.
Except that he died in 1984 rather than 1982
Being a Soviet leader invested with near-absolute political power does do a lot to drain the health of a person.
 
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Fantastic timeline.

I'm sure this has already been addressed at some point, but is there any idea of Japan and Korea's long-term economic outlook? Japan especially is unlikely to see the explosive growth it experienced OTL with TTL's lessened American aid, but could it nevertheless still reach its OTL levels of development -- albeit more slowly? Access to a larger and more open Chinese market can only help, after all.

Edit: I'm blind and glossed over recent posts addressing more or less this.
 
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It appears that the imperialist ambitions is the the thing that would cause it's downfall. But overall Malenkov did a better job than all of OTL Soviet leaders together.
 
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It appears that the imperialist ambitions would be the thing that would cause it's downfall. But overall Malenkov did a better job than all of OTL Soviet leaders together.
Malenkov surely did a better job than all of OTL Soviet leaders together,but the Soviet military interventions to prop up the communist governments in Iran and Afghanistan are going to undermine his legacy like how it happened to Brezhnev IOTL.

I also hope the Chernobyl disaster doesn't happen here.
 
八十一, The Presidential Election of 1984
In December 1983, elections were held for the National Assembly, the body that elected the President of China. Chiang Ching-kuo was confident that he would win. He did, however do some things to boost his popularity. For one, he released Li Ao and most other political prisoners. He also authorized new infrastructure projects, and his presidency would see China’s railway network greatly expanded. He wanted his victory to be big, partly to increase his standing within his own party. Authoritarian forces within the KMT had been discussing possible challengers to Chiang since 1980. However, no one could be found who would dare to torpedo their political career in order to challenge Chiang Ching-kuo. Had any other man, even Chiang’s brother, had attempted to push through democratic reforms, there would have been more pushback. At the Kuomintang leadership election in 1983, a handful of delegates voted for Vice President Wang Sheng as a protest vote.

Voters could be confident that a vote for a KMT delegate to the National Assembly was a vote for Chiang Ching-kuo. Chiang Ching-kuo’s 1978 interparty opponent, journalist Lee Tze-chung, was the candidate for the China Democratic Socialist Party. The China Youth Party candidate for President was historian and Legislator Tao Yuanzhen of Zhejiang. This was the first time the party had ran a candidate for president. Hu Qiuyuan, member of the Legislative Yuan from Sichuan, was the New Democratic League’s candidate. Fei Hsi-ping, independent candidate for president in 1978, was the candidate of the Liberal Party. There were also independents running for National Assembly seats, often times expressing their support for one of the party nominees. The Kuomintang won in a landslide, with over 60% of the vote and nearly two-thirds of National Assembly seats.

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(Left to right: Lee Tze-chung, Hu Qiuyuan, Fei Hsi-ping)

Every KMT member, and a handful of non-KMT members, voted for Chiang Ching-kuo. He won on the first round with 2,012 votes. For Vice President, the KMT candidate was the incumbent, Wang Sheng of Jiangxi. The CDSP ran former Taipei Mayor Henry Kao from Taiwan. The CYP ran Rong Yiren of Jiangsu, a businessman who had previously supported the KMT but had switched parties. The New Democratic League ran sociologist Fei Xiaotong of Hebei. The Liberal Party ran lawyer Gao Wenbin of Jiangsu. Some members of the KMT supported Education Minister Lee Huan of Hubei, who was seen as more pro-democracy than Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng won on the first ballot, but it was closer than in 1978.

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(Left to right: Henry Kao, Rong Yiren, Fei Xiaotong, Lee Huan)

Presidential Election of 1984
Votes
Chiang Ching-kuo (KMT-Zhejiang)2,012 (66.1%)
Lee Tze-chung (CDSP-Guangdong)418 (13.7%)
Tao Yuanzhen (CYP-Zhejiang)371 (12.2%)
Hu Qiuyuan (NDL-Sichuan)143 (4.7%)
Fei Hsi-ping (LP-Liaoning)101 (3.3%)

Vice Presidential Election of 1984
Votes
Wang Sheng (KMT-Jiangxi)1,697 (55.7%)
Henry Kao (CDSP-Taiwan)418 (13.7%)
Rong Yiren (CYP-Jiangsu)371 (12.2%)
Lee Huan (KMT-Hubei)315 (10.3%)
Fei Xiaotong (NDL-Hebei)143 (4.7%)
Gao Wenbin (LP-Jiangsu)101 (3.3%)
 
In December 1983, elections were held for the National Assembly, the body that elected the President of China. Chiang Ching-kuo was confident that he would win. He did, however do some things to boost his popularity. For one, he released Li Ao and most other political prisoners. He also authorized new infrastructure projects, and his presidency would see China’s railway network greatly expanded. He wanted his victory to be big, partly to increase his standing within his own party. Authoritarian forces within the KMT had been discussing possible challengers to Chiang since 1980. However, no one could be found who would dare to torpedo their political career in order to challenge Chiang Ching-kuo. Had any other man, even Chiang’s brother, had attempted to push through democratic reforms, there would have been more pushback. At the Kuomintang leadership election in 1983, a handful of delegates voted for Vice President Wang Sheng as a protest vote.

Voters could be confident that a vote for a KMT delegate to the National Assembly was a vote for Chiang Ching-kuo. Chiang Ching-kuo’s 1978 interparty opponent, journalist Lee Tze-chung, was the candidate for the China Democratic Socialist Party. The China Youth Party candidate for President was historian and Legislator Tao Yuanzhen of Zhejiang. This was the first time the party had ran a candidate for president. Hu Qiuyuan, member of the Legislative Yuan from Sichuan, was the New Democratic League’s candidate. Fei Hsi-ping, independent candidate for president in 1978, was the candidate of the Liberal Party. There were also independents running for National Assembly seats, often times expressing their support for one of the party nominees. The Kuomintang won in a landslide, with over 60% of the vote and nearly two-thirds of National Assembly seats.

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(Left to right: Lee Tze-chung, Hu Qiuyuan, Fei Hsi-ping)

Every KMT member, and a handful of non-KMT members, voted for Chiang Ching-kuo. He won on the first round with 2,012 votes. For Vice President, the KMT candidate was the incumbent, Wang Sheng of Jiangxi. The CDSP ran former Taipei Mayor Henry Kao from Taiwan. The CYP ran Rong Yiren of Jiangsu, a businessman who had previously supported the KMT but had switched parties. The New Democratic League ran sociologist Fei Xiaotong of Hebei. The Liberal Party ran lawyer Gao Wenbin of Jiangsu. Some members of the KMT supported Education Minister Lee Huan of Hubei, who was seen as more pro-democracy than Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng won on the first ballot, but it was closer than in 1978.

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(Left to right: Henry Kao, Rong Yiren, Fei Xiaotong, Lee Huan)

Presidential Election of 1984
Votes
Chiang Ching-kuo (KMT-Zhejiang)2,012 (66.1%)
Lee Tze-chung (CDSP-Guangdong)418 (13.7%)
Tao Yuanzhen (CYP-Zhejiang)371 (12.2%)
Hu Qiuyuan (NDL-Sichuan)143 (4.7%)
Fei Hsi-ping (LP-Liaoning)101 (3.3%)

Vice Presidential Election of 1984
Votes
Wang Sheng (KMT-Jiangxi)1,697 (55.7%)
Henry Kao (CDSP-Taiwan)418 (13.7%)
Rong Yiren (CYP-Jiangsu)371 (12.2%)
Lee Huan (KMT-Hubei)315 (10.3%)
Fei Xiaotong (NDL-Hebei)143 (4.7%)
Gao Wenbin (LP-Jiangsu)101 (3.3%)
Well,I think everything seems to be going okay here.
 
八十二, Escalation
After 30 years in power, Georgy Malenkov retired. His replacement, Alexander Shelepin would escalate the Cold War. He wanted to build on Malenkov’s legacy. He ordered hundreds of statues of Malenkov to be built. He was particularly eager to build on his foreign policy successes. He ordered a troop surge in Iran and Afghanistan. In 1983 and 1984, civilian casualties in both countries would skyrocket and thousands of tons of bombs were dropped. He also began funding revolutionaries in Latin America, a continent his predecessor had ignored as America’s backyard. He was not scared of confrontation with the United States and its allies. He claimed in a speech to the Politburo In 1983 that Communism would triumph over the entire world in less than 25 years.

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(Alexander Shelepin)

Shelepin’s 1983 speech defended the values of the 1917 October Revolution. He contrasted the Communist Party with the three major bourgeoise parties in the world; the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and the Kuomintang. He was clear in his identification of the Republic of China as an irredeemable enemy of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, he saw US President Robert F. Kennedy and Chinese President Chiang Ching-kuo were compared to their brother and father respectively. He also saw the New Left in America and the pro-democracy movement in China as forces that could potentially weaken those countries’ abilities to counter the Soviet Union. He predicted that China would enter a second civil war, at which time the USSR could increase its influence in the East.

One country where Communist revolution was anticipated was Turkey. A series of bombings and assassinations was followed by rebellions. Gerald Ford had sent American troops into the country in response, and Kennedy sent more. The Soviet Union covertly sent support to Turkish rebels, but didn’t want to provoke Turkey to close off the Turkish Straits. He had his sights on something more ambitious. He hoped to destroy Israel. He would support Palestinian resistance and promise Syria and Iraq support if they would attack Israel. In January 1984 Syrian forces attacked Israeli positions in the Golan Heights, along with some Iraqi, East Turkestani, East German, and Albanian forces. The Soviet Union blockaded the country. At the same time Iraq sent missiles into Israel. Israel returned the favor.

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(Syrian Army, 1980s)

Soviet support for the anti-Israel coalition increased their standing in the Middle East. US-friendly regimes had to make the unpopular decision to sit out the war. Anti-Israel and anti-American riots broke out in Cairo. Meanwhile Israel had to fight in the Golan heights as well as Gaza and the West Bank. Israeli forces were slowly losing ground, though they were inflicting far higher casualties than they were receiving. America sent ships into the Eastern Mediterranean and airlifted supplies into Israel. The war continued for months, and the prospect of nuclear war between the US and USSR seemed ever more likely. Nuclear war would not come, however. Shelepin’s enemies within the Communist Party conspired to replace him with Yegor Ligachov, which they succeeded in doing in April 1984. There would be a ceasefire, and the world could sleep more peacefully at night.
 
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