1 KMT and the restoration of the Nation  Outline ： The Korean War  fight back to the Mainland ？ The US economic support to the ROC KMT’s reform Chiang Ching-kuo and the China Youth Corps Who’s army? The nation’s or the Chiang family’s

2 The Korean War  fight back to the Mainland ？  The Korean War broke out in June Chiang Kai-shek intended to fight back to the Mainland by supporting South Korea.  After the Chinese Communist Party joined the war, General MacArthur and some pro-Chiang American senators suggested to accept the ROC’s military support.  President Truman denied this proposal, as he feared that this would trigger a new war on Mainland China.

3  In April 1951, President Truman removed General MacArthur from all his posts and duties. This crushed Chiang Kai-shek’s plan of recovering the Mainland.  On the other hand, the CCP directly clashed with the US in the Korean War. Anti-communism voices were high, while many pro-PRC American officials resigned.  Under this circumstance, the ROC became the only contactable “Chinese regime” for the US.

4 The US’s economic support to the ROC  The US economic support to the ROC began in the end of 1950, with significant amount of aid being given from  This aid enabled the KMT regime, which yet to recover from WWII and domestic turmoil, to stand up again in Taiwan.  The American’s purposes for giving the aid were: To stabilize economy To make Taiwan self-sufficient To facilitate the US’s military activities in East Asia

5  The US’s economic aid lasted for 15 years ( ), with a total of nearly 1.5 billion USD.  In average, the ROC received about 100 million USD a year, which was equivalent to 1/10 of the ROC’s GDP at that time. p.s.: Perhaps some of you can do presentations on the issue of the Westerners’ economic and military support in Asian countries (e.g. The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia)

6 KMT’s Reform  After retreating to Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek was determined to thoroughly reorganize the party-state system.  The first thing was to rebuild his authority so that party members' loyalty and faith to him could be reconsolidated.  In August 1950, the KMT formed a Central Reform Committee. All members were trusted followers of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo.  Faction leaders and many high-ranked figures, including son of the ROC’s founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen, were excluded.

7  The KMT learned from Soviet Russia’s Leninist party-state structure, and set up party branches in the military, governmental offices, schools, all sorts of industrial and business unions, and even civil and cultural organizations.  In other words, the whole nation was tightly bound to and closely monitored by the KMT.  For the first time, Chiang Kai-shek gained a total control over the part (and consequently, the nation).

8 Chiang Ching-kuo and the China Youth Corps  Chiang Kai-shek reckoned that the KMT’s biggest failure on Mainland China was not be able to control the minds of the youth.  in October 1952, Chiang Ching-kuo established the China Youth Corps to promote “proper” and “patriotic” extracurricular activities.  Students at all level were “encouraged” (institutionally forced) to participate in CYC’s activities.

9  All students and youth aged between 16 and 25 were automatically classified as members of the CYC.  Those who refused to join the CYC would be dropped out from school.  Besides, Chiang Ching-kuo also decided to integrate the KMT and the ROC’s foundational doctrine - The Three Principles of the People - into school curriculum.

10  “The Three Principles of the People” was a required subject of the nationwide university entrance exam, and was also an obligatory course for all university freshmen.  The CYC had its own publishing service, issuing magazines and pamphlets to be displayed in all schools and public libraries.

11 Taking control of the military  Chiang Kai-shek felt that the KMT ’s insufficiency in political education was the major reason for its military failure on the Mainland.  In March 1950, a “political bureau” headed by Chiang Ching- kuo was formed under the Ministry of Defense to ensure total political control over the military.

12  Orders issued by military officers at all levels must also be approved by corresponding political officers.  The five principles for the military were: doctrine, leader, nation, duty, and honor. “Leader” even came before nation.  The number of recruits into the KMT was one of political officers’ “KPI”.

13  All military servicemen, generals and soldiers alike, must receive mandatory political education on every Thursday.  Only KMT members were allowed to be instructors of political courses.  Many of the generals retreated to Taiwan had political ambitions. In order to prevent possible coup, many were forced to retire or stripped from post.