The Two Chinas - 1949
January 1949 - Mao Zedong and his communist People's Liberation Army (PLA) captured Beijing, the capital of China, and over the next 12 months, Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) and his Guomindang government gradually lost control of the peasant villages and major cities.
Feb. 3 - Dean Acheson recommended that the U.S. "cut loose" from Chiang Kai-shek and stop a shipment of $60m in supplies, but Congress and the China Lobby was opposed and Truman approved the shipment. Acheson's State Dept. produced China "White Paper" by August that was a factual rebuttal of the China Lobby and congressional support for Chiang, with 645 pages of documents blaming China's problems on Chiang, not the communists
July 14 - USSR exploded its first A-bomb; announced Sep. 23
Oct. 1 - Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China; Jiang Jieshi established the Nationalist China goverment on the island of Formosa (Taiwan).
Oct. 2 - Stalin and the USSR recognized the People's Republic of China and in Feb. 1950 signed a Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance
Sources:
Articles:
- Clinton, Jiang Agree to Create D.C.-Beijing Hotline from New York Times, October 29, 1997
- Chinese Army Marks 72nd Anniversary from AP, Aug. 1, 1999
- 50 Years Made China Change. But Not the Fear of It from New York Times, October 3, 1999
- In China's Holy Place, Mao Revered Despite Tragedies from Reuters, July 2, 2001
