The Chinese Revolution

The new Communist Party of China faced decisions on how to grow. Henk Sneevliet, representative of the Communist International (Comintern) to the Far East recommended allying with Sun Yat-sen and the KMT and forming a United Front. Communist Party members could join the KMT as individuals while the Communist Party criticized it and organized the workers and peasants for revolution.

Henk faced resistance among the Chinese Communists who preferred to go a different way. They tried to organize railway workers and call for a General Strike. Meanwhile, the Seamen's Union in Guangzhou had more success.

What was the best way forward for the Communists in China?

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A discussion with Anthony Vernon about atheism in China, both before and since Communism. The distinction between Chinese and foreign religions is featured, as well as how the Chinese Communist Party has changed its policies towards religions over time.

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Students were the first Chinese to pay attention to the Russian Revolution and the new Communist government there. The Communist International (or Comintern) founded in 1919, also actively promoted and sponsored revolution abroad. Gregory Voitinsky arrived in 1920 as part of the Soviet efforts in China.

Chinese students in France (like Zhou Enlai) and professors at Peking University were quick to promote socialist and Marxist ideas and to form societies and launch publications. They were encouraged by Cai Yuanpei, the Republic of China's first Minister of Education who was then Rector of Peking University. In particular, Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao were two intellectuals very active in the lead up to the First Congress of the Communist Party of China. Each was elected at that important first meeting. Chen became the party's first Secretary-General and Li became responsible for propaganda. A Dutch communist, Henk Sneevliet, was present on behalf of the Comintern. A 28 year old Mao Zedong was also there before returning to Hunan province.

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Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People inspired the KMT party and were implemented after his death in 1925. They also facilitated cooperation between the KMT and the Communist Party of China during the periods of a United Front.

This episode discusses those Three Principles as a prelude to a look at the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

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This podcast update looks forward to the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party, its United Front with the KMT, then the death of Sun Yat-sen, who is followed by Chiang Kai-shek. You’ll hear stories of the KMT’s successful Northern Expedition before turning its knives on the Communists and the beginning of the fighting between those two sides. There will also be another context episode with a guest soon.

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Zhang Zuolin, the Manchurian Warlord, was a streetfighter known as the Pimple who went from waiter to leader of China's north.

He climbed from bandit, to soldier and then formed bonds with Japan, Qing officials and then Yuan Shikai. Step by step he grew his power first in Fengtian province, then all three Manchurian provinces and then virtually all of north China.

But that was not enough and he craved complete control in Beijing too. The coalition government broke up and war was declared between his Fengtian Clique and the Zhili Group.

Wu Peifu showed himself to be the better commander in 1922 and Zhang had to lick his wounds and regroup in Manchuria. He waited for a chance to exact revenge.

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A look at taxes, inflation, bandits, offshore funds and roving armies during China's Warlord Period.

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A southern Chinese government is set up in Guangzhou. Sun Yat-sen is named Generalissimo. The First Fleet joins with 9 warships.

The Anfu Clique wants to attack the south and fails to defeat rebels in Hunan. Then Wu Peifu is sent south and makes progress, but stops his advance and criticizes Duan Qirui for siding with Japan against his fellow Chinese.

Wu then supports the May Fourth Movement and gains southern friends and northern enemies.

War breaks out between the Anfu and Zhili Cliques. After initial losses, Wu Peifu helps to defeat the Anfu Clique in battle. Duan Qirui resigns and a new administration is set up by the Zhili and Fengtian Cliques.

Meanwhile, the people are suffering from warlords, taxes, duties and destruction. Banditry is often the last resort of the unemployed. But the difference between soldiers and bandits is less than first appears.

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The Chinese had high hopes for the negotiations in Versailles after the end of the First World War. Wellington Koo argued the Chinese case ably. China wanted to retake control of its Shandong Province, but instead Japan continued to control it because of agreements signed during the war. Then it became clear that Duan Qirui and his Anhui Clique had benefited from Japanese funds in exchange for signing away Shandong to Japan.

The May Fourth Movement saw an eruption of student anger, supported by intellectuals, businesses and workers. There was even a general strike in Shanghai. The seeds of Chinese Communism were being planted two years before the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

Behind the scenes, provincial warlords and officials supported the May Fourth Movement as a way of undermining Duan Qirui and his Anhui Clique. They could genuinely use patriotism to criticize Duan's betrayal of China to Japan.

These tensions among warlords would soon reach a boil.

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The KMT had been active opposing Yuan Shikai and his monarchy project. It had strong support among overseas Chinese.

After Yuan Shikai's death, Li Yuanhong became President and Duan Qirui became Premier. KMT hopes for an effective republic quickly faded. Li and Duan disagreed about whether China should enter the First World War. Li, his Vice-President and Congress all opposed the war. Only Duan wanted to enter the war. He was dismissed following a vote by Congress.

Zhang Xun, the General with the Queue, used that tension to invade Beijing with his 500 soldier Pigtail Army, and restore the teenage Pu Yi as Qing Emperor.

Duan Qirui quickly retook Beijing and assumed power in China. China entered the war on the same side as Japan, Great Britain, France and Russia. China contributed 140,000 labourers through the Chinese Labour Corps and the Corps de Travailleurs Chinois. Some stayed in France after the war.

By being on the winning side in the war, Chinese expected that their country would regain control of the former German concessions. But Duan Qirui had signed those over to Japan in exchange for loans that helped bring him to power. He also agreed that Japanese troops could be stationed along the Chinese frontier with Russia.

Chinese opinion was strongly against Duan when these secret agreements came out. What role would mass mobilization have on Duan?

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