47. Wei Li-huang Wei Li-huang was yet another incompetent commander appointed by Chiang Kai-shek. Wei was in charge of the Nationalist forces in Manchuria. “Chiang had not only been told that Wei was a Communist agent, but actually suspected this to be true,” said Jung Chang. (Kindle Location 6268) One wonders why Chiang would knowingly make one of his enemies the commander of his forces. “The reason Wei was brought back in 1948 and given such a crucial job was that Chiang was frantically trying to woo the Americans, who thought highly of Wei’s performance in Burma and regarded him as an important ‘liberal,’” said Chang. (Kindle Location 6276) According to William Stokes, the former U.S. vice-consul in Shenyang, Chiang appointed Wei “in a futile attempt to gain more American equipment and funding, because Wei was recognized by the Americans as a proven military leader.” (Kindle Location 6278) Wei was indeed a communist agent. His actions brought further disaster to the Nationalists. But rather than punish Wei for his actions, Chiang “let Wei go, and he sailed off unmolested to Hong Kong.” (Kindle Location 6289) That America made Chiang appoint a known Communist as the leader of his forces proves that America wanted the Communists to win the war. And it proves that, for Chiang, placating his American masters was his highest priority. Chiang knew that Wei was a communist. But he appointed him anyways. And that makes Chiang the ultimate stooge of the West. References The Kindle Locations come from the book “Mao: The Unknown Story” by Jung Chang.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 01:50:41 +0000