Mao & Communist China

The People’s Republic of China (PRC), established on October 1, 1949 with Mao Tse-tung a chairman, emerged as the political party for Communist China after more than two decades of civil war. Mao’s grassroots ideology and class analysis became popular and his anti-capitalist propaganda spread like wildfire through the hearts and minds of the Chinese masses. In the articles I examined, much of the coverage focused on China’s war strategies against the Japanese and the threat that China’s nationalist movement had on influencing other parts of Asia and the damage it had on relationships with the United States and other European nations.

In a Los Angeles Times article entitled, “Problems in Indonesia Disturb Peace of World,” the writer(s) Polyzoides discusses the heightened danger that Asia wielded on European countries such as Britain and Holland.

“This is only a sample of what the Allies are confronted with in Asia and it constitutes only one angle of the difficulties with which the United States is confronted in many a quarter of the globe,” Polyzoides said.

In a New York Times article entitled, “Communist Leader Confers in Hankow,” a wireless piece, Mao’s discussion of the Red Army is highlighted.

“[Mao] is joining discussions…on the role of Communist civil and military leaders in the Central Government and on the general problem of Chinese tactics against Japanese troops in North China areas.”

In another Los Angeles article entitled, “British Papers Hit U.S. China Policy,” the fear of a relationship strain between Chin and its “Anglo-American partnership” is evidently the angle of this story.

Each article I read had very few sources cited, and if there any, they were official sources, such as government officials.

The coverage of the articles I examined reflects the profession at the time. The Cold War started around the 1940s and continued well into the 1990s. It is likely that the journalists of the time were heavily dazed by the Cold War, just as many ordinary citizens were. During this time, it seems that the government’s call for national security was an important priority that journalists steadfastly grasped. “Throughout this period, the conflict was expressed through military coalitions, espionage, weapons development, invasions, propaganda, and competitive technological development, which included the space race. The conflict included costly defense spending, a massive conventional and nuclear arms race, and numerous proxy wars; the two superpowers never fought one another directly.”

Sources

Problems in Indonesia Disturb Peace of World:British and Dutch Face Issues Arising From Latest Nationalist Movements
POLYZOIDES. Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.:Oct 29, 1945. p. 8 (1 pp.)

COMMUNIST LEADER CONFERS IN HANKOW:Mao Tse-tang, Head of Former Chinese Soviet, Discusses Role of Reds in Regime
Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.:Jan 8, 1938. p. 6 (1 pp.)

British Papers Hit U.S. China Policy:Fears Set Forth About Strain on Anglo-American Partnership
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.:Jan 3, 1950. p. 4 (1 pp.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War