Cold War Conversations

The China civil war and the independence of Taiwan (165)

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Episode notes

The events of 1949 in China reverberated across the world and throughout the rest of the century. That tumultuous year saw the dramatic collapse of Chiang Kai-shek's 'pro-Western' Nationalist government, overthrown by Mao Zedong and his communist armies, and the foundation of the People's Republic of China.

I talk with author Graham Hutchings who has written a vivid, gripping account of China in 1949 and the formation of an independent Taiwan. We discuss, the politics, the military campaigns, and the legendary Amethyst Incident where a British warship became embroiled in the Chinese Civil War.

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I am delighted to welcome Graham Hutchings to our Cold War conversation…

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0:00 Introduction

1:02 Interview with author Graham Hutchings about the Chinese Civil War

10:32 Analysis of the Nationalist strategy and situation by 1949

17:58 British authorities' perspective on the civil war in Hong Kong

23:32 Exploration of the scale of the conflict and its impact on the lives of millions of people

26:11 Detailed discussion of the HMS Amethyst incident

30:00 Examination of the fall of the nationalist cause and the fate of the Guangxi leaders