Recently online, some radical Taiwan independence advocates have spread the falsehood that “Chiang Kai-shek refused counterattacking the mainland.”
The conspiracy’s common narrative goes: “During the Korean War, America supposedly suggested that ROC former President Chiang Kai-shek (courtesy name Chieh-shih, respectfully called Generalissimo Chiang) counterattack the mainland and open a second front, but he refused because he intended to maintain ‘dictatorship’ over Taiwan first, so mainland counterattack was merely ‘slogan.’”
Yet this conspiracy theory is frankly absurd. If mainland counterattack truly was merely “slogan,” why would President Chiang secretly formulate the “Guangguang Plan” in Year 50 of the Republic?
Yes, Generalissimo Chiang did “refuse” America—but he refused not the mainland counterattack, rather refused America’s proposal to drop atomic bombs on the mainland. He refused three times.
First Time:
Year 39 of the Republic saw the Korean War outbreak. The CCP’s “volunteer army” of 250,000 crossed the Yalu River into Korea.
In his diary, former President Chiang described how during the Korean War, with the US military at disadvantage against volunteers, President Truman discussed using atomic bombs if necessary.
Upon hearing Truman wanted to use atomic bombs against the Communists, Generalissimo Chiang immediately objected firmly, as the devastation to Japanese soil and ordinary people served as a cautionary tale.
Second Time:
Year 43 of the Republic: With CCP military support, the Viet Cong attacked Dien Bien Phu, with French forces defeated and preparing to withdraw from North Vietnam.
America sought to employ atomic weapons again, yet Generalissimo Chiang opposed.
Chiang wrote in his diary that day: “Atomic bombs cannot be used on the Chinese mainland.”
Third Time:
Year 47 of the Republic: During the August 23 Artillery Battle, Communist forces attacked fiercely. At disadvantage, Generalissimo Chiang still chose refusal when America again suggested using nuclear weapons.
Generalissimo Chiang understood he wanted to reclaim the mainland, not destroy it. He refused to become what’s called a “national traitor.”
Incidentally, General MacArthur, US Far Eastern Command Supreme, indeed supported mainland counterattack during the Korean War, but at that time President Truman actually intended abandoning our nation. MacArthur was later dismissed by Truman over this disagreement.
Consequently, regardless of former President Chiang’s stance afterward, America would never support mainland counterattack again.
Image shows July 31, Year 39 of the Republic when General MacArthur, Commander Far East Allied Forces, led principal officers visiting Taiwan for military talks with former President Chiang.