The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 80

80. To Taiwan

Stepping forward to greet them was Zhou Enlai.

“Welcome, President. Welcome.”

In most countries, the highest leader would typically greet a visiting U.S. President.

I naturally expected Chairman Mao to appear, but Zhou Enlai’s handshake was the extent of the official welcome.

The Kennedys were quickly ushered into a car and driven towards Beijing.

Whoosh~

The motorcade sped towards the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

If Chairman Mao were visiting the United States, welcome banners would line the streets, and citizens would wave both U.S. and Chinese flags, cheering along the route.

However, Tiananmen Square and the streets of Beijing were conspicuously empty.

This was security, Chinese-style.

* * *

The Kennedys unpacked in their guesthouse suite.

However, they were completely in the dark about their schedule.

Kennedy propped his feet up on a silk-covered chair and leaned back, trying to relax.

Knock! Knock!

Suddenly, Zhou Enlai and the U.S. Secretary of State rushed in, looking flustered.

“President, you must meet Chairman Mao.”

“Now?”

“Yes, President!”

Zhou Enlai urged.

“We must leave immediately. And discreetly.”

“W-well, alright. I need to inform the interpreter and my bodyguards.”

“Not necessary. There will be no important discussions.”

So, Zhou Enlai, the Secretary of State, and Kennedy left the room. As they headed downstairs, the head of Kennedy’s security detail asked,

“President, where are you going?”

“Ah, I have a brief meeting. You don’t need to come.”

Since he was told to come without an interpreter or security, Kennedy assumed Mao was nearby, perhaps in an annex or downstairs.

Instead, they got into a car without warning.

Whoosh~

The car sped away from Diaoyutai as if he were being kidnapped.

They drove for nearly an hour.

Kennedy’s mind raced.

“Where are we going?”

“Zhongnanhai [the central headquarters for the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council]. We’re almost there.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. security team back at Diaoyutai was in an uproar.

The President had vanished without a trace.

When they inquired about his whereabouts, the Chinese staff simply smiled and feigned ignorance.

“Code One is missing!”

* * *

Zhongnanhai.

Mao, looking somewhat haggard with a protruding belly, greeted Kennedy in a building reminiscent of the Qing Dynasty era.

“Please excuse the inadequate reception due to security concerns. Reactionary groups strongly oppose official contact with the United States.”

“I understand, Chairman.”

“Throughout the U.S. presidential election, I was confident you would win.”

In his past life, Mao had offered Nixon the same platitude.

Kennedy flattered Mao, understanding his underlying motives.

“Chairman, you are changing the world right now.”

“Haha, thank you. The details will be handled by our staff. Let’s have some tea.”

Thus, the meeting consisted of ceremonial exchanges and pleasantries for an hour.

That evening, a grand banquet was held at the Great Hall of the People.

Chinese generals and Kennedy’s entourage filled their glasses with Mao-tai [a potent Chinese liquor] and offered toasts.

“For the development of both countries!”

“For world peace!”

The working-level staff hastily agreed upon and announced the five principles for normalizing relations:

– Mutual respect for territory and sovereignty

– Mutual non-aggression

– Non-interference in internal affairs

– Equality and mutual benefit

– Peaceful coexistence

As a symbolic gesture of the normalization agreement, China exchanged a pair of pandas for musk oxen from the United States.

The working-level staff from both countries then entered into difficult diplomatic negotiations.

The diplomatic negotiations continued into the following year.

In the meantime, the detente was promoted to the public through expanded exchanges in sports like table tennis.

Thanks to the Korean President’s advice, the detente began three years earlier than it had during Chairman Wang’s era.

During Chairman Wang’s time, the Nixon-Mao Zedong meeting served as the backdrop for the October Restoration [a period of political and social reform in South Korea].

The shift in U.S. policy towards normalizing relations with communist countries came as a significant shock to President Park.

It caused near panic, as he was unprepared for a post-Cold War world where national interests trumped ideology.

However, for the regressed President, these changes in world history presented an opportunity.

The immediate priority was to prevent the People’s Republic of China from succeeding to the permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

While the United States was courting China, Korea was courting Taiwan.

* * *

The President’s office.

The President was secretly meeting with the security advisor dispatched by Taiwan’s President Chiang Kai-shek.

In 1943, Chiang Kai-shek met with Roosevelt of the United States and Churchill of Great Britain in Cairo, securing the return of all Chinese territories occupied by Japan and establishing China as one of the world’s five major powers with a permanent seat in the UN established after the war.

However, as the President of the Republic of China, he repeatedly battled warlords, foreign powers, and the Communist Party, ultimately losing the Chinese Civil War and fleeing to Taiwan.

The security advisor said,

“The President is furious that the United States is establishing diplomatic ties with China in exchange for abandoning Taiwan.”

Chiang Kai-shek was not only saddened by being relegated to the margins of the world stage but also enraged that the United States, a nation he considered a friend, was attempting to strip Taiwan of its national status and withdraw its troops.

The President advised,

“It’s a harsh reality, but that’s the current situation. ‘One China’ implies that Taiwan is part of China.”

“Taiwan is in a desperate situation. Facing a bleak future, the President asked me to find a breakthrough, which is why I’m here.”

“The current situation may be even more serious than the President realizes.”

“More? Do you know something?”

“What China wants is the status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

“Permanent member?”

“In exchange for recognizing the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, they are trying to take over Taiwan’s permanent member status. That’s why they met with the U.S. leader despite the threat from the Soviet Union.”

“Ah, that was the key requirement.”

“That’s right. China can manage everything else on its own, but securing the permanent member seat requires U.S. approval.”

“If we lose the permanent member seat, Taiwan will become a nation of refugees. What should we do, Your Excellency!”

The President revealed the alternative he had prepared.

“Yuldo, having separated and become independent, is secretly pushing for a merger with the Republic of Korea, becoming part of the Korean Federation.”

“Did you say the Korean Federation? That’s incredible news, Your Excellency!”

“It’s a federal state that recognizes the autonomy of its members, like the United States, with the central government controlling diplomatic and military affairs.”

“…….”

“If Taiwan also becomes a member of the Korean Federation, you can overcome this crisis.”

“Hmm, a member of the Korean Federation… It’s a novel idea, Your Excellency. But can we confront China with just a political union? China will never recognize Taiwan, claiming it as its own territory.”

“Korea will soon become the world’s second-largest oil producer. At that point, its political, economic, and military standing will be vastly different from what it is now. There will be no reason to be inferior to China in any way. China is sending a love call to the United States under the pretext of the Soviet Union, but the real reason is fear of Korea’s rapid growth. They are trying to join hands with the United States before that happens.”

“Ah, that’s China’s grand strategy.”

“That’s right.”

“I will report this to the President immediately.”

“But there’s a prerequisite.”

“What condition is it?”

“You must first democratize Taiwan.”

“Democratize?”

When the Chiang Kai-shek government relocated to Taiwan, they exploited the native population under the guise of wartime necessity.

When a rebellion erupted, they brutally suppressed it, massacring 30,000 people and imprisoning over 140,000 on anti-government charges. [This refers to the February 28 Incident and the subsequent White Terror period in Taiwan].

With U.S. support, they achieved significant economic and educational success, but their developmental dictatorship was a major flaw.

“To separate from China, become independent, and join the Korean Federation, you must have the unwavering support of the people. The Korean Federation guarantees autonomy to its member states, but only grants federal status to liberal democracies. The Korean Federation isn’t simply expanding like China.”

“Hmm, I understand. I will report this to the Governor in detail.”

* * *

The Taiwan President’s office.

The aide reported on his conversation with the Korean President.

The President’s face twisted as he listened.

“Hmm, I asked for help, but it’s too much to ask me to be subordinate to Korea! What’s with these democratization demands?”

“But it makes sense to some extent. If oil starts flowing, Korea will become a superpower on par with the United States and the Soviet Union.”

“Still, can China become Korea! The continent is our land! Why cling to the tiny Korean Peninsula!”

“We must face reality, President! China is shaking hands with the United States while turning its back on the Soviet Union. If we consider the people’s interests, there’s nothing we can’t do, President.”

“Don’t talk about the people. The people are ignorant. They must do as their leader commands.”

“Rather than refusing outright, it’s better to leave room for diplomacy….”

“Shut up! Not while I’m alive!”

* * *

China’s Zhou Enlai’s residence.

Zhou Enlai summoned the Minister of Culture and the Minister of External Liaison and gave them instructions.

“The era of expansion through force is over. We must develop an offensive strategy that freely crosses national borders.”

“…….”

“What freely crosses borders is money and culture. We must now buy countries with money and reshape their consciousness with culture.”

“Yes!”

“Xinjiang, Uyghur, Mongolia, Tibet, North Korea, and South Korea are all part of Greater China (大中華) [a concept emphasizing cultural and historical ties between China and its neighboring regions]. We must place pro-China figures in positions of power. Those who are pro-China should prosper.”

“Yes!”

“We must also establish a continental historical consciousness. We must establish Gojoseon [ancient Korean kingdom], Goguryeo [ancient Korean kingdom], Balhae [ancient Korean kingdom], and Qing [the last imperial dynasty of China] as part of the history of the Northeast region.”

“I understand!”

There were hundreds of thousands of Chinese who remained in North Korea after participating in the Korean War.

Even after the war ended, they didn’t return home and remained in North Korea with dual citizenship, forming a pillar of the North Korean leadership.

During Chairman Wang’s era, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il purged these pro-China forces to establish the Baekdu bloodline [the Kim family’s claim to divine right to rule] and Juche ideology [North Korea’s ideology of self-reliance].

China viewed the Korean Peninsula as a border province of China.

The President of Korea flew to the United States to discuss important matters.

* * *

The U.S. Camp David retreat.

Camp David is the official retreat of the U.S. President.

It includes a presidential office, conference room, and information center, allowing the President to conduct state business even while on vacation.

It’s essentially a small White House with an underground bunker for the President’s safety.

There’s also a swimming pool, golf course, riding arena, and bowling alley.

An indoor gymnasium and accommodations for foreign dignitaries are also available.

The White House directly manages the facility, the Navy operates it, and the United States Marine Corps handles security.

The United States Air Force also provides aerial escort with F-15 fighter jets while the President is at Camp David.

The Korean President was meeting with Kennedy.

Being invited to Camp David symbolized a special relationship with the United States.

A pair of wild deer appeared and were leisurely grazing.

The two men, having finished horseback riding, dismounted and strolled, deep in conversation.