Alternate History China Without Mao

[mspence]

WI Mao is killed/dies during the Long March; what happens to China after WW2?

 

[Circle of Willis]

Well, a Long March POD makes for a lot of room for butterflies to fly around in. You could easily write a TL where the KMT wins the Chinese Civil War as a result of the butterfly effect, for example if they successfully crush the CCP on the Long March or do better in WW2 and so don't go into Round 2 of the Chinese Civil War in such shambles.

But I'll assume for the sake of this question that the CCP still wins in the end. Then Mao's rivals, IIRC most probably the much more firmly pro-Soviet Wang Ming, comes out on top in his absence. Since Wang was by all accounts a slavish lickspittle of the Soviets (one of Mao's main criticisms was that, since he basically let the CPSU do all his thinking for him, he couldn't come up with ideas which would actually be practical for furthering the Revolution™ under Chinese conditions) you'd probably not have a Sino-Soviet conflict at all (or if there is one it'd be much less minor and Wang will probably cave to Soviet demands much more readily than Mao ever would), and thus no Sino-Soviet split in the '60s/'70s.

 

[ATP]

Well, a Long March POD makes for a lot of room for butterflies to fly around in. You could easily write a TL where the KMT wins the Chinese Civil War as a result of the butterfly effect, for example if they successfully crush the CCP on the Long March or do better in WW2 and so don't go into Round 2 of the Chinese Civil War in such shambles.

But I'll assume for the sake of this question that the CCP still wins in the end. Then Mao's rivals, IIRC most probably the much more firmly pro-Soviet Wang Ming, comes out on top in his absence. Since Wang was by all accounts a slavish lickspittle of the Soviets (one of Mao's main criticisms was that, since he basically let the CPSU do all his thinking for him, he couldn't come up with ideas which would actually be practical for furthering the Revolution™ under Chinese conditions) you'd probably not have a Sino-Soviet conflict at all (or if there is one it'd be much less minor and Wang will probably cave to Soviet demands much more readily than Mao ever would), and thus no Sino-Soviet split in the '60s/'70s.

And,as result,USA would never abadonn Taiwan.
But,commie China would become normal after 1993 anyway,and dominate Moscov - so,notching would change except Taiwan with american troops.

 

[filipina84]

WI Mao is killed/dies during the Long March; what happens to China after WW2?

Assuming this means no 1948 Civil War?

 

[filipina84]

And,as result,USA would never abadonn Taiwan.
But,commie China would become normal after 1993 anyway,and dominate Moscov - so,notching would change except Taiwan with american troops.

Butterflies away Nixon to China shtick.

 

[ATP]

Butterflies away Nixon to China shtick.

Rather Kissinger.Thanks to him USA saved China in 1969,if soviets destroyed them,they would fall shortly after that,and we would have better world.

 

[filipina84]

Rather Kissinger.Thanks to him USA saved China in 1969,if soviets destroyed them,they would fall shortly after that,and we would have better world.

Forgot about Kissinger. Butterflies his shtick too!