The storm clouds clear over China

the long version

Chen Li-fu's memoir, The Storm Clouds Clear over China, describes the tragedy and hope of China's twentieth-century revolution as seen through the eyes of a major participant. Chen served as the private secretary and close confidant of Chiang Kai-shek, president of the Republic of China, holding important official posts during the momentous years from 1926 to 1950. His recollection encompasses the titanic struggle between the Kuomintang (the Chinese National party) and the Chinese Communist party. To this day, no high-ranking member from either party has published memoirs of the period; and Chen thus provides invaluable portrayals of some of the personalities who shaped the destiny of modern China. Chen's unique account provides details about the April 1927 purge of the Communists from the Kuomintang. He presents new information about Chiang Kai-shek's arrest of Kuomintang veteran Hu Han-min in March 1931, an act which fatally split the Kuomintang and set the stage for a decline in the Kuomintang's prestige and authority and its loss of popular support. Chen also sheds new light on Wang Ching-wei's flight to Hanoi in 1938 and Li Tsung-jen and his Kwangsi clique's opposition to Chiang during the civil war from 1945 to 1949. Chen, who served Chiang Kai-shek loyally and capably, still believes that Chiang was the most suitable person to lead China in those stormy decades. With candor and clarity he describes the personality clashes, the internal power struggles, economic reforms, and difficulties in handling foreign affairs that ultimately led to the defeat of the Kuomintang and the ignominious retreat of the Nationalist government to Taiwan in 1949. After twenty years' absence from active political life, Chen returned to Taiwan from the United States in 1970, at Chiang's invitation. In addition to devoting himself to the arts, traditional Chinese medicine and Confucian learning, Chen continued his close relationship with the Kuomintang leadership. He provides additional insights to explain the Taiwan experience of Chinese modernization and democratization. Chen, now ninety-four, resides on Taiwan.