The US Army Observer Group in Yan´an (Part 1)  

cctv.com 09-20-2005 14:46

Before Japan bombed Pearl Harbour and prompted America to join World War 2, China was already involved in a bloody resistance to Japanese expansion. The invaders were bogged down by protracted battles in China that restricted their movements in the Pacific. This benefited American forces stationed in the Pacific. In the beginning, American military advisors were assigned to China鈥檚 Nationalist government. But the Nationalists were not the only group fighting against Japan鈥檚 invasion. In fact, by this time the Nationalists were more concerned with fighting the Chinese Communist Party than in repelling the invaders. The American military soon lost patience with Chiang Kai-shek鈥檚 Nationalist government and looked for more effective ways to support the War of Resistance.

At the time, the Nationalist government was the only political party in China recognized by the United States. So, aid intended for the War of Resistance went to Nationalist forces. But Chiang Kai-shek viewed his struggle against the Communists as more important than resisting Japan鈥檚 expansion. The embattled Communists repelled Nationalist attacks while fighting battles against Japanese troops. Given their lack of weaponry, they were as effective as the American funded Nationalists. The American military were keen to make contact with the CPC.

During the Second World War, America鈥檚 involvement in China focussed on the ongoing resistance to Japan鈥檚 invasion. The country needed contact with all anti-Japanese forces. The Chinese Communist Party welcomed the establishment of ties with America for diplomatic and military reasons. Over the next four days, we will continue the story of the US Observer Group in Yan鈥檃n. The arrival of the 18 group members was one of the first formal contacts between America and the CPC. The staffers all had previous experience of China and many had been brought up by missionary parents in China. But their sympathy with the CPC鈥檚 cause would bring them into conflict with their government鈥檚 policy.

Editor:Liu  Source:CCTV.com