News from China

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Guangzhou, January 28th, 1959
REPUBLIC ENTERS INTO FREE-TRADE AND MUTUAL DEFENCE BLOC WITH KOREA
The government has announced today that the Legislative Yuan has ratified the terms of the new Bilateral East Asian Treaty in the Interest of National Growth and Stability (BEATINGS). In addition to the establishment of a customs union, the agreement allows for both closer co-operation between the Chinese and Korean defence industries and commits both countries to the defence of the other in case of an "existential" threat.

"If China is to protect itself from the perfidy of outside powers, then it must act in concert with those of us who were similarly victims of foreign imperialism," declared Foreign Minister Xue Peng. "The current Korean government fought against the Japanese just as ours did, and to blame them for the wrongdoing which their predecessors committed during the war would be as to equate our own government with the bandits of Mao Zedong or the puppet collaborators of Wang Jingwei."

RIVAL PROTESTORS CLASH IN DOWNTOWN GUANGZHOU
Disorder in the streets today as rival protests clashed in the city centre. Fist fights broke out as several thousand demonstrators gathering to protest the recent treaty with the Federation of Korea ran headlong into a much larger protest condemning the SRA and demonstrating in support of improved Chinese-Korean relations.

Police forces reacted quickly to dispel the chaos. Several dozen of the most violent demonstrators on either side have been arrested. Fourteen protestors have been wounded, two seriously.

[Cataphrak]

Guangzhou, February 1st, 1959
MILITARY ADVISORS DEPART FOR FREE ROMANIA
For the first time since the war with Japan, soldiers of the Republic are bound for foreign lands to defend the cause of freedom and democracy, as elements of the 3rd Division begin their journey to war-torn Romania today. There, they will assist the legitimate Romanian government by acting as military advisors, training government forces and providing material aid in their war against the fascist rebellion which currently controls much of the country. Through a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry has stated unequivocally that National Revolutionary Army soldiers are not to be directly involved in the ongoing civil war, others are more sanguine about the chances that Chinese advisors may find themselves in combat. "Civil Wars are a nasty business, as I'm sure we all know by now," stated Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, in overall command of the advisory mission, "now, our government knows that our troops are not to be shot at, and the Free Romanian government knows that too, but that doesn't mean the other fellows won't. If we have to give them a bloody nose to ensure our non-participation is respected, then we'll have to do just that."

A spokesman for the Military Affairs Commission has clarified that General Carton de Wiart's remarks do not represent the position of the General Staff, and denies any implication that the 3rd Division's officers have been ordered to operate directly against the Romanian rebels.

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Hangzhou, August 8th, 1959
MILITARY COUP IN REPUBLIC OF ZHEJIANG
Shocking news from across the border today as elements of the Republic of Zhejiang's armed forces launched a coup d'etat against the democratically elected government, seizing vital military installations and government buildings. President Xia and her cabinet are currently unaccounted for.

Reports have come in of clashes between rebel forces and those still loyal to the legitimate government, as well as mass popular demonstrations in opposition to the coup attempt. Premier Long Yun has condemned the uprising as "an attempt to crush the flowering of democracy under a soldier's jackboot." Units of the National Revolutionary Army are already en-route to the Zhejiang border, to keep the fighting from spreading, and to offer humanitarian aid to any Zhejiang citizens fleeing what could be the beginning of a protracted civil war.

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Guangzhou, August 21st, 1959
ZHEJIANG VOTE LEADS TO MARKET SURGE
Elation runs through Guangzhou's financial district today, in response to reports that the Legislative Yuan has approved limited intervention in the war-torn Republic of Zhejiang. Although Premier Long Yun has made it clear that the current institution of a no-fly zone and limited aid programmes are meant solely to "protect citizens of the Republic and prevent humanitarian tragedies in the current civil war in Zhejiang", many are speculating that the government may be planning further action, and that the material aid and volunteers being sent into the war-torn country may be the prelude to a full-scale military intervention, spurring bullish investments in heavy industry, and manufacturing industries anticipating the future opening of new markets.

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Guangzhou, August 30th, 1959
REPUBLIC FORCES ATTACKED ON ZHEJIANG BORDER, PREMIER VOWS SWIFT RESPONSE
Shocking news from the Zhejiang border last night as we have received footage of forces under the command of military strongman Cheng Yu attacking Republic peacekeeping forces despite ongoing negotiations. Premier Long Yun and Head of the Military Affairs Commission General Sun Liren have announced in a joint statement that such "an attack without a formal declaration of war proves the so-called military government of Zhejiang to be no more than a glorified bandit faction." They have pledged to "restore the rightful rule of law to the region, and liberate our Chinese brothers from the clutches of these vile militarists."

The Legislative Yuan has voted unanimously to approve unrestricted military action.

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Hangchow, November 5th, 1959
CHEKIANG BANDIT FORCES RETREAT TO FORMOSA
As perhaps the readers of this publication might expect, the forces of the so-called "Republic of Zhejiang", corrupted by decades of oriental decadence, have proved no match for the westernised forces of the Republic. Once again, it is proved that the forces of eastern manpower, properly directed by the creative and intellectual powers of the Anglo-Saxon race, have proven superior to any native Chinese force. Enemy forces are currently in full retreat, having withdrawn entirely from the mainland to the island of Formosa, to which the editorial board of his paper may only say "Good Riddance!"

Republic of China forces have, in the meantime, taken up defensive position along the coast, maintaining order until the local government is re-established. We say, "spare them the trouble!" The people of Chekiang and Fukien have clearly proved unable to govern themselves properly! It would be best to put them under the enlightened rule of a government which is at least influenced by Western and Christian principles of governance than to allow it to backslide into degeneracy!

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Guangzhou, January 11th, 1960
GUOMINDANG BLOWOUT IN GUANGDONG
The political battle for China's crown jewel has resulted in a stunning victory from the Guomindang, securing them a rare absolute majority in the Provincial Assembly. Though it has historically been a centre of support for the Blues, some analysts had questioned whether party loyalty had remained strong through the decades of Japanese occupation and political chaos. Now, there can be no doubt. Experts cite dissatisfaction towards the national Democratic Socialist-Democratic League coalition government's handling of the recently concluded Zhejiang Crisis and the popularity of the newly-selected Guomindang leader, retired general Du Yuming, as key factors in GMD gains.

OPPOSITION LEADER DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO ZHEJIANG WAR
Today in the Legislative Yuan, Marshal Du Yuming, head of the Guomindang, launched several fierce attacks on the position of Premier Long Yun and his ruling coalition regarding the recently concluded conflict in Zhejiang. In particular, the Marshal called for a formal investigation into the events leading up to the war, the involvement of the government-funded Benevolent Order of the White Sun, and the government's lax attitude towards Victorian military intervention.

"The bandit factions which squat on rightful Republic territory should be dealt with in a forthright and honest manner," the Marshal, GMD party leader since December, said in an official statement. "If the government wishes to go forth with open hands and charity, it should stick to that approach, no matter how disagreeable. If it should wish to crush rebel movements under the heel of a million soldiers' boots, it should commit to that approach wholly as well. To try and dabble in both methods, to have it both ways, undermines the integrity of the Republic, causes discomfort to our friends, and causes nothing but needless death. We should expect better than such underhanded dealings."

The Premier's office has refused to comment.

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Guangzhou, October 10th, 1960
SPECIAL REPORT: NATIONAL DAY FLYBY SHOWCASES AIR FORCE'S ENTRY INTO THE JET AGE
Over the past few months, one question has been on the lips of those in the know among the Republic's defence establishment: what is to be done about the air force? Though our pilots and aircrews showed their customary bravery and expertise in last year's Zhejiang Intervention, it was clear to all that the RoCAF's propeller aircraft were well outmatched by the jet-powered planes flown by their enemies. The experience of our forces in Romania has only made it clear that the Republic's current inventory of aircraft is far from capable of standing up to the air forces of the SRA, Victoria, or our gallant allies in Seoul.

The question then, has been how to proceed? Some have proposed reverse-engineering shot-down Zhejiang aircraft. Others have suggested purchasing aircraft from foreign powers. It is a conundrum which has attracted much attention over the past few months.

And one which finally has an answer.

As the annual National Day Military Parade celebrated the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Republic in downtown Guangzhou, the noise of tank treads and brass bands was drowned out by a new noise: a thunderous herald of a new age. Four sleek, silver-bodied jet aircraft, streaking through the cloudless Guangdong sky like thunderbolts.

They are among the first production run of the Air Force's new fighter-bomber, the JH-1 Guandao (Glaive), due to enter active service next year. According to a spokesman from the Military Affairs Commission, it is not only capable of carrying three times the bomb load of the RoCAF's current medium bombers, but it is capable of doing so at well over twice the speed of sound, something which may still seem impossible for a world which so recently seemed dominated by propeller aircraft.


Next came a brace of entirely different beasts. These too were jet aircraft, and these too were designed to carry bombs, but it was not a need for speed which was behind the design of the new H-2 Longwang (Dragon King). Instead, range and bombload were the main prerequisites. Capable of matching the capabilities of any heavy bombers now in service in any of the world's leading air forces, the H-2 is also set to enter service next year, replacing the RoCAF's ageing fleet of American-made B-29s.


Last of all came the centrepiece of the whole display: a single craft, its graceful angles slicing through the air like a blade. All eyes were upon it as it cut through the sky, breaking through the speed of sound with the violence of a thunderclap. This is the first appearance of the much-rumoured, but hitherto unseen J-2 Feihu (Flying Tiger), China's first indigenously designed supersonic jet fighter. Though little is known about the craft's capabilities, its showing today has certainly made an impression. Only time will tell if its promise is bourne out when it enters active service in early 1962.

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Guangzhou, January 9th, 1961
SPECIAL REPORT: GUOMINDANG SECURES MAJORITY IN ELECTORAL BLOWOUT
With almost 98% of polls now reporting, it has become abundantly clear that the Guomindang have won a spectacular victory in today's national elections, being projected to win at least 170 seats in the nearly expanded 324-seat Legislative Yuan.

Very few could have predicted such a result only a few years ago, when the GMD was just a shadow of the party which had once wielded near absolute power under Generalissimo Jiang Jieshi. Its support eroded by numerous corruption scandals, the strain of the war against the Japanese, and finally the disappearance of much of its senior leadership during the German Plague, it was believed that it would stay a third party for quite some time. Instead, under the dynamic leadership of Marshal Du Yuming, the GMD has not gained ground, but also made massive inroads into the support base of the Democratic Socialists, many of whom proved evidently dissatisfied with the government's handling of last year's Zhejiang Intervention.

With the Democratic Socialists almost destroyed as a force in the Legislative Yuan, the Guomindang now have a majority in the Republic's legislature, allowing them a near total mandate in regards to policy-making. Sources within the Democratic Socialist Party claim that longtime leader Long Yun intends to announce his retirement from public life shortly.

Marshal Du Yuming will be sworn in as Premier on the 5th of March, by which point he is expected to appoint and announce his cabinet.


Guangzhou, January 9th, 1961
OPINION: ELECTION RESULTS PROVE THAT PEOPLE WANT FREEDOM, NOT HANDOUTS
The people have spoken, and unfortunately for Long Yun and his Democratic Socialists, they didn't say what he wanted them to. Of course, talk to anyone on the street in Guangzhou and you'd have known that. Sure, free meals and jobs guarantees were great when people were starving and hiding from Japanese dwarf-pirates, but that was a long time ago. Times have changed and the Democratic Socialists have failed to change with them.

Likewise, when the Guomindang unveiled their platform of economic deregulation and decreased taxes for defence industries, all it would have taken was a few minutes on the street to learn how popular those policies would be. Instead, the so-called experts tut-tutted and predicted that the GMD would be lucky to keep the seats it had, even with the help of Marshal Du's fame, and even given how badly the government handled the Zhejiang Intervention. I suppose many of them must be wondering how they got it so wrong.

The Democratic Socialists' policy might have worked for the old China, the weak and frail and starving China, but that isn't who we are anymore. China wants a government who is willing to unleash the vitality and ingenuity of this new-old republic, and yesterday, it decided the Guomindang was the party for the job, just as it was 30 years ago.

-L. Huang, Kowloon.


The Vanguard of the Eternal Struggle, January 9th, 1961
SOCIAL FASCISTS DEFEATED IN RIGGED ELECTIONS! BOURGEOIS REPUBLIC DEGENERATES FURTHER INTO DESPOTISM!
The defeat of the rightist so-called "Democratic Socialists" should come as no surprise to any aware of the ultimate intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the revisionist tendencies within even the supposed "left" of the Bourgeois Republic. Once again, it is clear that the so-called "reforms" of such class traitors and false friends are not steps towards a new democracy, but the cheap tricks of the forces of capital, made to keep the workers and peasants docile and unresisting as they are exploited by the vicious greed of the landlords and the so-called "intellectual" classes. Now, it seems, the bosses have decided to dispense with even that polite fiction.

Comrades! Do not be disheartened by such changes within the corrupt heart of the Bourgeois Republic. The so-called "Democratic Socialists" are nothing of the kind, and their replacement by the disciples of War Criminal No. 1 Jiang Jieshi should not been seen as anything more than the replacement of an advanced form of capitalism with a more degenerate one. The forces of capital may believe they are pulling China back from the inevitable victory of the proletarian revolution, but they are in fact only bringing it closer to hand! As the rapaciousness of capital is stripped of its concealing veils, the people will know that only Peoples' War achieved through the path of Mao Zedong Thought will offer them true freedom.

Long live the Revolution!

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Guangzhou, March 6th, 1961
GUOMINDANG GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Just a day after inauguration, the new government of Marshal Du Yuming is already committing itself to sweeping new legislation which is likely to affect tens of millions of the Republic's citizens.

Under the banner of "FEED THE CITIES, ENRICH THE COUNTRYSIDE", Minister of the Interior Hong Shenbao announced the end of the previous government's Rural Development Planning Office, and the creation of a raft of new programmes designed to allow individual villages and agricultural communes to develop independently. "For too long, agriculture in China has languished under the dead hand of central planning," the Minister declared. "Our government is committed to letting policy be determined by those who are best qualified for the job, and who knows his own fields better than the farmer himself? We entrust the power of development to the villages! We know they will not let us down!"

Chief among these new programmes is the much-touted "Communal Tractor Fund", a central plank of the GMD's election platform. Under this policy, villages and communes are given the ability to take out long term, interest-free guaranteed loans for the purpose of purchasing agricultural machinery for the common use of the village. Economists at the Sun Yixian National University are optimistic that such a programme will result in increased food surpluses, and a measurably higher standard of living for farmers living in relatively underdeveloped parts of the country.