« Taiwan Journal of Political Science No.17Publish: 2002/12

The KMT-CCP’s Contentions on the Core of “the Democratization of the Nationalist Government” in Spring of 1946 (January to April)

Author: Kuo-cheng Lee

Abstract / Chinese PDF Download

In the third round negotiation between Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist  Party  (CCP)  during  Sino-Japanese  War  in  June  1944,  CCP  asked  to organize  a  Coalition  Government  that  would  include  CCP  and  other  opposition parties  of  China  in  the  People’s  Political  Council  on  September  15,  1944.    This symbolized the beginning of the CCP’s political offensive on the democratization of  the  Nationalist  Government  to  KMT  during  World  War  II  and  the  postwar period. Influenced by General George C. Marshall’s mediation mission to China and for releasing CCP’s pressure, KMT agreed to form a coalition government before the  establishment  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Republic  of  China  in  the  Political Consultative  Conference  (PCC)  in  January  1946.    It  was  also  decided  in  the conference to convene the National Assembly to adopt the Constitution on May 5 of the same year. From  February  to  April  of  1946,  KMT-CCP  had  at  least  the  following contentions  that  obstructed  the  convention  of  the  National  Assembly  on  May 5,1946: CCP  hoped  to  form  a  veto  power  by  controlling  at  least  14  seats  in Non-Kuomintang  councilors  of  the  State  Council  of  the  National  Government. KMT wasn’t able to accept it. KMT wanted to revise the principles approved by the PCC and use it as the basis   for   modifying   the   1936   Draft   Constitution.   However,   CCP   did   not compromise. KMT  desired  to  increase  the  number  of  the  delegates  of  the  National Assembly approved by the PCC.    CCP rejected it. CCP  wanted  KMT  to  promise  the  legal  status  of  her  troops  and  the  local regime in Manchuria.    These were also refused by KMT. For  the  above  reasons,  Chou  En-Lai,  the  CCP’s  representative  in  Nanking, announced  on  April  11,  1946  that  CCP  wouldn’t  participate  in  the  National Assembly  on  May  5,  unless  these  political  and  military  contentions  could  be completely resolved by KMT. But these disputes were not resolved in this period. Just upon General Marshall’s  return  to  China  from  US  on  April  18,  1946,  KMT had no determination to break off with CCP and eventually declared to adjourn the convention of the National Assembly in the following week. After  KMT  summoned  the  National  Assembly  meeting  in  spite  of  CCP’s opposition   on   November   15,   1946,   the   KMT-CCP   relationship   ruptured immediately.    That also signified the end of General Marshall’s mission to China in 1946.

Keywords:Chiang Kai-shek、Chou En-lai、Coalition Government、George C. Marshall、Mao Tse-tung、National Assembly、Political Consultative Conference、the Constitution of the Republic of China