A Study Of Mao Zedong's Thought Of International Anti-Japanese United Front

Mao Zedong's Thought of International Anti-Japanese United Front was formed during the time when the Communist Party of China(CCP),with Mao Zedong as the chief representative,strove to contain and defeat fascists German,Japan and Italy,fought against appeasement,worked for aid from the Soviet Union,promoted the United Kingdom and the United States to join the international united front against fascism and developed the united front against fascism in Asia.Under the guidance of the Marxist United Front Tactic,Mao Zedong's Thought of International Anti-Japanese United Front learned from the thought on united front in Chinese traditional culture and Chinese revolutionary experience.It featured distinct Chinese characteristics and the characteristics of the times and adapted Marxism to Chinese conditions.The formation of Mao Zedong's Thought of International Anti-Japanese United Front has specific theoretical and practical foundation.Marxist literature on the international united front formed its core.The Chinese traditional wisdom on the united front provided the cultural base for it.The experience of the united front in the Chinese Nationalist Revolution,the Agrarian Revolutionary War,and especially the antiJapanese war offered practical foundation.In addition,Mao Zedong's Thought of International Anti-Japanese United Front kept pace with the times and the Thought went through three stages in its formation.From Wayaobao Conference to German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact,the Thought mainly focused on fighting for international peace front and against fascist aggression.From German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact to Operation Barbarossa,the Thought focused on building the international antiimperialist united front.From Operation Barbarossa to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War,the Thought focused on rebuilding and maintaining the international united front against fascism.Before the Pacific War,the United Kingdom and France were intent on keeping their colonies.The United States and Japan had close trade ties.Therefore,these countries took an appeasement attitude in regard to Japan's invasion and expansion.Mao criticized that Chamberlain's policy shot themselves in the foot and pointed out that the Far Eastern Munich driven by Japan and the United States was “sitting on the mountain top watching two tigers fight”,which hurt both themselves and others.Mao also paid close attention to the US-Japan negotiations and suggested that the U.S.should not sign any treaty with Japan.The practices above show that Mao Zedong believed that all the countries were bound by common interests and should not adopt beggar-thy-neighbor policies.During the Anti-Japanese War,Mao Zedong handled correctly the relationship with the Soviet Union and the Communist International.First,China deviated from them and achieved independence.With the Yan'an Rectification Movement,the Chinese Communist Party built and enhanced the independent political route and showed deviation from the Soviet Union and the Communist International(but both parties kept the special relationship with the same ideology despite the deviation).Second,Mao looked closely at the Soviet Union-Germany war and adjusted the relationship flexibly according to the war situation.The study argued that,during the Anti-Japanese War,the KMT,the CCP,the Soviet Union and the United States were in interlocking chains.The chains were influenced by three factors: the war in Europe,Japan-Soviet Union relations and CCP-KMT relationship.The war situation in Europe influenced Japan-Soviet Union relations and Japan-Soviet Union relations influenced CCP-KMT relationship.Mao Zedong watched closely at the Soviet Union-Germany war because the war situation was vital to the development of CCP.Third,Mao's united front campaign towards the Soviet Union and the Communist International demonstrated internationalism on the basis of patriotism.During the Soviet UnionGermany war,Mao offered military and intelligence aid as much as possible.Lastly,the focus of Mao's International Anti-Japanese United Front shifted from the Soviet Union to the United States,and then from the United States back to the Soviet Union.It shows that there is realism in his thought.Mao's perception of the United States changed with the situation during the AntiJapanese War.After the outbreak of Pacific War,Mao's perception of the United States turned from an accomplice to an ally.After the South Anhui Incident,the United States made a good impression on Mao with their move to reconcile the conflict between the KMT and the CCP.Therefore,Mao put the focus of the united front to the United States.He invited domestic and foreign media outlets and military observers to visit Yan'an,cooperated with them in military and political field and achieved some positive results.During the Seventh National Congress of the CCP,Mao's united front tactic towards the United States changed from “solidarity as dominant and struggle as subordinate” to“struggle as dominant and solidarity as subordinate” when the U.S.policy toward China became more hostile.During the Anti-Japanese War,Mao Zedong also attached great importance to developing the united front against fascism in Asia and pointed out that China's liberation experience set an example for the revolution in other countries.Moreover,he cared,supported and guided the Japanese in China to launch antiwar movement.He elaborated on the necessity,feasibility and development law of the movement and put forward a series of ways to persuade Japanese soldiers and treat prisoners kindly.Mao assisted Nosaka Sanz?,leader of the Japanese Communist Party,in developing the antiwar movement in China.In this stage,Mao made many decisions based on his observation of international politics and military situations.The study analyzed three representative cases.First,Mao supported the Allies' anti-fascist strategy.During the Anti-Japanese War,the CCP,the KMT and the public debated a lot about the anti-fascist strategy,which reflected the interaction and competition in society.Moreover,the study argued that Mao closely observed the opening of the second battlefield in Europe and analyzed CCP's plan to“beat Germany this year and Japan next year”.The study examined the interaction between the CCP and the strongholds and pointed out the complexity of the decisionmaking and implementation of the CCP during the war.Second,Mao paid close attention and responded to the Allies' high-level meeting.During the Anti-Japanese War,the CCP with Mao Zedong as leader commented on the Allies' high-level interactions and made response instead of being silent.Third,Mao participated in the founding of the United Nations.The study analyzed the comment on the key events Mao participated in including the founding of the UN and pointed out the efforts and contribution made by the CCP in this process.During the Anti-Japanese War,the CCP played an important role in fighting against fascism.Faced with the fast-changing world,Mao applied the experience of the National Anti-Japanese United Front to the building of International Anti-Japanese United Front and made innovation on the theory.Specifically speaking,the principle of methodology could be concluded as follows: Seek common ground while reserving differences;gain solidarity through struggles;stick to principles and be flexible;be selfreliant but also seek outside help;adhere to internationalism on the basis of patriotism;achieve synergy through the two united fronts.The International Anti-Japanese United Front developed by Mao provided a favorable external environment for the survival and development of the CCP during the Anti-Japanese War and offered guidance for the rise of the CCP on the international stage.Its historical significance can be concluded as: The united front broke up the blocks and rumors set by the KMT;expanded the international significance of the CCP;curb the KMT's anti-CCP campaign and maintained the National Anti-Japanese United Front;won foreign assistance for the CCP and sped up the victory of the Anti-Japanese War;cooperated with the Allies and sped up the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War;gained experience for the independent approach to foreign affairs of the PRC and produced talents for the country.In the new era,it is necessary to learn Mao Zedong's Thought of International Anti-Japanese United Front to create a favorable external environment.The foreign affairs wisdom and the principle of methodology in the Thought offers guidance for building a community with shared future for mankind.The Thought also provides methods to seek cooperation and mutual benefit,promote regional peace and respond to American trade hegemony.Therefore,a review of Mao's Thought of International Anti-Japanese United Front has implications for dealing with complex international relations and grasping the trend of the world.