A Turning Point in Chinese History:
A Study of Zhou Enlai and the Xi’an Incident
Michael North, founder and former CEO of North Communications, Inc. and founder of the Zhou Enlai Peace Institute in the United States, takes a fresh look at the extensive work Zhou Enlai did before and after the Xi’an Incident.
His paper, “A Turning Point in Chinese History – A Study of Zhou Enlai and the Xi’an Incident,” examines Zhou Enlai’s role in the Long March prior to the Xi’an Incident, and argues that Zhou Enlai played an indispensable role during the Long March in preserving party unity and cooperation.
As an excellent organizer, Zhou Enlai assisted in planning the overall direction of the Red Army’s Long March and actively dealt with various challenges. During the Long March, Zhou Enlai’s leadership and United Front skills were honed and demonstrated.
“His ability to manage complex political and military situations and to unite his friends played a key role in the victory of the Long March and the establishment of the Red Army’s base in Yan’an”, which also laid the foundation for the peaceful settlement of the Xi’an Incident later on.
During the settlement of the Xi’an Incident, Zhou Enlai’s negotiation skills, personal charisma and strong positive style gave him high credibility in the minds of various figures, which enabled him to coordinate and handle all aspects of the situation, maintain the overall situation, and play a key role in the issue of releasing Chiang Kai-shek.
“He worked tirelessly to do persuasive work on many fronts, with a spirit of selflessness; he ensured that the negotiations achieved favorable results and maintained the agreement of all factions focused on the idea of stopping the civil war and unanimously resisting the Japanese.”
The article also compares and analyzes two photos of Zhou Enlai taken before and after the Xi’an Incident, maintaining, “The photo taken before the Xi’an Incident shows Zhou Enlai in a serious mood. The photo taken after the Xi’an Incident shows Zhou Enlai in a peaceful and firm stance.”
“Zhou Enlai created the ‘Xi’an Miracle’ in dealing with the Xi’an Incident, a major political event in China’s history”.
Review Author: Xu Xing, Professor, Zhou Enlai School of Government and Management, Nankai University; Du Kaixin, Doctoral Candidate, Zhou Enlai School of Government and Management, Nankai University
Source: Party Literature, No. 5, 2023
