TheChinaMission

The China Mission is a spellbinding narrative that details a high-stakes mission that ultimately changed the course of America, China, and global politics. It provides readers with a rich portrait of the towering, complex figure who carried out this mission.

As World War II came to an end, General George Marshall was widely recognized for his role as the architect of Allied victory. Prepared to retire, he instead accepted what he believed would be his final mission - this time, not to win a war, but to stop one. The conflict between Chinese Nationalists and Communists in the Pacific was threatening to draw the United States in and escalate into revolution. Marshall was tasked with brokering a peace, building a Chinese democracy, and preventing a Communist takeover while also avoiding World War III.

During his thirteen months in China, Marshall traveled across battle-scarred landscapes, grappling with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, and navigating conversations and debates with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his brilliant wife - often over card games or cocktails. At first, the results of his mission seemed miraculous. However, as things started to fall apart, Marshall was faced with a wrenching choice. The consequences of this decision defined the rest of his career, including his role as the secretary of state who launched the Marshall Plan and set the standard for American leadership. Additionally, it would go on to shape the Cold War and the US-China relationship for decades to come. The China Mission also played a significant role in sparking one of the darkest turns in American civic life. As Marshall and his mission became a prominent target of McCarthyism, the question of "who lost China" roiled American politics.

The China Mission tells the story of this neglected turning point and forgotten interlude in a heroic career. The book provides readers with a detailed, gripping, and surprising view of the central figures of the time - from Marshall, Mao, and Chiang to Eisenhower, Truman, and MacArthur. The book draws on eyewitness accounts, both personal and official, and offers insight into the intricate spycraft and charismatic personalities that defined this significant period in history. The lessons and consequences of this mission echo even today.

作者简介

DanielKurtz-PhelanistheexecutiveeditorofForeignAffairs.HepreviouslyservedintheUSStateDepartmentasamemberofthesecretaryofstate’sPolicyPlanningStaff.HisreportageandanalysishaveappearedinpublicationsincludingtheNewYorkTimesandTheNewYorker.