The Historical Truth: The CCP's 'Impoverished and Blank' Lie

Jul 02, 2024

The CCP’s historical textbooks often emphasize that “old” China before 1949 was industrially backward, with many everyday goods needing to be imported from abroad. Mao Zedong once described China at that time as “impoverished and blank.” However, the reality is that while there were indeed serious issues in some areas, such as inflation and social unrest, “old” China had already achieved significant accomplishments in industry, military, and the production of some daily necessities. Moreover, these achievements laid a certain foundation for China’s industrialization and should not be simply ignored.

China’s “First 10,000-Ton Ocean-Going Cargo Ship”

On November 27, 1958, the “Leap Forward” cargo ship, designed with the help of Soviet experts and built by Dalian Shipyard, was completed with a displacement of 22,100 tons and a cargo capacity of 13,400 tons. At the time, major media outlets celebrated the launch of “China’s first 10,000-ton ocean-going cargo ship,” praising this great achievement of “New China’s” socialist construction. However, just two years later, on April 15, 1960, another “first 10,000-ton ocean-going cargo ship,” the “Dongfeng,” was launched at Jiangnan Shipyard. If one carefully reads the headlines of the newspapers from that day, it’s not hard to notice that this “first 10,000-ton ocean-going cargo ship” now had an additional qualifier—”self-designed.”

Looking back at history, 1960 was during the period of Sino-Soviet rift, so it was naturally embarrassing to mention the “first 10,000-ton ship” designed by the Soviet Union. Furthermore, since the “Leap Forward” ship ran aground and sank on its maiden voyage, it became even more embarrassing to bring it up again.

In fact, as early as 1920, Jiangnan Shipyard, the predecessor of the Jiangnan Shipyard that built the “Dongfeng,” had already produced China’s first 10,000-ton ship, and not just one, but four ships ordered by the U.S. government: “Mandarin” launched on June 3, 1920; “Celestial” on August 3, 1920; “Oriental” on February 23, 1921; and “Cathay” on May 26, 1921. All four ships had a cargo capacity of 10,000 tons and a displacement of 14,750 tons. After completion, they were all delivered to the United States and were still in use on the U.S.-European shipping lines during World War II.

In a speech at the launching ceremony of the “Mandarin,” U.S. Consul General in Shanghai, E.S. Cunningham, stated: “Now that Jiangnan Shipyard can produce one of the four large ships ordered by the United States, the claim that China cannot build large ships is indeed unfounded, as a nation’s success lies in its production capacity.”

Industrial Base and Achievements

Aircraft and Artillery Manufacturing

During the late Qing Dynasty, the Self-Strengthening Movement concentrated national efforts on developing military industry, quickly establishing modern military factories such as the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, Fuzhou Arsenal, and Anqing Arsenal, as well as supporting industries like the Hanyang Iron Works, enabling China to acquire the capability to manufacture guns, cannons, ships, and other equipment. Before and after the First Sino-Japanese War, the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau successfully mass-produced 120mm and 150mm caliber naval guns, and the Fuzhou Arsenal also built the all-steel armored warship “Pingyuan.”

After the Xinhai Revolution, the Fuzhou Arsenal produced China’s first biplane seaplane, the “Type A No. 1,” in August 1919, followed by the production of 17 other aircraft, including two-seater trainer planes, coastal patrol planes, and torpedo bombers.

Development of National Industry

In terms of everyday goods, “old” China also had notable achievements. In 1906, Zhou Xuexi founded China’s first cement factory, “Qixin Cement Company,” whose products were widely used in well-known buildings such as the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Shanghai Bund. In 1920, Liu Hongsheng founded the “Hongsheng Match Company,” which by 1930 accounted for 22% of the national production and sales of matches. These enterprises rapidly developed during the Republic of China period, breaking the reliance on imported everyday goods.

These achievements clearly demonstrate the industrial potential and actual accomplishments of “old” China, contrary to Mao Zedong’s and the CCP’s portrayal of it as entirely backward.

Self-Sufficiency in Nationalist Weaponry During the War of Resistance

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Nationalist government’s capacity to produce arms saw significant growth. The Ordnance Department directly managed 24 factories (excluding repair depots), and domestic production alone could fully meet the consumption needs for three major categories of weapons commonly used by the army (mortars, heavy machine guns, and various grenades) and largely meet the needs for four other categories (rifles, light machine guns, ammunition, and mortar shells). From 1939 to 1944, the Nationalist government produced 364,011 rifles, 42,189 light and heavy machine guns, 8,441 mortars (including 60mm, 82mm, 120mm calibers), 91,098 grenade launchers, and over a billion rounds of ammunition. They even developed semi-automatic rifles, fighter planes, bombers, and transport aircraft. As late as 1958, the “New China’s” Minister of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry, Zhao Erlu, said at a national defense industry teleconference: “Our factory-produced submachine guns broke after firing only a dozen rounds; they’re not as good as those produced by Yan Xishan’s arsenal.”

Industrial Development in the Northeast

During the Manchukuo period, Northeast China became one of the most developed industrial regions in Asia. Many factories and enterprises were established during this time, laying a solid foundation for the CCP’s industrial base. Below are examples of some important factories and enterprises:

Textile Industry

Xiongyue Dyeing Factory: Established in 1938, originally named Manchuria Internal and External Cotton Joint Stock Company Xiongyue Factory.
Dalian Knitting Factory: Established in 1942, originally named Akiyoshi Meriyas Company.
Tieling City Colored Textile General Factory: Established in 1920, originally named Huoli Yarn Weaving Factory.
Shenyang First Woolen Mill: Established in 1918, originally named Manchuria Wool Weaving Joint Stock Company Mukden Factory.
Dalian Hemp Spinning Factory: Established in 1917, originally named Manchuria Hemp Spinning Joint Stock Company.
Dalian Glass Factory: Established in 1922, originally named Changguang Glass Joint Stock Company Dalian Plant.

Mining Industry

Jinzhou Asbestos Mine: Established in 1912, originally named Japan Asbestos Joint Stock Company Kwantung Province Mining Office.
Haicheng Talc Mine: Established in 1918, originally named Manchuria Talc Joint Stock Company.
Anshan Slag Brick Factory: Established in 1938, originally named Japan Joint Stock Company Fuchang Brick Factory.

Machinery Manufacturing

Shenyang Gas Compressor Factory: Established in 1938, originally named Fuji Electric Joint Stock Company.
Dalian Refrigeration Machine Factory: Established in 1930.
Shenyang High and Medium Pressure Valve Factory: Established in 1938, originally named Continental Machinery Industry Joint Stock Company.
Shenyang First Machine Tool Factory: Established in 1935, originally named Manchuria Mitsubishi Machine Joint Stock Company.
Dalian Shipyard: Established in 1898, originally named Kawasaki Shipbuilding Kwantung Province Factory.

These factories and enterprises not only prove that “old” China, especially Northeast China, had a certain industrial base and manufacturing capability but also provided important technical and talent reserves for China’s further industrial development.

Conclusion

The CCP’s cover-up, distortion, and falsification of history are an unforgivable crime.

History is a continuously evolving process, and only by fully respecting and understanding historical facts can we better grasp the future.

Let the truth be restored, and let history be justly evaluated.

– This text was translated by AI. –