Foreign News 1949: China: What Can Li Do? Chiang Kaishek Steps Down

CHINA "What Can Li Do?"

Defeated and helpless, Chiang Kaishek, for 22 years the dominant figure in China, stepped down last week. His retirement symbolized one of the great shifts in the 20th Century's turbulent history: some 460 million Chinese, a quarter of the human race, were passing under the domination of Communism.

When Chiang told Kuomintang officials to support Vice President Li Tsung-jen, one of his hearers asked: "What can Li do?" Everybody in China, including Li, knew the answer.

The Communist Boss Mao Tse-tung had won the war; he could dictate the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!