“Strategic Calculation and International Balance: Unveiling the Secret Negotiations During the Second Sino-Japanese War”.

The speaker is Ms. Tai-chun Kuo, researcher at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. The discussant is Mr. Chi His-sheng, a retired professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The secret negotiations between China and Japan can be said to be one of the most elusive and unpredictable phenomena during the Second Sino-Japanese War (also known as the War of Resistance Against Japan). Although the two countries fought fiercely on the battlefield during the War of Resistance, their public or private contacts and negotiations never ceased. During the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, German Ambassador to China, Hans von Wangenheim, was commissioned by Japan to mediate. Moreover, secret negotiations between Tokyo and Chongqing almost never stopped during the entire War of Resistance, with envoys coming and going. Kong Xiangxi, T. V. Soong, Zhang Qun, Dai Li, Zhang Jiluan, and even Soong Mei-ling were all seriously involved. Chiang Kai-shek even reviewed and provided opinions several times.

The purpose of the negotiations was to end the war and cease fire, but more importantly, to use strategic tactics to achieve military or political goals. In order to achieve the best results, both China and Japan used a strategy of both war and peace, talking and fighting, virtual and real, and competing with each other. The strategic calculations were brilliant and breathtaking. However, countless negotiations and consultations ultimately failed to achieve any results. Why did so many resources and personnel fail to achieve peace? What effect did these secret negotiations have?

What are the true and false facts? What are the implications for the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and the world? The answer will naturally be revealed by unveiling the veil of secret negotiations during the War of Resistance.

Speaker: Mr. Tai-chun Kuo, researcher at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University

Discussant: Mr. Chi Hsi-sheng, a retired professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Time: Saturday, December 3, 2022 2 PM—5 PM

Venue: International Conference Hall B1, GIS NTU Convention Center (B1, No. 85, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City 106)

Organizer: United Daily News Group

Co-organizers: Monte Jade Science & Technology Association of Taiwan, K. T. Li Foundation for Development of Science and Technology, Fair Winds Foundation, and Wistron Corporation

Media Partner: Storm Media

Contact number: (02) 8692-5588 Ext. 5389, Ms. Liu