What does one owe their country? A family's 'reckoning on China'
Digest
This podcast episode delves into the personal journey of Edward Wong, a long-time award-winning correspondent for the New York Times, as he unravels his father's experiences in China. The episode begins with Wong sharing a letter written by his father, Yucukern Wong, in 1958, revealing his fervent patriotism and belief in the Communist Party's mission to build a strong China. However, Wong's exploration reveals a more nuanced and complex story. Wong recounts his father's early life, marked by the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Chinese Civil War, events that shaped his belief in the Communist Party as a force for stability and progress. However, Wong's father's past as a soldier in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and his family background, which raised suspicions from the Communist Party, led to his exile in Xinjiang. The episode further explores how his father's belief in the Communist Party began to waver due to the party's internal paranoia and the disastrous consequences of the Great Leap Forward, which led to widespread famine. Driven by his doubts and the party's continued suspicion, Yucukern devised a complex plan to escape China, leaving for Macau. Wong reflects on the emotional toll his father experienced after realizing that the Communist Party's promises had failed to materialize. He suggests that this betrayal of belief led to his father's disinterest in US politics and his continued fascination with Chinese history. The episode concludes with Wong discussing how writing his memoir, "At the Edge of Empire," allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of his father's life and experiences. This process helped him see his father as a complex and fully-fleshed-out individual. Wong also explores the concept of "reckoning" as it relates to his family's experiences with China, highlighting his mother's persecution as a child due to her family's landowning status and his own journey as a journalist in China, where he witnessed the country's transformation into an imperial power. The episode ultimately presents a poignant and insightful exploration of the complex relationship between individuals and the Communist Party in China, highlighting the personal struggles and sacrifices that often accompany political and social upheaval.
Outlines
A Father's Legacy: From Belief to Disillusionment
Edward Wong, a New York Times correspondent, explores his father's life in China, revealing the complex relationship between individuals and the Communist Party, from fervent belief to disillusionment and eventual escape. The episode begins with Wong sharing a letter written by his father, Yucukern Wong, in 1958, revealing his fervent patriotism and belief in the Communist Party's mission to build a strong China. However, Wong's exploration reveals a more nuanced and complex story.
Yucukern's Early Life and the Impact of War
Wong recounts his father's early life, marked by the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Chinese Civil War, events that shaped his belief in the Communist Party as a force for stability and progress. However, Wong's father's past as a soldier in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and his family background, which raised suspicions from the Communist Party, led to his exile in Xinjiang.
The Great Leap Forward and the Erosion of Belief
The episode further explores how his father's belief in the Communist Party began to waver due to the party's internal paranoia and the disastrous consequences of the Great Leap Forward, which led to widespread famine. Driven by his doubts and the party's continued suspicion, Yucukern devised a complex plan to escape China, leaving for Macau.
A Family's Reckoning with China
Wong reflects on the emotional toll his father experienced after realizing that the Communist Party's promises had failed to materialize. He suggests that this betrayal of belief led to his father's disinterest in US politics and his continued fascination with Chinese history. The episode concludes with Wong discussing how writing his memoir, "At the Edge of Empire," allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of his father's life and experiences. This process helped him see his father as a complex and fully-fleshed-out individual. Wong also explores the concept of "reckoning" as it relates to his family's experiences with China, highlighting his mother's persecution as a child due to her family's landowning status and his own journey as a journalist in China, where he witnessed the country's transformation into an imperial power.
A Deeper Understanding of a Distant Father
Wong discusses how writing his memoir, \"At the Edge of Empire,\" allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of his father's life and experiences. This process helped him see his father as a complex and fully-fleshed-out individual.
Keywords
Great Leap Forward
A disastrous economic campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1958, aiming to rapidly industrialize China through collectivization and increased agricultural production. It resulted in widespread famine and the deaths of millions.
Xinjiang
A vast region in northwest China, known for its diverse ethnicities and strategic location. It has been a site of significant political and social tensions, including the ongoing crackdown on Uyghur Muslims.
Chinese Civil War
A conflict between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) from 1946 to 1949, resulting in the CCP's victory and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
Mao Zedong
The founder of the People's Republic of China and the leader of the CCP. He is known for his revolutionary ideology, his role in the Chinese Civil War, and his policies, such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.
Imperial Power
A state that exerts significant political, economic, and military influence over other countries or territories. Modern China is often described as an imperial power due to its growing economic and military strength and its assertive foreign policy.
Exile
The state of being forced to live away from one's home or country, often due to political or social persecution.
Disillusionment
A feeling of disappointment and loss of faith in something or someone that was previously admired or trusted.
Betrayal
An act of breaking a trust or promise, often causing pain and anger.
Reckoning
A moment of confrontation or settling of accounts, often involving a realization of past mistakes or injustices.
Q&A
What were some of the key events in Yucukern Wong's life that shaped his early belief in the Communist Party?
Yucukern's experiences during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Chinese Civil War, where he witnessed the devastation caused by war and the perceived corruption of the Nationalist government, led him to believe that the Communist Party was the force that could bring stability and progress to China.
Why was Yucukern sent to Xinjiang, and how did this affect his relationship with the Communist Party?
Yucukern's family background, including his brother's emigration to America and his parents' residence in Hong Kong, raised suspicions from the Communist Party, leading to his exile in Xinjiang. While he initially tried to regain the party's favor, he eventually became disillusioned with the party's internal paranoia and its inability to fully embrace him.
How did the Great Leap Forward and other events contribute to Yucukern's decision to leave China?
The disastrous consequences of the Great Leap Forward, which led to widespread famine, and Mao's purges of senior party members further eroded Yucukern's faith in the Communist Party. These events, combined with the party's continued suspicion of him, motivated him to flee China.
How does Edward Wong's personal journey of understanding his father's past relate to his broader perspective on China?
Wong's discovery of his father's experiences in China, including his time as a PLA soldier and his eventual escape, led him to a deeper understanding of the country's history and the complex relationship between Chinese citizens and the Communist Party. This understanding informs his journalistic work and his insights into the challenges facing modern China.
Show Notes
In a new memoir, New York Times correspondent Edward Wong retraces the complicated story of his father’s life as a zealous young Communist in China to an immigrant in America. What does it mean to love country over party?
Table of contents
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