Hi. I am currently writing a story set in an alternate timeline in which China remains under KMT rule. These are my notes about this alternate timeline. Please review my notes, analyze them, and correct anything if I wrote something wrong or inaccurate. Sorry if the notes are a bit too cluttered. Thanks.
Details about the Republic of China in 1978:
Date: 1978
Country: Republic of China
Capital: Nanking
President: Chiang Ching Kuo
Flag: Flag of the Republic of China (1928)
Ruling party: Kuomintang (Right-wing party)
GDP = $1.5 trillion (¥5.1 trillion)
Population: 868 million
HDI (1978): 0.722
Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China (1930)
Military: Republic of China Armed Forces
******Military Information:
Military Information (1978):
Name: ROC Armed Forces
ROC Armed Forces Branches:
1) ROC Army: 800000 uniformed personnel
2) ROC Navy (includes Navy, Naval Aviation, and Marine Corps): 500000 uniformed personnel
3) ROC Air Force: 300000 uniformed personnel
4) ROC Strategic Command
Commander: General Gu Zhu Tong
Nuclear weapons: 500 obtained since 1957
Foreign Military Bases: Nagasaki Naval Base, Tokyo Army Base, Osaka Army Base, Yokohama Air Force Base, Niigata Naval Base
Service uniform:
Army: M1 Helmet + Type 40 military fatigues uniform (olive green)
Marines (Naval Infantry): M1 Helmet + Type 40 camouflage fatigues uniform (grass camouflage) or Type 40 marine raiders uniform (black)
Navy: Type 40 military fatigues uniform (navy blue) or Type 40 flight suit (Naval Aviation)
Air Force: Type 40 flight suit (Air Force) or Type 40 military fatigues uniform (olive green)
Service weapons:
Infantry Weapons:
Service rifle: Type 59 rifle (license produced M16A1)
Service carbines: Type 59 carbine (license-produced Colt XM177E1), M2 carbine
Service pistols: Type 48 pistol (license produced FN Browning Hi-Power), Mauser C96 Pistol, Colt M1911
Service submachineguns: Type 49 submachine gun (license produced M/45 submachine gun), Chinese-made Thompson submachine gun, M1928A1 Thompson, M1 Thompson, M1A1 Thompson, M3 Grease Gun
Service shotgun: Ithaca M37
Light machine guns: ZB-26, ZB-30, Bren, FN M1930 (Marines), FN Model D (Marines), KE-7 (Marines)
General purpose machine guns: MG-42, Type 41 machine gun (license produced 7.92mm MG-3)
Designated-marksman's rifles: Type 39 rifle (license produced FN-49), Type 24 Chiang Kai Shek
Flamethrowers: M1A1 Flamethrower
Grenades: Chinese Stielhandgranate, M26 Grenade, M61 Grenade, M67 Grenade
Grenade Launchers: M203 rifle-mounted grenade launcher, M79 grenade launcher
Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launchers: M20A1 Super Bazooka, M72 LAW, M47 Dragon
Crewed weapons:
Medium machine guns: Type 37 machine gun (M1919 Browning chambered in 7.92mm)
Heavy machine guns: M2 Browning
Vehicles:
Light-vehicles: Jeep, M54 Truck, M151 Truck, Supply Truck
APCs: Type 54 APC (license produced M113), Type 47 APC (license produced M52)
Anti-Aircraft: M42 Duster
Tanks: Type 60 Ching Kuo Main Battle Tank (tank based on M60 with L11A5 120mm rifled gun), Type 42 Medium Tank (M47), Type 50 Main Battle Tank (license produced M48), M41 Walker Bulldog
Blue-Water Military Vessels:
* Flagship Aircraft Carrier: Aircraft Carrier Kai Shek (USS Bunker Hill)
* Flagship Battlecruiser: Battlecruiser Shao Kuan (USS Alaska)
20 Light Cruisers
20 Frigates
30 Corvettes
20 Destroyers
20 Diesel-Electric Submarines
10 Heavy Cruisers
5 Battlecruisers
5 Aircraft Carriers
10 Nuclear Submarines
Primary Aircraft:
Attack Helicopters: AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey (license produced)
Transport Helicopters: UH-1 Huey (license produced), CH-47 Chinook, Sikorsky SH-3, CH-53
Light Fighters: Northrop F-5
Fighters: F-100 Super Sabre
Attack Aircraft: F-111 Aardvark, A-4 Skyhawk, A-1 Skyraider
Fighter-Bombers: F-104 Starfighter
Interceptors/Fighter-Bombers: F-4 Phantom
Interceptors/Air Superiority Fighters: F-14 Tomcat
Transport Aircraft: C-130 Hercules, C-47 Skytrain, C-141 Starlifter
Strategic Bombers/Nuclear Bombers: B-47 Stratojet, Type 54 Heavy Bomber (heavy bomber inspired by the B-47 and B-52)
Reconnaissance Aircraft/Nuclear Bombers: A-5 Vigilante
Gunship: AC-47 Spooky
Nuclear Weapons:
200 aircraft-delivered nuclear warheads
300 missile-based nuclear warheads
**** LORE:
Points of Divergence:
1935: Mao Ze Dong was captured during the Long March. As a result, he was executed by the National Revolutionary Army.
1937: Sino-Japanese War starts and China uses trench warfare tactics. China won the Battle of Nanking due to the use of trenches and artillery. At the same time, the Cliques united with the KMT to form a more united Chinese Army.
1941: At this point, China was forced to evacuate Nanking due to the Japanese capturing it in early 1939. China still holds Shanghai, but Shanghai was badly damaged from the war.
1942: The UK and USA agreed to export more lend-lease weaponry to China than the USSR because China was seen as a more politically friendly ally.
1945: After WW2 ended, the US agreed to help the KMT with defeating the Chinese Communist Party due to increased fears of the USSR spreading Communism to other nations. China and the US occupy Japan after defeating it.
1947: The Republic of China crushes the Chinese Communist Party. Remnants of the Chinese Communist Party led by Deng Xiao Ping fled to Burma, Mongolia, and the USSR. Moreover, a weakened USSR allows China to take back its Northern territories due to pressure from the US and UK.
1950: During the Korean War, China sent weapons to help the Republic of Korea's Armed Forces fight the Communists. China also starts to militarize rapidly.
1952: Tibet is forced to sign a treaty with China. Tibet becomes a Chinese protectorate.
1953: After a Soviet-funded revolution, India becomes Socialist. The USSR threatens to use nuclear weapons of mass destruction if the US and the UK dare to invade India.
1955: With the help of the US, China creates nuclear weapons to intimidate the USSR.
1962: Instead of becoming Socialist, Burma became Communist. Burma and North Vietnam tried to create a land bridge by funding Communist insurgents in Laos.
1967: China entered the Vietnam War to help the US to crush North Vietnam. China sent soldiers to Laos and South Vietnam to act as anti-insurgency forces. China also started funding anti-Communist insurgents in Burma.
1970: Chiang Kai Shek passes away from old age. Chiang Ching Kuo takes over as President of the Republic of China.
1973: The Vietnam War ended with a strategic victory for the anti-Communist nations.
Lore about Chinese Industry:
Type 59 rifle evolution:
1965: The ROC Ministry of National Defense wanted to replace the aging Type 39 rifle (license-produced FN-49). Four designs were submitted to the ROC Combined Logistics Command, the FN FAL, the HK G3, the Colt Model 603 (the Colt XM16E1), and the M14. During rifle tests, the Colt XM16E1 prevailed over the other designs in terms of weight, controllability, maneuverability, and firepower. Moreover, the Colt XM16E1 jammed less compared to the other designs during reliability trials that involved dirt and mud. As a result, the Colt XM16E1 won over the other designs during the initial trials.
1966: The Colt XM16E1 is adopted in limited service by the Republic of China Armed Forces. Overall, the XM16E1 was well-received in Chinese service. The XM16E1 rifles were praised and loved by Chinese soldiers who were issued them but were criticized for their lack of stopping power compared to the older Type 39 rifle due to the XM16 rifles firing .223 Remington, an intermediate cartridge that is smaller compared to the 7.92x57mm.
1967: By May, the Republic of China Armed Forces started fielding Colt XM16E1s for its troops serving in Vietnam and Laos. The Republic of China Armed Forces also started issuing Colt XM177 carbines.
1968: During a Sino-American arms deal, China purchased Colt M16A1 rifles (redesigned and improved Colt XM16E1 rifles). The Republic of China adopted the Colt M16A1 in relatively small numbers, mostly issuing them to its paratroopers and marines.
1969: The Republic of China started gearing up for mass production of the M16A1 rifle. China geared up Guangdong (Canton), Shanxi (Taiyuan Arsenal), Nanjing (Jinling), Henan (Gongxian), and Wuhan (Hanyang) to mass produce M16A1 rifles by purchasing the machinery needed to produce them from Colt Arms.
1970: The Republic of China Armed Forces adopted the M16A1 as its service rifle under the designation of the Type 59 rifle. Mass production of the Type 59 rifle started in 1970. Moreover, the Republic of China Armed Forces also started manufacturing and adopting Colt XM177 rifles as Type 59 carbines. The first batches of Type 59 rifles and Type 59 carbines were issued to Chinese soldiers in Vietnam and Laos.
1971: By January 1971, Type 39 rifles (license-produced FN-49 rifles) were getting replaced by the Type 59 rifle in front-line service. By June 1971, 1000000 Type 59s have been produced by the Canton, Taiyuan, Jinling, Gongxian, and Hanyang Arsenals.
1972: In late 1972, China started to issue Type 59 rifles to its rear-line soldiers. After obtaining permission from Colt and the US Army Ordnance Department, China also started exporting Type 59s to its allies.
1973: By mid-1973, the Type 59 has completely replaced the Type 39 rifle in both front-line and rear-line service. Moreover, China also withdrew most of its troops from Vietnam and Laos by July.
1975: In 1975, the Type 59 rifle’s original 20-round STANAG magazine was being retired in favor of an improved 30-round STANAG magazine.
Details about the Republic of China in 1978:
Date: 1978
Country: Republic of China
Capital: Nanking
President: Chiang Ching Kuo
Flag: Flag of the Republic of China (1928)
Ruling party: Kuomintang (Right-wing party)
GDP = $1.5 trillion (¥5.1 trillion)
Population: 868 million
HDI (1978): 0.722
Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China (1930)
Military: Republic of China Armed Forces
******Military Information:
Military Information (1978):
Name: ROC Armed Forces
ROC Armed Forces Branches:
1) ROC Army: 800000 uniformed personnel
2) ROC Navy (includes Navy, Naval Aviation, and Marine Corps): 500000 uniformed personnel
3) ROC Air Force: 300000 uniformed personnel
4) ROC Strategic Command
Commander: General Gu Zhu Tong
Nuclear weapons: 500 obtained since 1957
Foreign Military Bases: Nagasaki Naval Base, Tokyo Army Base, Osaka Army Base, Yokohama Air Force Base, Niigata Naval Base
Service uniform:
Army: M1 Helmet + Type 40 military fatigues uniform (olive green)
Marines (Naval Infantry): M1 Helmet + Type 40 camouflage fatigues uniform (grass camouflage) or Type 40 marine raiders uniform (black)
Navy: Type 40 military fatigues uniform (navy blue) or Type 40 flight suit (Naval Aviation)
Air Force: Type 40 flight suit (Air Force) or Type 40 military fatigues uniform (olive green)
Service weapons:
Infantry Weapons:
Service rifle: Type 59 rifle (license produced M16A1)
Service carbines: Type 59 carbine (license-produced Colt XM177E1), M2 carbine
Service pistols: Type 48 pistol (license produced FN Browning Hi-Power), Mauser C96 Pistol, Colt M1911
Service submachineguns: Type 49 submachine gun (license produced M/45 submachine gun), Chinese-made Thompson submachine gun, M1928A1 Thompson, M1 Thompson, M1A1 Thompson, M3 Grease Gun
Service shotgun: Ithaca M37
Light machine guns: ZB-26, ZB-30, Bren, FN M1930 (Marines), FN Model D (Marines), KE-7 (Marines)
General purpose machine guns: MG-42, Type 41 machine gun (license produced 7.92mm MG-3)
Designated-marksman's rifles: Type 39 rifle (license produced FN-49), Type 24 Chiang Kai Shek
Flamethrowers: M1A1 Flamethrower
Grenades: Chinese Stielhandgranate, M26 Grenade, M61 Grenade, M67 Grenade
Grenade Launchers: M203 rifle-mounted grenade launcher, M79 grenade launcher
Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launchers: M20A1 Super Bazooka, M72 LAW, M47 Dragon
Crewed weapons:
Medium machine guns: Type 37 machine gun (M1919 Browning chambered in 7.92mm)
Heavy machine guns: M2 Browning
Vehicles:
Light-vehicles: Jeep, M54 Truck, M151 Truck, Supply Truck
APCs: Type 54 APC (license produced M113), Type 47 APC (license produced M52)
Anti-Aircraft: M42 Duster
Tanks: Type 60 Ching Kuo Main Battle Tank (tank based on M60 with L11A5 120mm rifled gun), Type 42 Medium Tank (M47), Type 50 Main Battle Tank (license produced M48), M41 Walker Bulldog
Blue-Water Military Vessels:
* Flagship Aircraft Carrier: Aircraft Carrier Kai Shek (USS Bunker Hill)
* Flagship Battlecruiser: Battlecruiser Shao Kuan (USS Alaska)
20 Light Cruisers
20 Frigates
30 Corvettes
20 Destroyers
20 Diesel-Electric Submarines
10 Heavy Cruisers
5 Battlecruisers
5 Aircraft Carriers
10 Nuclear Submarines
Primary Aircraft:
Attack Helicopters: AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey (license produced)
Transport Helicopters: UH-1 Huey (license produced), CH-47 Chinook, Sikorsky SH-3, CH-53
Light Fighters: Northrop F-5
Fighters: F-100 Super Sabre
Attack Aircraft: F-111 Aardvark, A-4 Skyhawk, A-1 Skyraider
Fighter-Bombers: F-104 Starfighter
Interceptors/Fighter-Bombers: F-4 Phantom
Interceptors/Air Superiority Fighters: F-14 Tomcat
Transport Aircraft: C-130 Hercules, C-47 Skytrain, C-141 Starlifter
Strategic Bombers/Nuclear Bombers: B-47 Stratojet, Type 54 Heavy Bomber (heavy bomber inspired by the B-47 and B-52)
Reconnaissance Aircraft/Nuclear Bombers: A-5 Vigilante
Gunship: AC-47 Spooky
Nuclear Weapons:
200 aircraft-delivered nuclear warheads
300 missile-based nuclear warheads
**** LORE:
Points of Divergence:
1935: Mao Ze Dong was captured during the Long March. As a result, he was executed by the National Revolutionary Army.
1937: Sino-Japanese War starts and China uses trench warfare tactics. China won the Battle of Nanking due to the use of trenches and artillery. At the same time, the Cliques united with the KMT to form a more united Chinese Army.
1941: At this point, China was forced to evacuate Nanking due to the Japanese capturing it in early 1939. China still holds Shanghai, but Shanghai was badly damaged from the war.
1942: The UK and USA agreed to export more lend-lease weaponry to China than the USSR because China was seen as a more politically friendly ally.
1945: After WW2 ended, the US agreed to help the KMT with defeating the Chinese Communist Party due to increased fears of the USSR spreading Communism to other nations. China and the US occupy Japan after defeating it.
1947: The Republic of China crushes the Chinese Communist Party. Remnants of the Chinese Communist Party led by Deng Xiao Ping fled to Burma, Mongolia, and the USSR. Moreover, a weakened USSR allows China to take back its Northern territories due to pressure from the US and UK.
1950: During the Korean War, China sent weapons to help the Republic of Korea's Armed Forces fight the Communists. China also starts to militarize rapidly.
1952: Tibet is forced to sign a treaty with China. Tibet becomes a Chinese protectorate.
1953: After a Soviet-funded revolution, India becomes Socialist. The USSR threatens to use nuclear weapons of mass destruction if the US and the UK dare to invade India.
1955: With the help of the US, China creates nuclear weapons to intimidate the USSR.
1962: Instead of becoming Socialist, Burma became Communist. Burma and North Vietnam tried to create a land bridge by funding Communist insurgents in Laos.
1967: China entered the Vietnam War to help the US to crush North Vietnam. China sent soldiers to Laos and South Vietnam to act as anti-insurgency forces. China also started funding anti-Communist insurgents in Burma.
1970: Chiang Kai Shek passes away from old age. Chiang Ching Kuo takes over as President of the Republic of China.
1973: The Vietnam War ended with a strategic victory for the anti-Communist nations.
Lore about Chinese Industry:
- After the Chinese Civil War, President Chiang Kai Shek forced China to rapidly industrialize and militarise to improve the Chinese economy.
- In 1949, China started mass-producing agricultural and industrial equipment with the help of British and American investors. This also coincided with the land reforms that sought to create equitable agriculture throughout China.
- In 1951, China started producing Ford and GM automobiles in Nanjing. Eventually, China began production of Chrysler and AMC vehicles in 1952 and 1955 respectively. In 1956, China opened up new automobile manufacturing plants in Guangdong, Henan, Shanghai, Yunan, Jilin, Shandong, and Shanxi to boost its automobile production. These cars were primarily British, American, and Australian-designed, albeit some of them had modifications to suit the rougher roads and terrain of China. Although the vehicles were meant for domestic usage in China, both RHD and LHD variants of the cars were exported abroad to Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, North Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Japan, Ceylon, and the Republic of Vietnam.
- In 1952, China began opening automobile plants and factories throughout Northern and Central China. Moreover, China provides subsidiaries and equipment to farmers to boost crop yields.
- In 1955, China started work on constructing the Liujiaxia Dam on the Yellow River and the Gezhouba Dam on the Yangtze River to generate more electricity. The Liujiaxia Dam was completed in 1959, whereas the Gezhouba Dam was only completed by 1962.
- In 1956, China started a nationwide plan to mass-industrialize and modernize the countryside. Chinese industry grew by 1000% within just a year. By 1957, China became the primary industrial hub of East Asia.
- In 1957, Chiang Kai Shek started the project known as Project Interlinked China. Project Interlinked China led to the rapid construction of roads, railways, airports, canals, and tunnels to make China more interlinked. As a result, China became more developed due to Project Interlinked China.
- In 1958, China completed the construction of the East-West National Highway that starts from Nanking and ends at Urumqi. This highway manages to link both Eastern and Western China in a very effective and convenient manner.
- In 1959, the Urumqi Automobile Factory, the Henan Automobile Factory, and the Shanghai Automobile Factory started manufacturing British, American, and German trucks and utility vehicles.
- In 1960, China was an industrialized and modernized nation. Cities like Nanking, Shanghai, and Canton were famous worldwide for their modern designs and tall skyscrapers. Throughout the world, China is famous for its high-quality but affordable products. The phrase ‘Made in the Republic of China’ became synonymous with something cheap and reliable. Moreover, Chinese-made vehicles became very reputable in Southeast Asia for their durability and reliability.
- In 1961, the Chongqing automobile plant signed a deal with British Motors Corporation to mass-produce BMC cars, especially Mini Coopers for the average Chinese family. At the same time, the Shanghai automobile plant began license-producing German VWs for both domestic usage and export purposes.
- In 1962, the Qingdao Automobile Factory in Shandong began manufacturing Alfa Romeos that were mainly used domestically.
- By 1963, Ford, GM, Chrysler, AMC, BMC, Rover, Leyland, Jaguar, Rootes, VW, BMW, Daimler-Benz, Auto Union, Peugeot, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Volvo were already manufacturing automobiles in China.
- In 1965, China had its position as a well-known reputable hub of automobile manufacturing solidified. Most automobile manufacturers desired to manufacture their automobiles in China. However, Japanese cars have started to gain popularity in the heavily urbanized cities of China due to their good quality and fuel efficiency. This led to the first Chinese trade protection act against Japan to protect its domestic automobile industry.
- In 1966, the Shanghai Automobile Plant agreed to license produce the Ford Mustang. This is seen as a critical moment for the Chinese automobile industry since this was the start of the Golden Age of Chinese car culture. During the late 1950s and early-to-mid 1960s, Chinese car culture was very limited in terms of affordable performance cars. Usually, Chinese car enthusiasts resorted to modifying their cars to increase their cars’ performance because most brand-new automobiles with high-performance engines were out of reach for many young Chinese car enthusiasts due to low wages. However, the official introduction of the Ford Mustang meant that Chinese car enthusiasts could afford to purchase a brand-new high-performance sports car that was only slightly more expensive than an average brand-new American-designed 4-door saloon.
- During the late 1960s and early 1970s, China had a strong car culture dominated by modified 1950s and 1960s cars, modern American-designed pony cars and muscle cars, and European-designed 2-door and 4-door saloons. At that time, the annual Chinese Saloon Car Championship and the 300 Kilometers of China Rally Championship were seen as a way for automobile manufacturers to show off their latest designs’ track performance and reliability. At the same time, Japanese cars were rapidly gaining a good reputation in China. In 1969, the Datsun Skyline GT-R defeated the dominant Buick Skylark Gran Sport (the winner of the 1967 and the 1968 Chinese Saloon Car Championship) during the 1969 Shanghai Chinese Saloon Car Championship Race due to the Datsun Skyline GT-R breaking down the least amount of times. Consequently, this led to many Chinese car enthusiasts developing an interest in Japanese cars, especially Datsuns.
Type 59 rifle evolution:
1965: The ROC Ministry of National Defense wanted to replace the aging Type 39 rifle (license-produced FN-49). Four designs were submitted to the ROC Combined Logistics Command, the FN FAL, the HK G3, the Colt Model 603 (the Colt XM16E1), and the M14. During rifle tests, the Colt XM16E1 prevailed over the other designs in terms of weight, controllability, maneuverability, and firepower. Moreover, the Colt XM16E1 jammed less compared to the other designs during reliability trials that involved dirt and mud. As a result, the Colt XM16E1 won over the other designs during the initial trials.
1966: The Colt XM16E1 is adopted in limited service by the Republic of China Armed Forces. Overall, the XM16E1 was well-received in Chinese service. The XM16E1 rifles were praised and loved by Chinese soldiers who were issued them but were criticized for their lack of stopping power compared to the older Type 39 rifle due to the XM16 rifles firing .223 Remington, an intermediate cartridge that is smaller compared to the 7.92x57mm.
1967: By May, the Republic of China Armed Forces started fielding Colt XM16E1s for its troops serving in Vietnam and Laos. The Republic of China Armed Forces also started issuing Colt XM177 carbines.
1968: During a Sino-American arms deal, China purchased Colt M16A1 rifles (redesigned and improved Colt XM16E1 rifles). The Republic of China adopted the Colt M16A1 in relatively small numbers, mostly issuing them to its paratroopers and marines.
1969: The Republic of China started gearing up for mass production of the M16A1 rifle. China geared up Guangdong (Canton), Shanxi (Taiyuan Arsenal), Nanjing (Jinling), Henan (Gongxian), and Wuhan (Hanyang) to mass produce M16A1 rifles by purchasing the machinery needed to produce them from Colt Arms.
1970: The Republic of China Armed Forces adopted the M16A1 as its service rifle under the designation of the Type 59 rifle. Mass production of the Type 59 rifle started in 1970. Moreover, the Republic of China Armed Forces also started manufacturing and adopting Colt XM177 rifles as Type 59 carbines. The first batches of Type 59 rifles and Type 59 carbines were issued to Chinese soldiers in Vietnam and Laos.
1971: By January 1971, Type 39 rifles (license-produced FN-49 rifles) were getting replaced by the Type 59 rifle in front-line service. By June 1971, 1000000 Type 59s have been produced by the Canton, Taiyuan, Jinling, Gongxian, and Hanyang Arsenals.
1972: In late 1972, China started to issue Type 59 rifles to its rear-line soldiers. After obtaining permission from Colt and the US Army Ordnance Department, China also started exporting Type 59s to its allies.
1973: By mid-1973, the Type 59 has completely replaced the Type 39 rifle in both front-line and rear-line service. Moreover, China also withdrew most of its troops from Vietnam and Laos by July.
1975: In 1975, the Type 59 rifle’s original 20-round STANAG magazine was being retired in favor of an improved 30-round STANAG magazine.
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