Professor Rana Mitter comments on the reappropriation of Chiang Kai-shek

Rana Mitter was quoted in an article for the Washington Post (17 August) about the Chinese mainstream acceptance of Mao's bitter enemy, Chiang Kai-shek.

Rana is quoted as saying that Chiang’s rehabilitation has been “really remarkable to observe from the outside” and likely was undertaken initially as an attempt by China’s leaders to tempt Taiwan into reunification by being “a bit more accommodating about their version of history.”

“Now, of course, Chiang’s role as someone who fiercely opposed the Japanese during the war is politically very useful,” he added.

The full article can be read here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/maos-archenemy-chiang-kai-shek-part-of-mainstream/2014/08/17/eea95a5a-25d9-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html

It was also republished on Fox News online and the Japan Times (both via Associated Press).