User:Wk2199/Han Nianlong

Han Nianlong (May 1910 - June 2000), a native of Renhuai, Guizhou province, was a member of the Communist Party of China. He took part in the revolution in the spring of 1935 and joined the Communist Party of China in March 1936. He served as a member of the Working Committee of Chongming County, Jiangsu Province and director of the political Department of the guerrillas, director of the Political Department of the 3rd Brigade of Chongqi Sea, and director of the Political Department of the 9th Regiment of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division of the New Fourth Army. He served as director of the eighth column political department of the Central China Field Army, representative of the Military coordination Department in Huaiyin Executive group, minister of the Propaganda Department of the Political Department of the East China Field Army, Deputy political Commissar of Shanghai Garrison Command, head of the Chinese People's Volunteers captured management group.

Han Nianlong entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 1949. As an outstanding diplomatist, he served as Ambassador to Pakistan from 1951 to 1956 and Ambassador to Sweden from 1956 to 1958. He was former member of Central Advisory Commission of CPC and former Vice Foreign Minister. He retired in October 1994.

Shanghai anti-Japanese strike movement
In 1935, Han Nianlong participated as a leader in Shanghai anti-Japanese strike movement, which has involved more than 60,000 people, creatively implemented the spirit of Liu Shaoqi's "Outline of the White Area Workers' Movement" and the CPC Central Committee's policy on the Anti-Japanese national United front, so that the strike struggle won a great victory. Mao Zedong spoke highly of the Anti-japanese strike in Shanghai in his article "The Task of the Chinese Communist Party in the Period of Resistance against Japan". The victory of the strike contributed positively to the establishment of the anti-japanese national united front. In the autumn of 1938, Han Nianlong joined the Anti-japanese guerrillas in Chongming Island, Shanghai. From autumn 1939 to autumn 1941, he served as a member of the Working Committee of Chongming County, Jiangsu province and director of the political Department of the Guerrillas, director of the Political Department of the Standing Brigade in Chongqihai, and director of the Political Department of the Ninth Regiment of the Third Brigade of the first Division of the New Fourth Army.

Ambush the Japanese army
In 1941, Japanese troops launched a massive attack on villages in Nantong. According to the decision of the superior, a military and political committee was established in Nantong, which was composed of the county league, the county party committee and the main leaders of the county government to uniformly lead the party, government and military work in Nantong County, with Han Nianlong as a member. The anti-japanese soldiers and civilians in Nantong County actively cooperated with the 8th regiment of the 3rd brigade of the 1st Division of the New Fourth Army to attack and ambush the Japanese puppet troops in Beiliuqiao, Linzi, Fengli, Shigang, Chaoqiao, Huangang, Sunjiayao, Shuangdian and other places, and fought for more than 20 times, killing and injuring the Japanese puppet troops.

Defeat the Japanese puppet army
From September 1941 to February 1944, Han Nianlong served as director of the Political Bureau of the Nantong Guard Regiment. In February 1944, he served as deputy Commissar of Nantong Guard Regiment. In the fight in order to improve the combat effectiveness of the troops and the work efficiency of the leading organs, the Nantong County Guard regiment was reorganized. In addition to the third battalion insisting on fighting in place, the regiment headquarters and the first and second battalions were taken by Han Nianlong, attacking the enemy from the side. The Nantong Guard regiment cooperated with the main force of the New Fourth Army and the local forces, frequently attacked and successfully crushed the great mopping up of the Central Soviet area by the Japanese puppet. In mid-1943, two companies of Nantong Guard Regiment severely attacked the Japanese ana soldiers who went to the countryside to rob civilian goods and forcibly pull civilian soldiers near Lijia Bridge in Baipusi. After white-bladed combat, more than 20 Japanese ana soldiers were killed and one Japanese soldier was captured. The victory of this battle inspired the people fight against Japan.

Preside over the surrender ceremon
On August 15, 1945, the Emperor of Japan formally issued the imperial rescript to surrender, but the Japanese troops stationed in Gaoyou, Jiangsu, refused to surrender. Until December 25, he still ignored the new Fourth Army's ultimatum to surrender. SuYu commander decided, on the evening of 25, ordered the new fourth army took advantage of the heavy fog, against the wind and rain, in the mud, to catch the enemy unaware respectively from three directions, north, east, south of the city launched an all-out offensive the gaoyou city, at 4 PM to 26, the new fourth army breached in gaoyou city, the Japanese aggressors defeat is a foregone conclusion, the command is surrounded by the new fourth army closely, and under the powerful artillery deterrent Siege of the soldiers Shouting, Gaoyou Japanese commander of the city defense colonel Rock had to agree to surrender the New Fourth Army, then held a surrender ceremony.

The ceremony was held in the Park Auditorium, No. 70, Yihe Lane, Gaoyou District. At eleven o 'clock in the evening, Han Nianlong, director of the political Department of the eighth column of the New Fourth Army, went to deal with the surrender as the pleniary representative of the New Fourth Army.

During the ceremony, Han Nianlong announced three to the Japanese army that surrendered:

First, the surrender of the Japanese officers and men, each back to standby. For safety, activities are limited to the hospital; Second, The Japanese soldiers killed in battle may be cremated according to Japanese custom and their ashes collected for taking back to the mainland; Third, the injured Japanese officers and soldiers will be treated by our medical staff in collaboration with The Japanese medical staff.

The surrender of Gaoyou was the largest surrender ceremony held by the CPC and the New Fourth Army under its leadership, and the last surrender ceremony of the Japanese aggressors to the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army under the leadership of the CPC.

Start of diplomatic career
People’s Republic of China was established in October 1949. Since then, China has shown strong need to associate with the rest of the world. But considering having to get rid of Kuomintang diplomatic clout, PRC selected a new group of potential diplomats from the People’s Liberation Army, Han included, to replace the original one. In December 1949, Han nianlong, who has been long engaged in the ideological and political work in the army, was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador to Pakistan
In early 1951, Pakistan has expressed the strong wish to establish diplomatic relations with China, and the trend that the two countries will develop a long-term relationship is quite clear. In this situation, PRC government decided to appoint Han nianlong to be Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan in 1951. Han strengthened the absolute equality between both countries and importance of the relationship.

Ambassador to Sweden
.Han Nianlong served as Ambassador to Sweden from 1956 to 1958.

Step into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Han nianlong was appointed to be Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1958. In 1964, he was promoted to the position of Vice Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Asian affairs. Han has made huge contributions to  China’s diplomatic affairs during his tenure.

Sino-Japan relationship issue
Han participated in several talks concerning the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Japan.

In 1974, Han visited Japan and signed China-Japan Shipping Agreement and officially talked with Kimura Toshio and Tōgō Fumihiko about the agreement on behalf of the government of China.

In the talks, Han insisted that the agreement must be based on the spirit of China-Japan Joint Statement and Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and strengthened the standpoints of both countries about Taiwan issue should correspond with what was claimed in China-Japan Joint Statement. Han agreed with Japan delegation during the talks on the decision that China will forgive the war crime of Japan and give up the compensation as long as Japan promise to obey China-Japan Joint Statement. Han also agreed with Japan on the consensus that both countries should resist hegemonism.

Sino-US relationship issue
A key obstacle that needed to be removed before China and US develop a diplomatic relationship was Taiwan issue.

US government intended to sell weapons to Taiwan to prevent China from militarily unifying Taiwan.

Han nianlong clearly claimed that China was unable to promise a peaceful settlement of Taiwan issue. He also strongly criticised US government for the intention to militarily supporting Taiwan and the behavior of “violating the spirit of the Shanghai Communique and the Communique for Normalisation of US-China Relations in 1979.”, claiming thar US was “infringing China’s sovereignty and interfering in China’s internal affairs”.

Sino-Vietnam relationship issue
After Socialist Republic of Vietnam was established, the conflicts between the two countries about the border issue has arisen.

In Sino-Vietnam negotiation, Han was unsatisfied with the lack of progress, and charged Vietnam of the behavior of provocation and provoking war, which add to the tension. Han also required that Vietnam government stop promoting hegemonism within the country and claimed that to solve the hegemonism issue in Vietnam is a must before improving Sino-Vietnam relationship.

However, Han was blamed by Vietnam “for making ‘bellicose statements’”. Vietnam also claimed that “Han told the Japanese news agency Kyoto in Peking yesterday that China reserved the right to attack Vietnam again.

Legacy
Han Nianlong had a great impact on China’s diplomatic status in the second half of the 20th century. He helped set up an independent figure of China in front of the rest of the world. Under his representation, China has developed equal diplomatic relationship with Japan, US and so on, and China’s legal interest in controversial area like Taiwan is properly protected.

Han Nianlong was known as a principled official, who was loyal to his country and brave to fight against the reactionary force. He was also complimented for caring his subordinates. He was strict with leader officials, which showed his caring for education of cadres, but he was tolerant with ordinary cadres, often forgiving others’ mistakes. A lot of officials working in the diplomatic field of younger generation claimed to be deeply influenced and motivated by Han Nianlong and appreciated him very much.