‘Starmer's China trip was a humiliation’: Wild Swans author Jung Chang hits out at PM | The Daily T

Key Concepts

• Cultural Revolution: A sociopolitical movement in China from 1966-1976 initiated by Mao Zedong, resulting in widespread social upheaval, persecution, and death.
• Mao Zedong: The founding father of the People's Republic of China and a central figure in the Cultural Revolution. His leadership is characterized by both modernization efforts and extreme political purges.
• Empress Dowager Cixi: The last powerful ruler of China (1861-1908), credited with initiating modernization efforts but also blamed for China’s “Century of Humiliation.”
• Century of Humiliation: A period in Chinese history (mid-19th to mid-20th century) marked by foreign intervention and internal weakness.
• Wild Swans: Yung Chang’s seminal autobiographical work detailing three generations of women in her family and their experiences during China’s 20th-century transformations.
• Footbinding: A historical practice in China involving the painful binding of women’s feet to achieve a specific aesthetic, symbolizing status but causing lifelong disability.
• Xi Jinping: The current President of China, whose leadership is seen by Yung Chang as a regression towards Maoist policies.

The Legacy of Trauma and Modern China: A Conversation with Yung Chang

This discussion with author Yung Chang centers on her personal experiences with China’s tumultuous 20th and 21st-century history, focusing on the Cultural Revolution, the legacy of Mao Zedong, and contemporary China under Xi Jinping. The conversation also touches upon historical figures like Empress Dowager Cixi and Britain’s relationship with China.

The Cultural Revolution: Personal and National Trauma

Yung Chang identifies the most painful memory of the Cultural Revolution as witnessing her father’s descent into insanity due to persecution for opposing Mao. He was arrested, tortured, and exiled, and his suffering deeply impacted the family. Her grandmother also died as a result of the upheaval, exacerbated by the suffering of Chang’s mother who refused to denounce her husband. Chang recounts a courageous act of defiance as a teenager, hitchhiking to a labor camp to visit her father, driven by a desire to offer him comfort and prevent him from succumbing to despair, noting the high suicide rate among those imprisoned. She emphasizes the pervasive atmosphere of violence and denunciation that characterized the period.

Understanding the Origins of the Cultural Revolution

Chang argues that the Cultural Revolution was fundamentally a purge orchestrated by Mao Zedong in response to criticism following the Great Famine (1958-1961), which resulted in approximately 40 million deaths. Mao sought to eliminate opposition within the Communist Party and replace officials with loyalists. She rejects simplistic explanations, asserting it was a complex phenomenon rooted in Mao’s personality, Marxist ideology (specifically the concept of class struggle), and a historical Chinese tradition of cruelty exemplified by the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. She points out Mao’s extreme approach to cultural cleansing, surpassing even other totalitarian regimes in its thoroughness, citing the slogan “the more books you read, the more stupid you become” and the decade-long suppression of cultural expression.

Empress Dowager Cixi: Reassessing a Controversial Figure

The conversation briefly turns to Empress Dowager Cixi, the subject of Chang’s biography. Chang defends Cixi, arguing she has been unfairly maligned as the source of China’s “Century of Humiliation.” She highlights Cixi’s efforts to modernize China, including initiating the transition towards a constitutional monarchy modeled after Britain, and her pioneering ban on footbinding – a practice she credits to the influence of British and American missionaries and officials. Chang emphasizes Cixi’s progressive actions within the constraints of her time, particularly given the limitations placed on women in leadership roles.

The Enduring Impact of Trauma and the Suppression of History

Chang stresses the lasting psychological trauma inflicted by the Cultural Revolution on the Chinese people. She describes how even composed individuals would visibly break down when discussing the past, suggesting a failure to process the trauma into memory. She contrasts this with her own experience of overcoming nightmares by writing Wild Swans, which allowed her to transform trauma into a narrative. She expresses concern that younger generations, lacking direct experience of the Mao era, are susceptible to brainwashing and distorted historical narratives under Xi Jinping’s leadership.

Contemporary China Under Xi Jinping and Britain’s Role

Chang expresses deep concern about the direction of China under Xi Jinping, viewing it as a regression towards Maoist policies. She notes his suppression of dissent, targeting of wealthy entrepreneurs, and increasing control over society. She criticizes the West, particularly Britain, for naiveté in its engagement with China over the past two decades, citing the recent humiliating treatment of the British Prime Minister during his visit to Beijing – being guided by a tourist guide rather than high-ranking officials, a stark contrast to the treatment afforded to President Trump. She questions the wisdom of approving a large Chinese embassy in the UK, suggesting it may pose a threat to British national security.

Chang dismisses the notion that China’s current problems are solely attributable to Western imperialism, arguing that Japan inflicted the most damage on China, while Britain and America were comparatively more supportive. She also points out that Deng Xiaoping did not blame Western powers for China’s past misfortunes.

The Unbreakable Bond and the Pain of Separation

Chang reveals the painful decision she made in 2018 to cease traveling to China to visit her aging mother, fearing imprisonment due to her criticism of Mao. She explains that writing Fly Wild Swans was partly motivated by this separation and a desire to document the changes in China over the past decades.

Conclusion

Yung Chang’s insights offer a powerful and deeply personal perspective on China’s 20th and 21st-century history. She underscores the enduring trauma of the Cultural Revolution, the complexities of historical figures like Empress Dowager Cixi, and the dangers of naiveté in dealing with the current Chinese regime. Her narrative serves as a stark warning against repeating the mistakes of the past and a poignant reminder of the human cost of political ideology. She emphasizes the importance of remembering and confronting history to prevent its recurrence.