NATIONALIST AND COMMUNIST
CHINESE PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS

SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret.)

Map of China and Taiwan

Since that time the Nationalists (Republic of China - ROC) and the Communists (People’s Republic of China - PRC) have faced off; threatening, cajoling and occasionally opening fire on each other. The small islands of Matsu and Quemoy (Kinmen), the sole territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China, have played a part in all the bluffing and psychological operations. In particular, starting about 1954 the two sides sent leaflets to each other on alternate days by balloon and artillery. In this article we will look at some of the leaflets prepared by the Nationalist Government and sent into mainland China up until about 1979 when the United States and the People’s Republic of China normalized relations.

Propaganda Booklet Published on the 16th National Day of the Republic of China
Nationalist Chinese soldier watches the Mainland from the island of Quemoy

During the Cold War the American government constantly worried about the morale of the Nationalist Chinese and their willingness to carry on the fight against Communism. They regularly studied both Taiwan and Mainland China and a number of reports were written by the Central Intelligence Agency, mostly stating that it did not believe China would attack Taiwan as long as the United States offered naval and air protection. Other studies attempted to discern how the loss of the smaller islands would affect Taiwan. A 1955 CIA report entitled Morale on Taiwan says in part:

The islands of Quemoy and Matsu are so important in the eyes of the Nationalists that their loss during the current crisis would be a severe blow to the morale…The effect would be considerably greater if the islands fell to Communist attack, especially if U.S. forces were involved…We believe that they would continue resistance to Communist pressure as long as they have confidence in the determination and ability of the U.S. to defend Taiwan.

For those readers that do not recall the Cold War, I should point out that one of the most secret operations was the 1959 training of six Nationalist Chinese pilots in Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, to carry out clandestine U-2 spy flights to determine Soviet nuclear capability. These flights were highly classified but the fact that Chinese pilots were flying American spy planes shows how important the Chinese were to American interests at the time.

Chiang Kai-shek

Mao Zedong

In a 2005 International Affairs article entitled “Old wine in new bottles: China–Taiwan computer-based information warfare and propaganda,” Gary D. Rawnsley adds:

Chinese shelling of these islands, and Taiwan’s own bombardment of the mainland in response, was designed to have more symbolic than military value, and was pivotal in the psychological and propaganda offensive across the Taiwan Strait. Beijing decided to shell the islands only on odd-numbered days, and Taiwan’s military launched its own shells against the mainland the rest of the week. A practice that continued until 1979, this combat by timetable confirmed the political and symbolic, rather than military, intention of cross-Strait warfare, especially as the shells contained nothing more harmful than printed propaganda that dispersed upon impact.

A Naval War College paper totals up the Chinese Nationalist deaths in a report entitled High Sea Buffer – The Taiwan Patrol Force, 1950-1979:

On 23 August 1958, Communist forces began shelling Jinmen Island, firing an estimated forty thousand shells during the first attack…

By mid-September 1958 the U.S. Navy had positioned five carriers and their escort ships near Taiwan, and another two were on their way. A clear message was sent to the PRC when it was revealed on 1 October that a number of eight-inch howitzers, capable of firing nuclear shells, had been delivered to Jinmen Island. In addition, it was on this occasion that the Nationalist air force was provided with advanced Sidewinders. In one air battle on 24 September 1958, Nationalist F-86s shot down an impressive ten MiGs, plus two other probable hits, without sustaining a single loss. These were the first-ever kills by these air-to-air missiles.

On 6 October 1958, after forty-four days, the PRC halted the shelling. Civilian casualties were 138 dead and 324 injured; the dead and wounded soldiers numbered close to three thousand. In addition, an estimated seven thousand buildings on Jinmen had been either damaged or destroyed. The cessation was not permanent; artillery fire continued for the next twenty years, ending for good only in January 1979 after the United States and the People’s Republic of China recognized each other. Firing would take place on alternate days of the week, with the shells mainly containing propaganda leaflets. An estimated one million steel shell casings were fired at Jinmen, in what would be the longest sustained artillery barrage in world history.

The U.S. Army 7th PSYOP Group headquartered on Okinawa had a two-man Taiwan Detachment located in Taipei responsible for maintaining liaison between the 7th PSYOP Group and the Republic of China. In 1968 they trained 25 Chinese PSYOP personnel at their headquarters in Okinawa. The United States had little interest in supporting Taiwan with military and psychological training until 1951 when the North Korean attack on South Korea awakened America to the possibility of using Taiwan as an area to harass and spy on the Chinese mainland.

7th PSYOP Group Crest

U.S. Army Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Underhill of the 7th PSYOP Group told me about a class that he taught:

I presented a three week course of instruction to the Chinese on Taiwan (as requested by the CIA) on leaflet development and dissemination (via balloon). I was able to show the defect in their program that allowed the balloons to end up in such places as Okinawa, India and Laos.  (I was in Laos when one came down there). The group I taught was a collection of people involved in leaflet operations.   It included printers, artists, weather forecasters, etc.  They were a sharp group.  The launch site had a pipeline from an oil processing plant that piped hydrogen to the sight.  They then filled conventional tanks and arranged them in a bank where they were able to open all valves and fill huge balloons without stopping.  

When Dave Underhill returned home he was replaced by his understudy, Captain Charles V. Nahlik. Charles was also tasked with teaching PSYOP classes and he told me a story about his Chinese students: 

I taught a large class of Taiwanese officers.  They came with their own translator/interpreter who had translated the 7th PSYOP Leaflet Book into Chinese.  I would demonstrate something and then he would explain it.  If I would talk for one minute, he would talk for three.  He was a fantastic assistant and a great help in the “hands on” process of plotting.   The funny thing about this class happened after they were finished, returned to Naha Air Base, Okinawa, and then started the flight home.  After each of the three days of class, they would go to the Post Exchange to spend all the money the U.S. was paying them on this trip.  They did well with US paid per diem -- too good.   They overloaded the plane to such a point that upon takeoff back to Taiwan and it could not lift off the runway and could not stop.  It went through the fence and slid into the Ocean, but did not sink.   However, the baggage area did get flooded so don't know how much of their assorted cameras and electronic items were damaged or destroyed. 

We should not hold this against the Chinese officers. America was known throughout Asia as “The land of the big PX” and it was quite typical for all foreign officers and enlisted men on American bases to purchase everything they could get their hands on. They seldom sunk a plane with their shopping though.

Some of the Nationalist Chinese leaflets attacked Mao; others depicted the happy life of the Chinese on the island of Taiwan or pictured defectors from Communism living a rich and secure life.

The 7th PSYOP Group was constituted 19 August 1965 in the regular Army and activated 20 October 1965 and assigned to the Ryukyu Islands. It was tasked with support activities in Okinawa, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and Japan. The group consisted of the 14th PSYOP Battalion, the 15th PSYOP Detachment, the Japan Detachment, the Korea detachment, the Taiwan Detachment, and the Vietnam Detachment. They worked side-by-side with the Chinese of Taiwan, but it is impossible to tell what input they had, if any, on the leaflets we will depict in this article.

Republic of China Balloon Launch

The ROC propagandists have not been very talkative about their campaigns. About 1968, the Psychological Warfare Department of the Defense Ministry did admit that the government had sent 101,614,528 balloons to Mainland China since the start of their campaign. They said that the load carried by the balloons varied from 35 grams to 4,763 grams. They had two large balloons measuring 10 x 13-feet and 10 x 18-feet that can rise to 40,000 feet and carry leaflets as far as Tibet and Sinkiang. The total of leaflets and booklets sent to China was more than 213,000,000 pieces. The balloons also dropped food, toys, household goods, daily commodities and national flags. They also sent "passports" promising good treatment to those defectors who made it to Taiwan. The Nationalists also used music to strengthen their propaganda. Taiwan balloons rained down leaflets and Teresa Deng music cassettes. Teresa Deng was a Taiwanese singer known for her gentle love songs. Allegedly, the mainland Chinese were known to say: “I like the little Deng, not the big Deng,” meaning that the singer's popularity rivaled that of Chinese leader Deng Xiao-ping, who briefly served as Premier Chou En-lai's deputy.

Nationalist Chinese Model Leaflet Boat

U.S. Army Sergeant Fynis Eugene Briddle, writing in issue 208 of the Falling Leaf, the Journal of the Psywar Society, mentions being stationed as the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Communications Center on Quemoy in 1971. He said in part:

Kinmen (Quemoy) is a small island group, the largest of which is less than five miles off the coast of the People’s Republic of China. While I was there both the Communists and Taiwanese military were still engaged in propaganda shelling on odd nights…There were several other methods of propaganda delivery used. The Nationalists would take hundreds of helium balloons; attach little gift packs such as soap dishes with soap, and propaganda leaflets to them. They would then release when the winds were favorable where they would float to the mainland. They all had timers attached that would then deflate the balloon and deliver the gifts along with the propaganda leaflets. Another popular method was to put leaflets in beer bottles, seal them and throw them into the ocean when the tides were going out. They would also put the leaflets in little boats and float them to the mainland…

In the Department of the Army PAM 525-7-2, The Art and Science of Psychological Operations: Case Studied of Military Operations, Part Two, Lee Lescale wrote an article “Quemoy: Pop Goes the Propaganda.” He says in part (edited for brevity):

Quemoy’s propaganda battles are, perhaps unavoidably, a matter of small victories. Although it is not official Taiwan policy, it appears the officers here try to ensure that their guns get off a few more leaflet shells than the Communist’s each firing day. Last Monday, for example, the Communists lobbed in 46 rounds and the Nationalists quickly returned 50.

The fall-out from the shells provides various sector commanders and their men with grounds-keeping chores. All Communist leaflets are picked up as quickly as possible and soldiers here assume that their counterparts on the mainland are also busy part of every odd-numbered day rounding up the debris.

Leaflets are also exchanged by "air-floating and sea-floating." Balloons of three sizes, with the largest able to carry 178 pounds of leaflets for up to 72 hours, are released from Quemoy whenever the wind is favorable which is generally from April to October.

The sea-floating operation is more aggressive. Speedboats manned by frogmen maneuver as close as is deemed prudent to the Chinese coast and jettison their cargoes of plastic leaflet containers, bottles, and inflatable toys. The narrow strait separating Quemoy from China is undoubtedly the only line of armed confrontation in the world that without vigilant beachcombing would be littered with plastic ducks.

At its closest point, Quemoy's main island is 2,310 meters from the nearest Chinese Communist territory. The spot, called Mashan, is the site for one of Quemoy's four loudspeaker installations—another aspect of the psychological warfare program here. 

The Mashan loudspeakers are powerful enough to be heard 20,000 meters away, and they shout their message 18 hours a day. Chinese Communist loudspeakers across the channel shout their message back, but the Nationalist officers say that the Communist speakers are much weaker. They are primarily designed not to reach Quemoy listeners, but to make enough noise on the Communist side to drown out Taiwan's message, officers explain.

Defectors and fishermen from China provide Taiwan with the best gauge of its psychological warfare program's efficiency. Briefing officers report that these people say they listen to Quemoy's loudspeakers and its radio and are "encouraged to choose freedom."

The last defector to Quemoy was a Chinese Communist soldier who swam to the island last September, officers say. A group of 30 fishermen got caught by bad weather and came ashore last December. They were the most recent visitors from China, and they chose to return after the Nationalists fed them and gave them small presents, in keeping with the government's policy.

The Beishan Broadcast Wall – The Sonic Tower

It wasn’t just artillery, balloons and leaflets that Kinmen used in its fight against the Communist Chinese. During the Cold War four broadcast stations were built in the Kinmen Islands to broadcast propaganda messages and music to mainland China through a three-story concrete sonic wall tower containing 48 loudspeakers. Built in 1967, the broadcast wall was a strategic military stronghold that played a key role in sonic warfare across the straits, blasting out anti-communist propaganda and music. The sound of Beishan Broadcast Wall could reach as far as 25km (15.5 miles). Back then the deafeningly loud sounds that came from the broadcast looped non-stop. There was no relief from the sound. In addition to the sound coming from the Beishan Broadcast Wall, the Communists also counter-attacked using their long distant speakers. The constant overbearing loud noise caused a mental exhaustion among those people who could not escape it.

Among the most famous messages were those from the late Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng, who was said to be the favourite of the former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Some of her famous songs, such as Tian Mi Mi (Very Sweet), were played. She also went to the broadcast wall in person to speak to the mainland Chinese through the broadcast system in the tradition of starlets like Marlene Dietrich talking to troops, telling them that she was waiting for their visit to Kinmen and freedom was the only hope for the future of their country.

The Chu Kwang Tower where Propaganda leaflets are Displayed

The three illustrations of propaganda dissemination were found in the Chu Kwang Tower. Briddle explains:

Chu Kwang Tower is a history museum; a large area is dedicated to the shelling back in the 1950's and propaganda techniques currently being used. In Taegu, Korea, I purchased an envelope (called a First Day Cover) celebrating a new building built on this small island called Kinmen/Quemoy. How could I have ever known that I would soon be visiting that building and working on that island?

Glass Propaganda Floats Containing Leaflets

The Communists in return sent floats to Taiwan containing Mao’s “Little Red Book” during the Cultural Revolution.

Communist Chinese Kite containing Leaflets for Quemoy

Briddle also notes that the Communists sometimes used kites that were loaded with leaflets and sent them to Quemoy from the mainland.

The 1958-1959 Republic of China Yearbook noted how the Ministry of National Defense had strengthened its psychological warfare capabilities during the offshore islands crisis:

Each month aircraft flew deep into the mainland to drop leaflets, proclamations, charts, safe conduct passes and food. The air-droppings have borne fruit in influencing a fair number of mainlanders to flee from behind the Bamboo Curtain.

Gary D. Rawnsley believes that the Americans were deeply involved in the balloon campaign in The Clandestine Cold War in Asia, London, Frank Cass, 2000:

1967, the CIA Far East Division encouraged the launch from Taiwan of balloons loaded with propaganda leaflets, pamphlets and newspapers that would drift across the Strait to the mainland. This has been described a “knick-knack bombardment,” with the balloons carrying “pens, can openers, bright T-shirts, and other cheap items” which would “pop and shower the mainland with the flotsam of capitalism.”

This U.P.I. photograph dated 20 November 1965 depicts balloons bearing flags, ribbons,
propaganda leaflets and other items sent from the island of Quemoy to mainland China.

Irving R. Fang, in an article entitled “The Chinese-Chinese Psywar,” said in 1979 in that both sides send out their propaganda by radio, balloons, artillery shells, sea floats and loudspeakers. Small gifts were sent too; he mentioned underwear, toys and cooking oil.

The Falling Leaf, the Journal of the Psywar Society, “the international association of psychological warfare historians and collectors of aerial propaganda leaflets,” mentions the Chinese propaganda campaign in several issues. In their summer 1975 edition, we find in part:

In the 1970s there was a considerable increase in the number of leaflets. In 1971 only 200 million leaflets were dropped on the Chinese mainland; the number increased to 1.6 billion copies by the end of October 1973. Mao’s anti-Confucius campaign was the main item in their propaganda leaflets; to defend their great cultural philosophies they poked at the promises of Mao Zedong. Other leaflets deal with the thousands of refugees coming to Hong Kong. There are miniature newspapers that tell of the western world. The balloons targeted at central China drift at a height of 40,000 feet and deliver their cargo of 15 kilograms within 12 hours. The balloons that travel deeper into China drift at a height of 60,000 feet and carry 100 kilograms of leaflets for 40 hours. Most of the leaflets disseminated lately have a camouflaged cover with a Communist title. The prosperity of Taiwan is shown in pictures; some of the booklets contain manuals on how to build a simple wireless set.

Nationalist Display Depicting the Range of its Propaganda Balloons

Rawnsley seems to be mentioning these camouflaged booklets when he says:

Publications carried by balloons across the Taiwan Strait were designed to appear as near as possible to the few dissident publications already circulating through parts of China, and to add to the confusion, they used fictitious names of anti-revolutionary organizations as the source of the propaganda. Of course the US denied all knowledge of these operations, assigning all responsibility to Chiang Kai-shek, the CIA’s “willing and cooperative host for the operation.” Refugees arriving from the PRC in Hong Kong carried the leaflets with them, thus providing for the agency apparent evidence of the success of its propaganda.

More comments are found in the Falling Leaf of winter 1976:

Chinese fighters have tried to intercept and shoot down balloons bearing humanitarian aid to the earthquake-stricken Tangshan area from the offshore island of Quemoy. Supplies of rice, medicine, sugar, powdered milk, blankets, underwear, dehydrated noodles and propaganda leaflets were collected from Formosa and shipped to Quemoy where they were packed by soldiers from the huge Nationalist garrisons. Each balloon was fitted with a timing device so that its cargo would be jettisoned after 20 hours, by which time it should be over the disaster area.

Another comment is:

By tacit agreement, both sides indulge in propaganda shelling. The Communists also fly propaganda across on paper kites. The Nationalists reply with plastic balloons. Gifts of clothing and sweets are tied on the balloons to attract people on the mainland.

In the November 1966 issue of The Aerial Leaflet I wrote an article entitled “Propaganda Leaflets in the Air over China.” I said at the time:

In 1962, the London Telegraph mentioned that although there are 1,700 gun positions facing Quemoy, the only shooting was an occasional airburst shell that showered the countryside with leaflets. The Aero-Field reported that Quemoy has released thousands of leaflets about 20 July 1962 containing leaflets and parcels of food for peasants living in Communist China.

The London Telegraph of 16 July 1963 said that Quemoy is becoming one of the major tourist attractions of the Far East. The article states further, “If he is lucky, the tourist may experience a Communist shelling. These days the shells contain only propaganda messages.”

The Island of Quemoy

We reached Quemoy’s Chinese Communist Psywar Center to inspect the leaflets and goodies which each side was lobbing across the strait in a mighty psychological battle between the Communists and the Nationalist Chinese. The goodies suggested that each side thought that the other was either starving or unwashed. There must be more slabs of scented soap stuffed with political messages than anywhere else on Earth. There were tiny purple plastic babies with deep blue eyes and brown hair to be sent to the next generation of Reds. Toothpaste and tea was exchanged, dropping from the sky like manna from Heaven.

Suddenly we all had thrust in our hands gaily colored balloons, each with its subversive little gift in a plastic sack, to release into the wind, which happens to be on our side, blowing westward...

A Newspaper Clipping about Taiwan Leaflets

On 25 October 1960 the Times published a leaflet sent from Taiwan to mainland China. The clipping text was:

These drawings appear on one of the propaganda leaflets sent to mainland China from Quemoy. They show a hungry man stealing rice from a government truck at a Red granary, hiding the grain, and finally eating it fearfully with his family.

The text on the leaflet is:

    1: Take the provisions.

   2: Hide the provisions.

3: Eat the provisions.

[Translator’s note]: The word that I translated as ‘provisions’ can technically mean food of all sorts, but tends to give the impression of more basic, sustenance level foods, usually unprocessed grains. The banquets of kings and emperors would never be described with that word, which is why I used ‘provisions,’ but it could be replaced with a simple ‘food.’ The 'Eat the food' line is actually written in such a way where in Cantonese it would have conveyed a sense of 'getting rid of the evidence' by 'eating the food.

Souvenir Booklet for the 7th PSYOP Group

We depict the cover of one of the souvenir booklets brought back from the 7th PSYOP Group.

Second Souvenir Booklet for the 7th PSYOP Group

I also have a second similar booklet with the title in Chinese on the front:

War of Mind Leaflets

Printed by the Department of National Defense General Political Operation Department

Although we use the modern term, the Chinese word Xinghan literally means “Heart – War –Battle” but can be translated as "War of Minds." These leaflet catalogs came in many volumes. The above is volume 28, from the Republic of China, Year 56, August 26th to September 1st. Thirty-three types of leaflets were enclosed, and altogether 330,000 copies of the leaflets were printed.

Inside the cover there is a Chinese language message which states:

Inventory of the leaflets printed within this week below:

1. One type of leaflet for promoting the President's works, merits, and political calls.
2. Twenty-two types of leaflets for psychological warfare, persuading surrender, utilizing information collected from righteous compatriots.
3. One type of leaflet for promoting our accomplishments and construction of the "Three Principles of the People" in Taiwan.
4. Five types of leaflets of comics depicting the defeat of our enemies and their internal chaos.
5. Four types of leaflets targeting the internal chaos and naming the enemies utilizing information collected from righteous compatriots. Altogether thirty-three types.

A 1970 Taiwan Leaflet Folder
This 25-page leaflet booklet was a gift from the Commander, 7th PSYOP Group

Propaganda Envelope

This colorful envelope depicts an artillery round, a loudspeaker, balloons, gift items to go in a float and leaflets. Each of these were used to disseminate Nationalist Chinese propaganda. The envelope contained eleven Nationalist Chinese leaflets. We assume this was some kind of a gift pack for visiting dignitaries. At the left of the envelope there is a radio antenna and the text:

PSYWAR DATA

PSYWAR COMMAND POST KDC

We believe this envelope was prepared or at least disseminated by the Kinmen Defense Command (KDC) located on Kinmen Island. The Kinmen Defense Command was the front line in any attempt by Communist China to take Taiwan or its islands. An estimated 80% of the Republic of China Army is located on Taiwan, while the remainder are stationed on the smaller islands of Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu. We believe this envelope was prepared about 1964

Prior to 2000 the KDC was made up of four divisions. By 2004, Troops were pulled back and the Kinmen Defense Command was comprised of three infantry brigades, an armor brigade and an artillery command. The KDC also has two companies from the 101st Amphibious Recon battalion.

The PSYOP Newsletter

The PSYOP Newsletter was first called the Military Assistance Command Psychological Operations Directorate (MACPD) Newsletter about 1966 and printed by the United States Military Assistance Command (Actually what would become the 6th Battalion) to inform commanders, PSYOP personnel, and PSYWAR advisors of psychological operations in Vietnam and to exchange ideas and lessons learned. It provided hints and lessons from combat and PSYOP units all over Vietnam about what worked and what did not.

The original explanation of why the publication was printed is:

The purpose of the MACPD Newsletter is to inform PSYOP personnel and POLWAR advisors of the progress of psychological operations and to provide a forum for personnel to exchange ideas and methods which they have found to be successful. Readers are requested to submit items they consider to be of value to our combined counterinsurgency operations.

Later Vietnamese POLWAR personnel were added, and the name was changed to the PSYOP-POLWAR Newsletter. In Volume II, Number 2, dated February 1967 I found this comment on the Chinese Program:

The PSYWAR Group, commander by Major General Wang I-po, conducts active operations against mainland China from Taiwan, Kinmen, and Matsu. Basic themes are power, the human values of Free China, resistance, and escape. The Voice of Freedom broadcasts in Mandarin 15 hours and 50 minutes daily on 1050 kilocycles. The fan spreads west and southwest covering most of the population of China. Radio is the most effective and far-reaching media. Mail from the target audiences is solicited through post office address in several countries.

Powerful loudspeakers carry taped messages across the channels from the offshore islands. Women do the speaking because of their care in reading and clear enunciation.

Small balloon clusters carry messages, gives, and banners short distances during favorable winds. Large balloons carry these items and periodicals and radio receivers’ great distances. Three thousand copies of a daily newspaper are distributed in this manner. Leaflets are disseminated also by aircraft and artillery. In addition, small sailboats are set adrift bearing gifts to the mainland. Fisherman relief stations on the offshore islands receive frequent mainland visitors. Some emigrate to Free China; others return home with shoes, tobacco, clothes, food, and the like. The Reds have ceased taking the gifts away but do confiscate propaganda. The PSYWAR effort is effective and has maintained the hope that China will be reunited in freedom.

THE LEAFLETS

I want to start this look at the leaflets with a brief disclaimer. It has often been stated that when leaflets are prepared by defectors who left a country many years earlier, the text and language may not be quite up to date. For instance, William Lloyd Stearman says in An American Adventure, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD, 2012, that the American PSYOP effort in Vietnam got most of its information about the North from refugees who came south in 1954 to escape Communist rule in the North. More than ten years had elapsed since they left and much had changed in the interim. In other words, their knowledge about the North was hopelessly outdated. A Chinese reader of the leaflets below commented that:

In many cases I found the text curious. The communist military force is often described as the “Chinese Communist Army” or the “Chinese Communists,” but on the Mainland they were commonly known as the “Liberation Army” or the “People's Liberation Army of China.” A lesser point of interest is that it sometimes described those who read the leaflets as “friend,” rather than “comrade” or “fighter,” the common titles used in the PLA. Those choices of words were puzzling. It is as if the Nationalist didn't know the basics from the decades of confrontations and the flow of defectors.

So, although my translators and myself strive to use the correct words, the readers should understand that sometimes they are incorrect on the leaflets.

As we stated above, there are millions, and more likely billions of leaflets sent from Quemoy and Matsu to mainland China. Clearly we cannot depict a true representation of the various types and themes since there are thousands of different leaflets. Also, sometimes there might be a dozen or more leaflets on the exact same theme, such as a Chinese pilot defecting to Taiwan. As a result, we have selected a very small number of leaflets that show some various shapes, themes, or messages. The reader should understand that this is less than 1 percent of all those dropped.

In all of my 120+ articles on psychological warfare, the leaflets drive the story. I try to show a good representation of the leaflets and every one has at least a partial translation. I will add more leaflets and translations as volunteers become available.   I ask the reader to understand and be patient. In all these articles, the translators are the most difficult experts to locate. I have been forced in other articles to find people who could read Vietnamese, Kikuyu, Arabic, Pashto, Dari, and a host of other languages. It is much easier to locate leaflets than it is to find people who can translate them. Readers expert in Chinese who would like to help with some of the titles and texts of the leaflets in this article should contact the author.

I especially want to thank Dr. Alexander Akin, a historian of China and amateur collector of psywar ephemera who generously provided translations for some of the leaflets and comments about their actual meaning and political background. This article would have been impossible without his help. Another who has helped translate leaflets for this article is Zhao Difei who lives in Chungking, the World War Two capital of the old China.

An Early Nationalist Leaflet from the Time the Tibetans tried to take their State Back

The 1959 Tibetan uprising began on 10 March 1959, when a revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which had been under the effective control of the People's Republic of China since 1951. The guerrilla warfare later spread to other areas of Tibet and lasted through 1962. The anti-Communist leaflet was ballooned to mainland China from Taiwan in support of the Tibetans. It features the Potala Palace. The Potala Palace is a fortress in the city of Lhasa, in Tibet. It was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959, has been a museum since then, and is a World Heritage Site since 1994. The leaflet has the following text on the front

ARISE COMPATRIOTS IN TIBET

The text on the back is:

In order to resist Marshal Zhu De and Chairman Mao Zedong’s oppression, Lhasa was attacked, and Gyangze Fort was occupied on March 10 with the capture of food and munitions and the destruction of bridges and the telephone system. Compatriots in Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Xinjiang are responding. Some of the Zhu / Mao troops in Tibet have also joined the anti-communist army. The day for everyone to take revenge and hate is here. Hurry up and unite. Hit the tyranny of Zhu and Mao

60803600

We start this study with cartoon leaflets. They have little text and are easy for the average finder to understand. The backs are blank. In this leaflet a terrified Mao with bloody hands is attacked by swords and bayonets. The title is:

Anti-Maoism is righteous!

The words that encircle Mao and the names of the cities on the flags are:

Anti-Mao, Anti-Communist revolutionary Chinese people

Jiangxi, Wuhan, Guangzhou.

60803800

In this leaflet a group of angry Chinese point weapons at Mao Zedong who has been found burning China's historical culture. The text is:

Above Mao: He is our real enemy!

On Mao’s torch: Cultural Revolution

Below: China’s innate historical culture

At right: The United Front denouncing Mao and saving the country

This Nationalist leaflet depicts a mob of angry Chinese chasing Mao Zedong with swords and sticks and their bare fists. My translator found this leaflet interesting because he said: “The angry mob looks like Mao’s own Red Guards; they wear the bandanna on their head. I was surprised to realize that this leaflet was targeted against Mao.” A second translator thought the mob looked more like the rebels from the Taiping Rebellion who sometimes wore turbans and fought for some 14 years (1850–64), ravaged 17 provinces, took an estimated 20 million lives, proclaimed his new dynasty, the “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace” with their credo—to share property in common. The text is:

Rise! Compatriots who are starving and freezing!

Rise! We who refuse to be slaves!

It is worth noting that the last line is the first line in March of the Volunteers, the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China. The First line is an obvious parody of the song lyric. The anthem starts:

Rise, we who refuse to be slaves;
With our very flesh and blood let us build our new Great Wall!
The peoples of China are at their most critical time, everybody must roar defiance.
Rise! Rise! Rise!

A reader explains in greater detail: 

Those lines are actually from the first 2 lines of the Chinese version of the Internationale, a common Communist song and the anthem of the Chinese Communist Party. The People’s Republic of China anthem was actually a song about the Chinese people resisting Japanese invasion. I'm guessing it was influenced by the Internationale. Using the lyrics of a Communist song against the Communists was a very persuasive message. Especially when the Communists branded themselves as liberators, while bringing the people starvation and death; implementing work quotas with little pay that somewhat resembled slavery during the ironically named GREAT LEAP FORWARD.

60804000

In this cartoon Mao seems to be lecturing, surrounded by a small group of his Communist followers, all standing on a buoy in an angry ocean. The back is blank. The text is:

Is this the pleasant atmosphere one year after the Eleventh Plenary Session?

On waves: Opposition to Mao, opposition to the Communist Party

[Note: Left of Mao is Lin Biao, to his right is Jiang Qing. This would have been issued in 1967, one year after the eleventh plenary session of the Eighth Central Committee at which Mao spurred on the Cultural Revolution with his document “Bombard the Headquarters.”]

Mainland Compatriots

This leaflet depicts Mao standing near markers labeled with the years 1962-1970. He looks like a carnival barker or a magician about to pull a rabbit out of a hat. The back is all text. The message is:

Mainland Compatriots!

Mainland compatriots: in order to live well, to live a free and happy life, you have to unite as one and make this master trickster Mao Tse-tung go down, go down!

Keep this document to prove your stance against communism and to enjoy various privileges

Mao Tse-tung's propaganda machine has recently bragged of “achieving good harvests for nine consecutive years,” which mean there has been a good harvest each year since 1962, and they even said the output of foodstuffs had exceeded historic levels. But these propaganda lies are not only unable to deceive the people of the free world; they cannot deceive you as well. How could there be good harvests under the “Three Red Banners” movement of Mao's Communists and the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution, plus natural disasters? If there were good harvests, rations should have gone up. Why do you still have to “have mild meals at free time?” If there were good harvests, you should have eat well and be full! Why is there still famine everywhere? Why are the people whimpering and tormented by hunger and cold throughout the countryside? Mao Tse-tung can only play tricks and exaggerate, and the trick has failed. What a shameful thing it is!

[Note: The “Three Red Banners” were the campaign for socialist construction, the Great Leap Forward and the people's communes, advocated by Mao in the 1950s. They were directly responsible for the Great Chinese Famines in 1959-1961].

Let the Kids sit here too

The small Nationalist Chinese leaflet above depicts Mao and a group of happy comrades at a dinner table. Above and to the left is the text: Let the kids sit here too. The fruit bowl at the center of the table is labeled Politburo. From left to right are Ye Qun, Jiang Qing, Mao and Lin Biao.

The back is all text written as a poem:

Mao and Lin have but themselves in their heads;

Tricking the people with political games;

There are exclusively wives and kids

inside the Politburo and no one else.

The character translated as “themselves” above can also mean “private” so the line has a double-meaning in this context. It not only criticizes the Communist big-names for being selfish, but also for being hypocritical, since they were the one who preached against private ownership and thoughts. The leaflet was obviously an attack on how the PRC political circle was monopolized by families. Ye Qun and Jiang Qing were Lin Biao and Mao's wives, respectively. The little girl might be Li Na, the daughter of Mao and Jiang. The depiction of Lin's son, Lin Liguo, as an infant was rather incorrect as he was the No. 2 figure in the Red Chinese Air Force by 1971. The Chinese government, to this day, believes that he planned to assassinate Mao with his father's blessing in 1971. The plan was exposed, leading to him and his family's death during the unsuccessful flight to the USSR.

Complacency – Arrogance

This small ROC leaflet depicts Mao first being carried like an Indian maharajah. He wears what is almost a crown with his titles: Head of State, Marshal, Leader, and Chairman. To his right Lin Biao carries Mao’s flag which says Chairman. Over the entire panel is a Chinese character which reads:

Complacency

In the second panel Mao is standing while others talk behind his back. They are identified as Wang Ming, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, He long. Mao says to himself I am Number One. Over the entire panel is a Chinese character which reads:

Arrogance

The back is all text:

Combat arrogance and complacency

Who is the target?

The 1970 Taiwan leaflet folder depicted a whole new group of cartoon leaflets with higher code numbers.

Leaflet 903597000

A Chinese farmer sits and worries about his situation. The text on the front is:

For whom do I work, for whom am I busy?

Reserve grain - grain used to fight Soviet revisionism - grain left over after paying duties

The text on the back is:

Against Mao Zedong‘s totalitarian tyranny, fight for a happy life and freedom.

 

Leaflet 903597100

The image on this leaflet depicts a foot, representing the people of Cambodia, kicking out the pro-Communist party leader Norodom Sihanouk. The words on his bag are “Go to the USSR, Go to China.” Of course, the people did not know this would lead to the Khmer Republic later that year and ultimately to “the killing fields.”

The text on the back is:

On 18 March 1970, the Cambodian people rose up and threw out Chief of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, who is pro-communist and enslaves the people. This is the Cambodian people‘s patriotic movement to fight for independence and self-determination. This also sets a good example of how to throw out and condemning Mao. Brothers let‘s unite and follow the Cambodian people‘s patriotic movement, push down Mao‘s tyranny and fight for our freedom and happiness.

Uncoded Leaflet

This leaflet shows us once again that when the Chinese people want to put on a demonstration the effect is amazing. The text is:

Grand scenes as servicemen and citizens from all walks of life across the nation gathered in front of the Presidential Office Building to celebrate President Chiang's birthday with a chorus of 100,000 people.

Uncoded Leaflet 2

The Enlightened Choice!

The managing director of the Singapore branch of the Chinese Communist Bank of Canton, Mr. Chen Hongcheng, has defected to Taiwan in pursuit of freedom!

Mr. Chen Hongcheng, a native of Huanan, Guangdong Province, is currently forty-nine years old. He graduated from Guangzhou University and joined the Bank of Canton in 1942. He later transferred to the position of director of the Singapore branch's operations department. As a result, he became aware of the Chinese Communist Party's schemes to lure overseas Chinese with loans and support subversive activities abroad using economic leverage. Mr. Chen, recognizing the Chinese Communist Party's deceitful manipulation of overseas Chinese as a scourge to the world, which would only bring disaster to the Chinese people, believed that only by following President Chiang's leadership could there be a bright future. Therefore, he responded to the government's call for overseas Chinese Communist Party personnel to defect and return to the embrace of freedom. On October 14, 1966, he acted and chose freedom. He was subsequently transported to Taiwan via Hong Kong under the government's careful arrangements. The image shows Chairman Gu Zhenggang (left) of the Mainland Disaster Relief Association personally handing over relief funds to Mr. Chen Hongcheng (right).

Uncoded Leaflet 3

This leaflet features a young Red Chinese pilot who flew to Taiwan and joined the Nationalist Chinese Government. The text on the front is:

Fly towards the sky and you will have freedom!
Li Xianbin, Li Caiwang, and Lian Baosheng defected by plane to Taiwan.

Disgusted by the Chinese Communist Party’s tyranny and yearning for freedom, pilot of the 22nd Squadron of the 8th Division of the Chinese Communist Air Force Li Xianbin, along with Li Caiwang and Lian Baosheng, took off from Hangzhou Airport at 12:30 on 11 November in a jet bomber numbered 0195, headed straight for Taiwan. They safely landed at 1:18 pm the same day and were warmly welcomed by the military and civilians of Taiwan. Li Xianbin (seen on the picture on the left), said excitedly, "Once we were in the air, we broke free from the control of the CCP. I hope our friends in the CCP Air Force who are in the mainland but whose hearts are in Taiwan will seize the opportunity to defect!"

The text on the back is:

Defected by plane, warmly welcomed!

The picture shows a photo of Mr. Li Xianbin (right) and Defense Minister Chiang Ching-kuo welcoming him.

Ask the God of Plague to Leave

This uncoded 1970 leaflet depicts Chairman Mao wearing a crown and holding a bloody sword with banners behind him. The text on the leaflet from top to bottom are:

Ask the God of Plague to Leave

Great Direction - Great Leap Forward

“Great Direction” means the direction of government set by the Communist Party, such as the Five-Year Plan, land reform and so on. “Great Leap Forward” refers to the industrialization of China between 1958 and 1960.

The Chinese National Defense Education Website made a rather obscure mention in its “Chronicle on the National Defense of the New China (1971-1980)” page on “Combat Arrogance and Complacency Self-Educational Movement” in the People’s Liberation Army. It was devised by the political department of the Jinan Military District in January 1971 and was aimed at the PLA cadre corps, and also extended to the rank and file soldiers and non-military party organizations. It was probably just another insignificant political event during the Cultural Revolution, but the phrase kept appearing in texts relating to modern Chinese politics, but mostly as a figure of speech. If this leaflet was made right after the start of this communist “Self-Educational Movement,” it was rendered obsolete eight months later, when Lin allegedly defected to the USSR, but was killed in a plane crash in Mongolia. Following Lin's death, he was officially condemned as a traitor by the Communist Party.

Presidential Proclamation

This is a four-page leaflet-brochure with the complete text of the President Chiang Kai Shek's proclamation to youth. It is far too long to translate so I just show the front. The text is:

Youth Day in the 59th year of the Republic of China.:

Presidential proclamation to the youth.

Note: The fifty-ninth year of the Republic of China is 1970.

A Nationalist Chinese Leaflet Bottle

The leaflet is more interesting than usual because Sergeant Gene Briddle told me:

One day after work we had our Chinese Driver take us to a mine-free section of beach where we could swim in safety. When we arrived there we saw thousands of bottles lying on the beach. Apparently the tide turned and brought them back to shore instead of towards the mainland. I brought one back but have never opened it and removed the leaflets.

If you look carefully at one of the leaflets inside the bottle you can see it is the leaflet directly above.

Sergeant Gene Briddle in his U.S. Army Communication Center on Quemoy

Sergeant Briddle was given the position of Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the communications center on Quemoy. The NCOIC was to maintain the communications center in a ready state of operation. He used both Teletype and voice radio for communications to Taipei. He was responsible for all Teletype messages to and from the island. All messages were classified and processed thru Teletype crypto equipment. He also had a VHF radio transmitter that allowed him to talk to Taipei.

He told me:

While I was there both the Communists and Taiwanese military were still engaged in Propaganda shelling on odd nights. That consisted of stuffing propaganda leaflets into Howitzer shells. They were then fired over the island where they exploded and the leaflets were blown out and scattered and would float to the ground. Several of us would go outside and watch the shelling. You would hear the shell go over and explode before the sound of being fired from the mainland reached your ears. We never once thought about how dangerous that really was. These shells are exploding in the air and sending shrapnel through the air and to the ground. Being 20-year-old kids we had no fear. It was more like the 4th of July to us. I went out several mornings and picked up Propaganda Leaflet souvenirs before the military did. I was able to remove them from the island by including them in my briefcase that I carried classified materials in.

A Chinese leaflet artillery shell Fuse timer?

Sergeant Briddle told me about finding this shell fragment that he believes is a timer.

Our communication Center was inside a mountain. We had a furnace for burning classified paper materials that was on the hill above us and that is where I found this device on the ground right after a leaflet artillery barrage. It has gears and springs and it looks like the timer was set, the shell was fired and at some point the timer caused an explosion which exploded the shell in the air disseminating the leaflets. The back of the device shows an indication of a fire or high temperature and is very discolored.

Illustration of an Artillery Shell Fuse Timer

What do we generally know about time fuses?

Time fuses consist of a fixed and movable portion. The movable portion is rotated to form a longer or shorter labyrinth path for the fuse train to act. That is, by rotating movable portion of the fuse you can vary the time it takes to detonate. Time fuses of this sort activate when the gun is fired by either rotation or inertia or both.

50701400

This folded leaflet depicts two Communist Chinese pilots who defected to Taiwan on the front. The text is:

Li Xianbin and Li Caiwang tour the Treasure Island together.

The text on the inside of the leaflet is:

On November 11, 1965, former Chinese Communist Air Force Eighth Division Twenty-Second Squadron pilots Li Xianbin (left) and Li Caiwang (right) defected to freedom aboard the Chinese Communist 0195 Ilyushin-28 jet bomber. They now lead happy lives in freedom in Taiwan. The picture shows them together touring the scenic spots of the Treasure Island, taking a group photo at Chengcing Lake in Kaohsiung.

50701500 - Yiqun Zhou

The Nationalists also attacked Mao in leaflets that did not feature cartoons. Here a furious young man with fist raised attacks the Chinese leader. The text is:

According to a news source from the Chinese Communist Party on July 5, many young students from mainland China are initiating an anti-cultural revolution movement. Shanghai youth Yiqun Zhou sends his sympathy to those people who were removed from their position due to their right political tendency, shouting “kill Mao Zedong,” and also encourages those leaders and intellectuals already or about to be punished to retake their political positions.

Dear mainland brothers, Yiqun Zhou has set a good example of attacking the Chinese Communist Party. We hope you use your determination and action to fight the Chinese Communist Party and Mao. The Kuomintang Army will be with you at all times.

Learn from Yiqun Zhou, Down with Mao Zedong.

50701600

Once again, we see President Chiang, this time looking like a businessman in civilian dress. The text on the front is:

President Chiang said: "Today, we reaffirm the three assurances and ten articles. All intellectuals who have been targeted by the Maoist Communist Party's purges or are on the edge of persecution are our comrades-in-arms in pursuit of the Three Principles of the People. We will spare no effort to advance and to reinforce you."

Responding to President Chiang's great call, unite against communism! For that is the bright path to self-rescue and to saving the country.

The text on the back is:

Three Major Assurances:

1. All officers and soldiers who defect from the Communist forces will be treated equally with the soldiers of the National Army and be rewarded according to their merits.

2. All political groups and civilian organizations participating in anti-communist activities, except for the Communist Party, will enjoy equal and legitimate rights regardless of their past political stance. They will adhere to constitutional norms and principles of fair competition, working together to rebuild the new China based on the Three Principles of the People: government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

3. All members of the Communist pseudo-political parties and organizations, apart from the chief culprits, as long as they are willing to contribute to the anti-communist revolution, will be granted amnesty with a generous spirit of forgiveness and will be guaranteed the safety of their lives and property.

50701700

The leaflet depicts President Chiang Kai-shek and says on the front:

President Chiang said: "Today, we reaffirm the principle of "either comrades or enemies." Anyone who opposes Mao Zedong Thought, resists the violence of the Maoist Communist Party, and refuses to be a slave of the Maoist Communist Party is a comrade in our National Revolution."

Responding to President Chiang's great call, join the National Revolutionary camp and march towards the bright path of the Three Principles of the People: government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Some of the text on the back is:

President Chiang announced:

Three Major Assurances:

1. All officers and soldiers who defect from the Communist forces will be treated equally with the soldiers of the National Army and be rewarded according to their merits.

2. All political groups and civilian organizations participating in anti-communist activities, except for the Communist Party, will enjoy equal and legitimate rights regardless of their past political stance. They will adhere to constitutional norms and principles of fair competition, working together to rebuild the new China based on the Three Principles of the People: government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

3. All members of the Communist pseudo-political parties and organizations, except for the chief culprits, if they are willing to contribute to the anti-communist revolution, will be granted amnesty with a generous spirit of forgiveness and will be guaranteed the safety of their lives and property.

50905800 – Chinese Jet Fighters

Many of the Nationalist leaflets are designed to impress the mainland Chinese with the power of the military forces of Taiwan. Some show aircraft, some show naval forces, others show armor or troops. This leaflet depicts a Taiwan flight line bristling with F-104 Starfighters. The F-104Cs saw some service during the Vietnam War. The Republic of China F-104s engaged the Red Chinese fighters over the disputed island of Quemoy. This was a very difficult aircraft to fly with its long body and stubby wings. Germany was given a number of F-104s and had numerous accidents and fatalities. Two crashes took place in 1961. There were seven crashes in 1962, 12 in 1964, and 28 in 1965, or more than two a month. By mid-1966, 61 German Starfighters had crashed, with a loss of 35 pilots. At the height of the crisis, the Starfighter accident rate peaked at 139 per 100,000 flying hours. As a result, the German press went into a feeding frenzy and the F-104G was given derogatory nicknames such as the “Flying Coffin” or the “Widow maker.” Knowing the record of this aircraft, it is hard to believe that the PRC was very frightened of it. The text on the front is:

The mighty National Air Force guarantees the rescue of our compatriots on the mainland!

The propaganda message on the back tells the reader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's "Three Guarantees to potential defectors", while the chart at right outlines the awards (payable in ounces of solid gold) to those from the mainland's air force who switch sides. Prizes vary by rank, with the highest set at 4,000 ounces and the lowest at 500.

Taiwan received its Starfighters from various sources. 24 USAF F-104As and 5 F-104Bs were provided in 1960 and 1961. Another 46 F-104Gs and 8 TF-104Gs were obtained from Lockheed between 1964 and 1969. 21 RF-104Gs were also obtained about the same time though apparently nobody knows where they came from. 6 US National Guard F-104Ds were provided in 1975. 38 F-104Gs and 26 TF-104Gs were provided by the German Luftwaffe in 1983. 22 F-104Js and 5 F-104DJs were obtained from Japan, and 15 F-104Gs and 3 TF-104Gs were obtained from Denmark in 1987.

In The Aerial Leaflet of May 1967, I mentioned another leaflet that depicted a flight line of North American F-100 “Super Sabre” fighter aircraft. The text stated that any Communist pilot who flew a MiG-19 to Formosa would receive 4,000 taels of gold. The older MiG-17 was worth 2,000 taels and the MiG-15 1000 taels of gold. The Nationalists also wanted bombers so they offered 4,000 taels for an (Ilyushin) Il-18 or Il-28, 1,000 for the Il-14, and 800 for the Il-12.

Taiwan was the only allied air force to operate the F-100A model. The first F-100 was delivered in October 1958. It was followed by 15 F-100As in 1959 and by 65 more F-100As in 1960. In 1961, four unarmed RF-100A reconnaissance aircraft were delivered. Additionally, 38 ex-Army National Guard F-100As were delivered later, to bring total strength to 118 F-100As and four RF-100As. F-100As were retrofitted with the F-100D vertical tail with its AN/APS-54 tail-warning radar and equipped to launch Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Several were lost in intelligence missions over the People's Republic of China.

50905700 – The Republic of China Army

This leaflet depicts the nationalist Army at attention during a ceremony. They are lined up as far as the eye can see. The title of the leaflet is:

The mighty National Army guarantees the rescue of our compatriots on the mainland!

The propaganda message on the back tells the reader the "Three Guarantees" to potential defectors, at the middle is a tenfold pact outlining these protections in greater detail, and the chart at right outlines the awards (payable in ounces of solid gold) to those from the mainland's land forces who switch sides. Prizes vary by rank, but are much lower than the payments offered to air force defectors. The last line cites earlier defectors and argues that changing sides offers the only hope for the reader's future.

50905900 – The Republic of China Navy

This leaflet depicts Chinese sailors at attention in front of and aboard one of their destroyers. At the upper left, three destroyers are depicted at flank speed. One suspects that these ships were gifts from the United States. During WWII Britain accepted 50 destroyers from the United States in return for allowing the American Navy to place military bases on fourteen British colonies in the Americas. The Germans immediately started a propaganda campaign claiming that Britain had liquidated its empire by giving these islands to the Americans. I wonder if the Red Chinese produced the same sort of propaganda.

The back of this leaflet has a long text message which is addressed to "brothers" in the People's Republic of China's Army, Navy and Air Force. It says:

Chiang Kai-shek loves you

You will find comfort and freedom in Taiwan - fly towards Taiwan!

You are not our enemies, you are our comrades.

Interestingly, Chiang is referred to as Wei da de, ("glorious,") the same term used for Mao on the mainland. The red design at the edges says:

One tells it to ten, ten tells it to a hundred; unite hearts and rescue the people.

41185800 – Military and Civilian Life

The last leaflet using this theme is almost in the form of a cartoon with a Chinese flag at the center and along the right margin various military scenes; jet fighters, parachutists, artillery, etc. The left margin shows civilian gains; electrification, law, academics and farming. The short title on the front is:

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of the Father of our Country [Sun Yat-sen]

Build up Taiwan; Restore the Mainland

The text is in red as that signifies happiness. All the pictures portray the improvements the Nationalists have by no longer being in China.

51111700 - Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen has often been called the father of the Chinese nation. His image appears on pre-Communist Chinese stamps, currency, and numerous leaflets during the Cold War. He was the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912 and later co-founded the Kuomintang where he served as its first leader. I found no less than six leaflets using the same format as the one above, each in a different color and with a different text. Clearly, the Nationalists believed that the comments of Sun were important and still meaningful, even in the People’s Republic of China. These leaflets are only printed on the front on a very thin tissue paper. They would be easy to disguise in a book or hide in an object and because of their light weight many could be stuffed in a small hiding place. The text is:

Mr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China

To commemorate the birth of Sun Yat-sen, the father of our country, we must overthrow the dictatorial, despotic Mao regime;

We must endeavor to achieve: a country jointly possessed by the people, an administration run jointly by the people and an economy jointly enjoyed by the people as set down in the Three Principles of the People. 

U.S. Korean War Leaflet 7089

What I found really amazing is that the exact same image of Sun Yat-sen had been used by the U.S. Army First Radio Broadcast and Leaflet Group in September 1951. The Chinese Army was taking part in the Korean War and the U.S. propagandists wanted to use a theme that they believed would be meaningful to the Chinese troops. Some of the text on leaflet 7089 is:

Sun Yat-sen – Father of China

Forty years ago, the Chinese people, under the leadership of Dr. Sun Yat-sen wiped out the alien, despotic Manchu Dynasty and established a free democratic and independent China.

But now the Communists set up their dictorial regime and invite the Soviets as super-rulers to control China.

Under the orders of their Soviet masters the Communists force you to be cannon fodder in Korea while they massacre your people at home….

60114500 – Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang was the political and military leader of 20th century China. He was an influential member of the Kuomintang and took Sun Yat-sen’s place in the party when the latter died in 1925. In 1928, Chiang led the Northern Expedition to unify the country, becoming China's overall leader. During WWII he was a strong ally of the United States, but some American generals like “Vinegar” Joe Stillwell so hated him for his lack of willingness to fight the Japanese and the corruption of his government that he allegedly twice plotted to assassinate the Chinese leader who he called “the Peanut.” After the retreat of the Nationalist Chinese Army to Taiwan, Chiang ruled there with an iron fist until his death in 1975. This leaflet is one of four almost identical pieces depicting Chiang, each with a different text. The text on the front is:

President Chiang calls on all Chinese domestic and overseas compatriots to unite and wholeheartedly endeavor to promote Chinese culture, and has decreed November 20 as Chinese Culture Revitalization Day.

Chinese culture is the spirit of the 5,000-year history of the Chinese people, and reasonable "Red Guards" would not allow themselves to become accomplices of Mao's communist gang in destroying the spirit of our people!

Text on the back is:

President Chiang has pointed out: the main purpose of Mao's "Great Cultural Revolution" and the "Red Guards" is to organize and use bandits and Boxer rebels in similar manner to Hitler's Nazis, to destroy Chinese culture by wiping out intellectual elements and destroying modern civilization and threatening the human race with a people's war. This is a sure sign of the accelerating decline of Mao's communist regime.

This exact same leaflet appears in at least four more varieties with a different text. I have the leaflets ending in 300, 400, 500 and 900. I assume from those numbers that a minimum of 9 leaflets were printed. I add the messages from the front and back of the additional three leaflets here:

60114300: President Chiang Kai-shek calls on Chinese compatriots at home and abroad to unite as one and strive to promote Chinese culture and has decreed that November 12th of each year shall be designated as the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Festival. To reject communism, which employs "class struggle" as a means and "enslaving the people" as its goal, is the starting point for the revival of Chinese culture. Embracing the Three Principles of the People, which are rooted in "ethics," "democracy," and "science," is the true path to revitalizing Chinese culture!

President Chiang Kai-shek said: The Three Principles of the People have been proven through the practical experiences of the National Revolution and the current development of Taiwan. It is indeed a profound and compassionate ideological system which encompasses all political views and social ideals that love the country, cherish freedom, strive for national survival, and seek happiness for the people. It also includes the genuine political and social ideals of socialism. If members of the Chinese Communist Party truly seek the truth and genuinely love their country and people, they should promptly return to the great banner of Dr Sun Yat-sen, our founding father, and earnestly strive to realize the Three Principles of the People.

60114400: President Chiang Kai-shek calls on Chinese compatriots at home and abroad to unite as one and strive to promote Chinese culture and has decreed that November 12th of each year shall be designated as the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Festival. To promote a Chinese culture of benevolence with "people" as the political center; to root out the beastly Mao Zedong ideology that uses "people" as political tools!

President Chiang Kai-shek said: Under the premise of "anti-humanism," the Maoist Communist Party has thoroughly exposed the barbaric nature of the "Mao Zedong Thought." As a result, not only does it seek to purge leftist literature and art of the 1930s, but it also opposed all classical literature and art both at home and abroad, even Soviet culture post-October Revolution. Consequently, the cultural and artistic foundations of the Maoist bandits have become increasingly impoverished, cutting off all sources of literary and artistic thought. Having lost the weapon of arts and culture, "Mao Zedong Thought" is doomed to hasten its demise.

60114900: President Chiang Kai-shek calls on Chinese compatriots at home and abroad to unite as one and strive to promote Chinese culture and has decreed that November 12th of each year shall be designated as the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Festival.

Long live the Chinese nation! Long live Chinese culture!

Promote the traditional culture of the nation with its bedrock of improving people's livelihoods! Eradicate the social system that enslaves the people to consolidate the Mao Zedong clique!

My translator says: All three of these leaflets share the same aim, which is a repudiation of the Cultural Revolution and telling the mainland Chinese that the KMT's "Three Principles of the People" is the true vanguard of "Chinese culture." The first line of all three talks about Chiang's decree instituting the new "Cultural Renaissance Festival." This was proposed in 1966, so these leaflets would probably have been published no earlier than that, and probably not much later.

41084600

Numerous other leaflets depict the Generalissimo in various poses. In leaflet 41084600 he smiles at the left while thousands of massed Chinese are shown at the 10-10 National day parade at the right. The leaflet title is:

President Chiang is the savior of the Chinese people.

Small print at the lower right says:

Possession of this leaflet is proof of anti-communist intent and guarantees special treatment

41084700

Leaflet 41084700 consists of four pages and depicts Chiang in a casual pose in front of a flowering tree. The other three pages depict various Chinese political leaders. The leaflet title is:

President Chiang, leader of the Chinese people

51111200 - A celebration of President Chiang’s Birthday

This leaflet depicts a crowd that has gathered in honor of the President’s coming birthday. The text is:

Brave anti-Communists and their children gather to express their loyalty to President Chiang Kai-shek.

On October 27 [three days before the actual birthday] brave anti-Communists and their children gathered on the plaza in front of the Presidential office to salute President Chiang Kai-shek.

51111300

The front of this leaflet depicts enormous crowds of marching Chinese. The text on the front is:

President Chiang is the savior of the Chinese nation!
Compatriots at home and abroad warmly celebrate President Chiang's birthday with great enthusiasm.
The first picture shows compatriots from home and abroad congratulating President Chiang in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on 31st October.
The second picture shows young students marching in Taipei to celebrate President Chiang's birthday.

The text on the back is:

Responding to President Chiang's great call is the bright path to saving the nation and ourselves!

President Chiang announced:

Three Declarations to the Communist Party's Government and Military Cadres

1. If you do not oppose the national army during our national army's large-scale counterattacks and do not resist but instead cooperate with the national army, you will be rewarded based on your merits, receive a rank in the national army, and enjoy equal treatment as the national army.

2. If you initiate an uprising first, as long as you adhere to the laws of the government of the Republic of China and implement the "Ten Articles" that I announced on Double Tenth Day in the fifty-first year of the Republic of China (1962) to the soldiers of the Communist army, Communist party cadres, and their party members and organizations, then we will immediately recognize your military and political status. You will be appointed as leaders at various levels, such as platoon leaders, company commanders, battalion commanders, regimental commanders, division commanders, and army commanders, and promoted according to your merits. At the same time, you will be granted the authority of regional administrators in the areas you liberate. If your troops in the coastal areas request assistance from the national army, we will dispatch large forces to support you within six hours and fight alongside you.

3. I believe that today, whether it is for the survival of the nation, the life of the nation, the livelihood of the people, or even for individual freedom, the entire nation, both military and civilian, shares the same fate. So, we must be united in overthrowing the scoundrels of this country, the shame of the nation, the cunning and deceitful tyrant - Mao Zedong! We also have only one goal, and that is to realize the new China of the Three Principles of the People created by the founding father of the Republic of China, Mr. Sun Yat-sen, which embodies freedom, equality, and fraternity. I often say, "If not enemies, then comrades." If you are sincere and trustworthy, not hostile to our National Revolutionary Army, then even a member of the Communist Party can be our comrade. We will treat you all as comrades just like our own, without any distinction or discrimination.

Once the Maoist bandits are overthrown, we will advocate for the convening of the Second National Assembly of the Republic of China, where representatives will be elected by the people nationwide to revise the constitution. Regardless of class or party affiliation, every citizen of the Republic of China will have the right to vote and to be elected. This is to rebuild our free, equal, unified, and independent new China based on the original aspiration of our National Revolutionary common cause!

41084900

This leaflet depicts giant fireworks on the front and a gigantic crowd in front of a building on the back. The text on front is:

Joyous Double Tenth National Day Celebration

On the eve of Double Tenth Day, scenes of the night view of the Presidential Office and the fireworks set off by the people.

The text on the back is:

Together, let us resolutely fulfil the great task of saving the country and the people from communism!

Hundreds of thousands of people gather in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei, celebrating the grand occasion of the Double Tenth National Day with great enthusiasm.

[Translator notes]: ‘Double Tenth Day’ is another, perhaps more colloquial name, for the National Day of the Republic of China, which falls annually on the 10th October, commemorating the Wuchang Uprising of 10th October 1911, the first shots of the Xinhai Revolution which led to the end of Qing Imperial rule of China and the establishment of the Republic of China.

41085000

This leaflet depicts Sun Yat-Sen. He is considered the father of Nationalist China. The back is a short text with a Nationalist China flag. The text on the front is:

Founding Father, Dr Sun Yat-Sen.

The text on the back is:

To commemorate the centennial birthday of our founding father, we must promote the traditional Chinese spirit of benevolence and eradicate class hatred and class struggle!

51113000 - President Chiang, Savior of the Chinese people

Another leaflet that glorifies President Chiang depicts a giant celebration with uniformed marchers and bands. The text is:

President Chiang is the Savior of the Chinese People!

Compatriots from Home and Abroad warmly celebrate President Chiang’s birthday.

On October 31, compatriots from home and abroad celebrate President Chiang’s birthday in front of the Presidential office building in Taipei.

Young students celebrate President Chiang’s birthday in front of the Presidential office building in Taipei

This leaflet is in honor of President Chiang’s 80th birthday on 31 October 1967. A friend who lived in Taiwan told me that American kids would trick or treat on 31 October for Halloween. The Chinese children saw Americans giving out candy and came knocking on the door. After the Chinese kids were given candy that said how nice it was that Americans gave out candy and celebrated President Chiang’s birthday.

This final Chiang Kai-shek leaflet depicts him as a heroic figure pictured in the sky before his assembled adoring people while squadrons of the Chinese Air Force fly by in formation. The text is:

President Chiang, who leads the anti-Communist and National Restoration Efforts

It is worth noting that the text leaves a blank space between “President Chiang” and the rest of the line. It is not an omission, but rather a mandatory way of formatting in order to show respects to Chiang at the time of his reign.

Since we mention Chiang Kei-shek over and over again in these leaflets we should add a photo that depicts a Chinese woman preparing leaflets bearing his image to be ballooned to Mainland China. This UPI photograph dated 21 February 1961 has the caption:

A woman worker with her long pigtails tucked into her belt packs food and propaganda material into plastic bags in Taipei, Formosa, The food relief packages, containing photos of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, were destined for airdropping over the famine-stricken Chinese mainland. On the back of Chiang’s photo is the message: “President Chiang is concerned over the Mainland famine. He calls for emergency aid for the suffering compatriots.”

Note: During the Great Chinese famine which took place from about 1957 to 1961 it is estimated that about 15 to 30 million Chinese starved to death. Food packages were regularly ballooned to mainland China; many calling for the overthrow of the Communist regime.

50906000 - Balloons

A great number of the Chinese leaflets depict people launching balloons. This seems to be a favorite way for the Chinese to celebrate, and it might also be the actual launching of propaganda balloons in some cases. In this case a group of a dozen people launch balloons, many of which seem to be printed with the Chinese Nationalist flag. The text on the front says that this is a group of young anti-communists from the Mainland who are releasing balloons to "bring the good news to compatriots on the Mainland." The banners attached to other balloons refer to the Three People's Principles of Sun Yat-sen.

The U.S. Army 7th PSYOP Group sent teams to Taiwan from time to time to help the Chinese with their ballooning program. In their files I found this photo of balloons very much like those shown in the above leaflets.

  

50906100 - Swimmers
Note the Basketball Liner

This leaflet depicts two young Chinese men who defected to the Nationalists by swimming or floating to freedom.

The story is told in a Kings Syndicate article of 5 October 1966. John Chamberlain mentions the escapes in a story entitled "A Cheaper Way to Beat Mao," and says in part:

In Red China they are taking Mao Tse-tung's admonition to practice swimming, but some of the Chinese have been swimming to get away from Mao.

Hsu Wei-hsun made it from Kwantung Province to Portuguese Macao, a distance of three miles, on his second try. The other, Lin Yung-an, got out from Fukien Province to the free island of Quemoy by clinging to an inflated inner tube of a basketball through four miles of buffeting currents.

Hsu first tried to use an inner tire as a float but was caught and released by the Chinese border guards. He was also approached by guards in a boat at sea on his second attempt, but since he was already inside Portuguese waters, they did not detain him. 25-year-old Lin says that he swam to get away from the economic crisis and the political terror caused by the "Cultural revolution."

The text on the front of this leaflet is:

Two youths from Xiamen, Lin Yong'an and Lin Jiadong.

Escaping the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party, breaking through waves in pursuit of freedom!

Lin Yong'an (left) and Lin Jiadong (right) who safely swam to Kinmen, with the flotation device that helped them across the sea.

The text on the back of the leaflet is:

25-year-old youth Lin Yong'an [right] and the 22-year-old youth Lin Jiadong [left] are both from Xiamen and graduated from the high school division of Xiamen Municipal Third High School. Dissatisfied with the changes in the education system by the Communist Party and longing for freedom, they took the risk of crossing the sea from Xiamen on the night of 7 August with only a bamboo pole and two basketballs.

After battling the waves for twelve hours, they finally arrived safely at the small island of Kinmen where the Nationalist Army was stationed on the morning of 8 August. Upon their successful escape to freedom, they were warmly welcomed and treated by the military and local civilians in Kinmen. According to their wishes, they will be sent to Taiwan for further studies or employment. The picture shows the two young men, Lin Yong'an and Lin Jiadong, who have gained freedom, dressed in new attire. With a sense of gratitude and relief, they took a commemorative photo of significant meaning in front of a portrait of our founding father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" flag.

[Translator Notes]: The text refers to the flag as the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" flag, but the photo appears to show the "Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth" flag, which is slightly different. I am not Taiwanese, but from my knowledge and cursory research it seems the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" flag has the titular "Blue Sky with a White Sun" in the middle of the flag, and is the Kuomintang Party Flag, whilst the "Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth" flag has the Blue Sky and White Sun as a canton in the top left of the flag, and is the national flag of the Republic of China. Despite the difference, I went with the direct translation.

51008300

This is another marriage leaflet where Taiwan tells the Red Chinese to defect, meets a beautiful woman, be married, and live happily ever after.

Bravely fleeing to freedom, his remarkable achievement brings happiness. Li Xianbin and Miss Zhang Meiyun held their wedding ceremony in Taipei. Li Xianbin, a former Chinese Communist Air Force pilot who defected by flying an Il-28 jet bomber from Hangzhou Airport on 11th November 1965, now a captain in the Republic of China Air Force, married Miss Zhang Meiyun at the Air Force Officers' Club in Taipei on 16th September 1966. The wedding was officiated by Air Force Commander-in-Chief Xu Huansheng, and it was celebrated as a remarkable event in the free world. The picture shows the groom, Li Xianbin, and the bride, Zhang Meiyun, holding their wedding ceremony in a grand and enthusiastic atmosphere.

The message on the back is:

The picture shows the end of the wedding ceremony amidst the firing of ceremonial salutes and enthusiastic applause. The smiles of the newlyweds show the happiness that fills their lives.

[Translator Note]: The remainder of the leaflet shows rewards and bounties for aircraft. The rewards offered (as well as the aircraft models) are the same as the ones I’ve previously translated in leaflet 41186800. The text under the table tells ground crew that they are also eligible for rewards if they assist in defections, etc.

The character used as ornamentation throughout this leaflet is known as 'Double Happiness.' It is a ligature repetition of the character meaning 'happiness' or 'joy,' hence the name. It's not really used in day-to-day writing, it's usually only ornamental, or as a decorative motif in architecture or jewelry. The groom Li Xianbin in this leaflet appears to be the same man who is the second man from the left on the front of leaflet 41186200 (having just made his defection there).

60803700 - Armed Guards

There is an entire series of leaflets printed on a thin tissue-paper with blank backs that seem to be "Black propaganda." For instance, the leaflet above depicts an armed Chinese guard standing in front of barbed wire. Another in this series, leaflet 60803900, depicts a long line of Chinese peasants being led off carrying all their belongings. The text on the leaflet claims that anti-Mao rebels have seized the Baiyun airport in Guangzhou; it claims that "Public Security Brigades" are spontaneously forming, serving as catalysts for an imminent revolution. The rebels in charge of the airport are quoted as urging their countrymen everywhere to stand up to Mao and overthrow the Chinese Communist Party. The red label to the right of the soldier says "Down with Mao Zedong," the one at bottom left says "Baiyun Airport."

60801600 - Air Letter

Three of the Nationalist Chinese leaflets are in the form of leaflet-airmail letters. In all three, the front of the leaflet appears to be an airmail letter with a red and blue border. Two of the three leaflets also depict a jet aircraft giving an even greater impression of an airmail letter. The back of the leaflets are all text. The codes on the leaflets are 60801600, 60802700 and 60803300. Each of these three leaflets attack the “Cultural Revolution,” a time of chaos in China brought on by Mao Zedong. He launched it 16 May 1966 alleging that “liberal bourgeois” elements were permeating the party and society at large and wanted to restore Capitalism. He insisted that these elements be removed through pre-revolutionary class struggle by mobilizing the thoughts and actions of China’s youth, who formed Red Guard groups around the country. One of the main focuses of the Cultural Revolution was the abolishment of the “Four Olds:” Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas. The revolution ended about 1976 and China gradually returned to what we might call normalcy.

Leaflet 60801600 is addressed to:

City of Fuzhou
Mr. Han Xianchu, (in red) Commander of the Fuzhou Military Area Command

(It is requested that whichever of our friends finds this letter finds a way to get it to Han Xianchu himself)

The message on the back of the leaflet is:

Mr. Han Xianchu:

The struggle against Mao Zedong opened by the action of the Million Heroes [a faction of the Red Guards], led by Wuhan military region commander Chen Zaidao, is the signal for the entire PLA to openly oppose Mao; it is a challenge to Mao Zedong’s dictatorship. This event not only marks the state of mind of today’s entire “Liberation Army,” it also shakes the reactionary foundation of Mao Zedong’s rule.

Mr. Han Xianchu: The Wuhan military region commander Chen Zaidao was originally your war comrade; now he leads the “Liberation Army” to arise and publicly oppose Mao Zedong. You should respond to his action, supporting him either publicly or secretly. Only by bringing down the autocratic madman Mao Zedong can you be considered true heroes of the people.

Wishing you successful victory.

[Note: In July 1967, Chen Zaidao led the Million Heroes faction against Red Guards inspired by Xie Fuzhi. Chen’s alliance with the more conservative military establishment led him to prefer stability to the forces of the Cultural Revolution, which was entering its most chaotic period. Chen was dismissed but regained his status in 1972, after the central government had acted to curtail what it perceived as dangerous instability.]

60803300 - Air Letter

Leaflet 60803300 is addressed to:

Xiamen, Fujian
To the Chinese Communist Army 93rd division commander Zhong Qi
 
[From] Li Yaosheng
 
It is requested that whichever of our friends obtains this document finds a way to get it to Zhong Qi himself

The letter is from Li Yaosheng, a very minor military figure, who defected to Taiwan on 1 August. It is dated only two weeks later, on the 15th. He describes the warmth of his reception in Taiwan over the last few days as "moving me almost to tears," and congratulates himself on having made the right choice. He says that given Mao's autocracy and the suffering of people on the mainland, many others would follow his example if given the chance. He says his ultimate goal is to go with President Chiang back to the mainland and liberate it, so when that day comes soon, he hopes that Zhong Qi will seize the opportunity and rebel against the Communist Party.

60802700 - Air Letter

Leaflet 60802700 is addressed to:

Commissar Comrade He Yunhong (in red), Political Committee Member, Henan Military District, CCP

(It is requested that whichever of our friends obtains this letter finds a way to get it to Comrade He Yunhong himself)

The message on the back of the leaflet is:

Comrade He Yunhong:

Since Mao Zedong initiated the “Cultural Revolution,” and spurred thousands upon thousands of ignorant young “Red Guards” to serve as his tools of struggle, insane chaos has gripped every part of the mainland. Since this turmoil began, it has turned the entire mainland into a fearsome, chaotic hell in which each is out to protect his own.

However, due to your clear intellect, you made the sensible choice, and bravely, boldly, in a planned and organized fashion directed a unit of the Communist Army in Henan to arise and beat the Mao cliques into ignominious defeat on May 26, earning the accolades of the entire nation’s workers and farmers. This is the accomplishment of true leadership!

But the Mao clique will certainly not relax its attitude toward you. You should raise your vigilance and bravely arise. The Wuhan military region commander, comrade Chen Zaidao, leads a unit that now stands on the same battle line as you, both having opposed Mao; furthermore there are the countless anti-Mao and anti-Communist revolutionary masses, all acting as your powerful rearguard. Since ancient times, no man of heroism and virtue has ever stood alone.

You absolutely must remember that the great National Army on Taiwan is ready to come to your aid at any time – Bravely advance! Smashing Mao and extinguishing Communism, constructing a new, truly free and democratic China, is the only great path of self-preservation and the salvation of the nation.

Wishing you successful victory.

[Note: He Yunhong was another local military official who attempted to preserve stability by suppressing a Red Guard outbreak. However, his action is here willfully misinterpreted as a deeper revolt against the regime.]

60802200 - Squad Leader Yaosheng Li

This leaflet depicts a Communist Chinese soldier at lower left and at upper right receiving his award of gold after defecting to Taiwan. The text is:

Squad leader Yaosheng Li today and yesterday

NOW, He has hope, has a future, and has received his award of gold

HIS PAST, restricted, no freedom, no hope, how sad!

Responding to the call of President Chiang, Yaosheng Li , 22 years old, from Lianjiang County of Guangdong province, was awarded five-goodness soldier for three consecutive years. He swam to Taiwan for freedom from Xiamen on 1 August 1967 due to his dissatisfaction with the tyranny of the Communist Party of China.

51112500 - A Defector speaks

This leaflet features another young defector who found his way to Taiwan and here broadcasts to his new nation:

Patrol Leader of the ChiCom Maritime Public Security Force in Guangdong

Li Shaohua rose up and ran for Taiwan

Li Shaohua, currently 22 years old, was formerly a patrol leader of the ChiCom Maritime Public Security Force in Guangdong. He came from the town of Aotouzhen, Huiyang County, Guangdong, and graduated from a ChiCom military institution on Haitan, Huiyang. Li Shaohua was initially an active cadre in the Communist Party. Although he was raised under ChiCom education, his human conscience awoke him to the full extent of ChiCom’s tyranny. Even more, he abhors the Mao-Lin clique which instigates the “Red Guards” to devastate Chinese culture and our people. On 8 September 1966, he resolved to rise up and defect with a small boat. He went to Hong Kong, where he was transferred by the Government to Taiwan. Li Shaohua expressed that, from now on, he wishes to contribute his strength to the high cause of anti-communism and national-restoration under the leadership of President Chiang, in order to bring about the counter-offensive onto the Mainland and the salvation of our suffering compatriots.

In the photo, Martyr Li spoke determinedly: “To answer President Chiang’s great call, I will serve the state with practical actions, and render meritorious service for the salvation of our country and our compatriots on the Mainland.”

The text on the back is:

President Chiang hand-drafted four major principles for the mainland military and civilians, as well as the Communist military and cadres who defect and return.

First, generous rewards will be given to those who defect. Whether you flee to freedom from the air, sea, land, or the front lines, whether you come by plane, boat, or through the efforts of bandits, please submit evidence to support your situation. All will be generously rewarded and provided with opportunities for education or career development based on personal preferences. You will also enjoy the same treatment as members of the national military.

Second, significant promotions will be given to those who achieve merit through defection. Anyone who can lead the defection of armed forces from the communist army, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, will be reinstated in their former positions and promoted based on their merits. Anyone who can organize anti-communist forces in any region of the mainland, establish guerrilla bases, and resist the communist tyranny, will be immediately appointed as military and political commanders in the designated areas. The government will also provide assistance to meet the needs of defected communist forces.

Third, absolute protection to those who participate in anti-communist activities. Those who directly join the anti-communist cause or indirectly support the people's resistance against tyranny, providing cover for our anti-communist activists, will all be regarded as our comrades. Their personal safety and that of their families, as well as their property, will be guaranteed. They will be treated without distinction and will be given opportunities for reemployment.

Fourth, no investigation of one’s past conduct. Except for the arch-criminal Mao Zedong, all levels of Communist Party cadres and the party committee directors in the military, if they are willing to change their ways, will not be held accountable for past actions. Those who actively assist in anti-communist activities or lead armed forces in rebellion against the Communist Party, and show genuine repentance, will be given opportunities for reemployment based on their capabilities.

The picture shows Li Shaohua speaking at a press conference in Taipei, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of their recent atrocities on the mainland, such as the "Cultural Revolution" and the "Red Guards."

Note: The leaflet says “Military institution on Haitan, Huiyang.” We would say “Haitan Military School of Huiyang.” “Lin” mentioned in the “Mao-Lin Clique “refers to Lin Biao.

41185400 - Bomber flown to Freedom

This leaflet shows a Red Chinese Ilyushin Il-28 aircraft on Taiwan. The Ilyushin Il-28 jet bomber was built by the Soviet Union shortly after WWII. It was the USSR’s first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also license-built in Red China as the Harbin H-5. On 11 November 1965, Chinese Air Force Captain Li Xianbin flew his bomber numbered 0195 the Hangzhou Jianqiao Air Base of Zhejiang Province to Taoyuan Air Force base on Taiwan. It was reported at the time that due to an accident on landing, Navigator Li Caiwang was injured and radio operator Lian Baosheng was killed. It took decades for the true story of the defection to come out. Only the pilot defected. The two crew members were unwilling participants. Li Caiwang was wounded during the defection and Lian Baosheng killed himself rather than go over to the Nationalists. Later it was learned that the pilot was angry that the reward money for the dead Lian Baosheng was shared with Li Caiwang.

During the Cold War years, many Nationalist pilots defected to the mainland in the name of the propaganda motto “Come back to the motherland.” At the same time, many mainland pilots defected to Taiwan to the theme of “Fly to the freedom.” During that period, the Taiwan authorities paid bars of gold to those they called the “Anti-Communism Heroes.”

This was the first Il-28 bomber to fall into allied hands. Li Xianbin was rewarded with 2000 taels (100 kg) of gold and Li Caiwang (the navigator) received 1000 taels (50 kg). There are about one half-dozen leaflets showing different views of this aircraft. It was a major story at the time. The back of the leaflet depicts various newspapers all mentioning the story of the defection.

Navigator Li Caiwang served with the Nationalist Air Force for a period and then immigrated to the United States in 1983. He ultimately returned to mainland China, denounced the Taiwan government, and was accepted back into the Communist fold. Remember, he was an unwilling participant in the defection. Pilot Li Xianbin also immigrated to the United States after retiring from the Nationalist Air Force. In 1991, believing that he might also return with impunity he flew from Canada to Shandong. He was arrested at Qingdao airport and sentenced to prison for 15 years for his treason. He was paroled in 2002 due to stomach cancer.

The title of the leaflet is:

We welcome the defections of Li Xianbin, Li Caiwang, and Lian Baosheng!

The text is:

Pilot Li Xianbin, navigator Li Caiwang, and radio operator Lian Baosheng from the 22nd Group, 8th Division of the Chinese Communist Party Air Force chose freedom and flew their Il-28 jet bomber from Zhejiang airport, safely landing at the north Taiwan air field at 1:18 p.m. on 11 November and received a warm welcome from General Xu Huansheng, the Commander of the Republic of China Air Force and the staff of the air force base. Li Xianbin stated that he hated the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party authority and could no longer bear the persecution. He said that after Wu Faxian became the Commander of the Chinese Communist Party Air Force, he enforced the repression and persecution of the air force staff. All the Chinese Communist Party Air Force pilots are upset and hopeless and are eager to fly to the free world. Li Xianbin defected in response to the political call of President Chiang and to shake off the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party.

The photo captions are:

General Xu Huansheng, the Air Force Commander, welcomes Li Xianbin

Il-28 jet bomber piloted by Li Xianbin

41185700

This leaflet is folded so that there are four sides. The front depicts Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. When opened, there is a longer text on the inside two pages. The text on the front is:

Our Founding Father Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, who created the Republic of China.

The text on the middle pages is: 

Our Founding Father Dr. Sun Yat-sen criticized Marx's historical materialist perspective in his lecture on the Principle of Mínsheng [Government for the People/Welfare Rights]. He also condemned Marx’s class struggle theory and exposed the fallacy of his theory of surplus value. And what about Communism? The Father of the Nation further pointed out: "Communist organizations, and even the Soviet system, are not applicable to China in practice because there are no conditions in China for the success of such communist or Soviet systems."

The Chinese Communist Party is now forcefully implementing Marxist-Leninist communism, which is incompatible with China's national conditions. Over the past sixteen years, it has brought unprecedented suffering to the people nationwide and perpetuated class struggles incessantly, going against the founding father's calling for a revolution of national inclusiveness. This betrayal of the founding father's principles is universally recognized, yet the Chinese Communist Party still claims to have realized the revolutionary ideals that the founding father failed to achieve. They even plan to commemorate the founding father's centennial birthday to further confuse the public. This is truly an act of shamelessness! Keep this document as proof of anti-communist sentiments and to enjoy various benefits.

[Translator’s Notes]: The flags shown on this leaflet is the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" flag on left and the "Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth" flag on right. The "Blue Sky with a White Sun" flag is the party flag of the Kuomintang, whilst the "Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth" flag is the flag of the Republic of China.

41185000

This leaflet depicts a lovely lady who we are told is a Chinese opera star. The text is:

The heinous crimes of the Chinese Communist Party have aroused unanimous indignation across the nation. Chinese Communist Party female artist and Peking Opera performer Tan Duanyan, holds pictures depicting the atrocities of the CCP, and accuses the CCP regime in front of her compatriots of the Free Homeland in Taipei.

41186000

The front of this leaflet has four photographs of  Red Chinese defectors being treated kindly by the Chinese of Taipei. The back is a long political text. The captions on the photos from right to left, bottom to top are:

The Air Force Commander-in-Chief Xu Huansheng held a banquet in honor of Lee Xianbin. With a smile, Lee stood up and toasted everyone in return.

General Tang Shouzhi, Director of the Political Warfare Bureau of the National Army, rushed to the Air Force Hospital overnight to visit and comfort Lee Caiwang, who was injured and hospitalized along with Lee Xianbin in the aerial defection.

The officers and soldiers of the National Army Air Force have all become friends with Lee Xianbin. Look! A friend from the Air Force is currently helping Lee with his necktie to go with his new suit.

Singer Miss Huang Xiaoduo has a smile on her face as she presents Lee Xianbin with a bouquet of flowers. Lee Xianbin said: "Wherever President Chiang is, there is hope!"

[Translator's Note]: Lee Xianbin was the defector who flew to Taiwan on 11 November 1965 on an Il-28 jet bomber. It later came to light that Lee Caiwang, his supposed co-defector, was an unwilling participant. Lee Caiwang emigrated to the United States in 1976 and returned to China in 1983, denouncing his initial defection. Lee Xianbin also returned to China in the 1990s but was arrested by the Communist authorities and served 11 years in prison.

60897400 – Pilot Rewards

This leaflet is another that heralds the feats of Li Xianbin’s defection with an Ilyushin Il-28 and tells of his new life:

Those who rise up and achieve meritorious deeds will be handsomely rewarded and promoted.

In 11 November 1965, Martyrs Li Xianbin and Li Caiwang, former pilot and navigator of the 22nd Group, Eighth Air Division of the ChiCom air force respectively, rose up and came to our embrace with an Ilyushin Il-28 jet bomber departing from the Hangzhou Airport. According to the “Regulations on the preferential treatments for arriving ChiCom brethren”, the Government not only rewarded them with the promised gold, Martyr Li Xianbin was also awarded with the rank of Air Force Major; and Martyr Li Caiwang with the rank of Air Force Captain. The awards became effective on 11 November Year 54 of the Republic (1965), the day of their arrival. Both martyrs looked energetic in their new Air Force uniforms. The photo shows General Hsu Huan-sheng of the Air Force Headquarter awarding them their ranks.

After receiving their new ranks, both martyrs expressed that they will accomplish the high cause of anti-communism, national restoration and the salvation of our compatriots on the Mainland under the leadership of the great President Chiang.

The leaflet substitutes “defection” with a more positive-sounding “rise up” [for righteousness]. During WWII the Japanese were always asked to “Cease resistance,” never to “surrender." It is interesting to see the way propagandists manipulate words.

The leaflet uses “ChiCom” for “Chinese Communist” Chiang Kai-Shek’s propagandists tended to use “Communist Bandit” rather than the more neutral “ChiCom” to describe the CCP in propaganda for domestic consumption. “ChiCom” came into a more prevalent use after Chiang Ching-kuo [the son of President Chiang Kai-shek] took the leadership.

The Year of the Republic: The ROC calendar is also known as the Minguo Calendar. Its first year is 1912, the founding year of the ROC.

In Chinese, the ROC Armed Forces are known as the “National Armed Forces” or “National Army.” “Armed Forces” and “Army” are interchangeable in concise translation, since they are represented by the same character in Chinese.

51111500 - Marriage

Many of the leaflets depict young people getting married. This seems to be a favorite theme of the Nationalists and one wonders if the Mainland Chinese were tempted to defect to Taiwan to find love and romance. The text on the front tells of the marriage of Li Caiwang, who is mentioned in the leaflet above. His wife is named Xue Xunrong. The flyer is intended to show yet another benefit of defecting to Taiwan! According to Wikipedia, Xue was Li's nurse. Remember that he was injured by Li Xianbin and tried to kill himself when he found that his pilot was defecting. She later confessed to him that she had been assigned by the KMT to spy on him. However, their love was apparently real as was their marriage.

51212700 – APACL Conference

I selected this leaflet because of the interesting symbol at the right. I thought it must be some sort of a political group or organization. I was correct. The symbol represents the “Asian People's Anti-Communist League,” a multinational organization headed by the Republic of China. Today, it’s known as the “World League for Freedom and Democracy” and is a non-governmental organization of the United Nations. The text on the front is:

Resolution of the 12th Conference of the Asian People's Anti-Communist League:

To determinedly support the Republic of China to recover the mainland. To build a new country of freedom, democracy, and peace. To expand the Asian People's Anti-Communist League. To destroy communist tyranny.

The 12th Conference of the Asian People's Anti-Communist League was held in Seoul.

There is a long propaganda text on the back:

On 3 November 1966, the 12th Conference of the Asian People's Anti-Communist League was solemnly held in Seoul, the capital of Korea. Representatives from various Asian nations and regions along with observers from Africa and Latin America, totaling one-hundred-and-forty-four members, came together to discuss on how to defeat the invasive polities of the Communist Bloc for security and peace in Asia, as well as the salvation of all oppressed peoples of Asia under the chains of communist tyranny.

After six days of discussion, the 12th APACL Conference was successfully concluded with a manifesto issued. After reviewing international affairs of this year, the Conference confirmed that the Communist Bloc is facing decline. In particular, the shrinking economy of the ChiCom illustrates that communism has already gone bankrupted.

The improving state of the Free World is analyzed in the Manifesto. It is believed that the re-establishment of relations between Korea and Japan, the rapprochement between Indonesia and Malaysia, the United States’ determined support of Vietnam, etc., has already built new, favorable circumstances for the fight against communism in Asia. A new path has been opened for the future victory over communism in Asia. In light of the grave crisis resulting from the ChiCom’s “Cultural Revolution” and the insane “Red Guard” Movement, countries of Asia resolves to fully support the anti-Mao, anti-communist struggle of the Chinese people on the mainland, and to actively support China, Korea and Vietnam to recover their lands, in order to annihilate the communist scourge headed by the ChiCom.

The Manifesto also solemnly declared: To unite the strength against communism from peoples of the world, the countries of Europe, Americas, and Africa that attended this APACL Conference and representatives from international anti-communist organizations have joined together for the formation of a World Anti-Communist League. The World Anti-Communist Conference is set to be held in 1967 on the seat of the Government of the Republic of China – Taipei.

It should be noted that ChiCom as used in this text can mean either Chinese Communists or Communist China.

51213000

This is an interesting leaflet because one side depicts a Chinese official who defected to Taipei. The other side shows a mass of newspapers that mention the defection and some comments: The text on the front is:

Refusing to be a tool for the Communist Party's cultural warfare, the chief interviewer of the Communist-owned Hong Kong "Wen Wei Po," Mr. Liu Yuesheng, has renounced the Communist Party and sought refuge with President Chiang. Picture shows Mr. Liu Yuesheng holding a press conference in Taipei on 11 November, detailing to the international press his journey to freedom.

The text on the back is:

Central Daily News

Despising the Chinese Communist Party and fleeing to freedom, Liu Yuesheng arrived in Taipei with a heart full of joy and excitement. As news of Liu Yuesheng’s arrival in Taiwan spread, panic and confusion abound in leftist circles in Hong Kong.

Liu Yuesheng, comes from witnessing the Cultural Revolution…

51213300

This leaflet shows five Chinese defector that have a lot to say about Communist China. The speakers are quoted left to right. The text is:

The anti-communist compatriots in Taiwan are roaring out their defiance against communism!

Li Xianbin said: "Although I am now living a free and happy life, I hope that my old colleagues in the Communist Army will muster the courage to break free from the shackles of the Chinese Communist Party and seek freedom, joining hands in the noble cause of anti-communism and saving the country." The image shows Mr. Li Xianbin, a former pilot of the Chinese Communist Air Force, who defected by flying a Soviet-made Il-28 jet bomber from Hangzhou on November 11, 1965.

Dong Jiping said: "The reason I have returned from the United States to settle in Taiwan is to contribute to the anti-communist cause led by President Chiang." Dong was formerly the Assistant Cultural Commissioner at the Chinese Communist “Embassy" in Burundi, Africa. He defected to freedom in August 1964.

Hsu Wei-hsun said: "I believe that today, intellectuals and rational Chinese Communist Party cadres on the mainland can no longer tolerate the atrocities and persecution of the Maoist regime. I urge them to respond to President Chiang's great call and engage in a direct confrontation with the Mao-Lin clique. The powerful National Army in Taiwan is always ready to provide assistance." The image shows: Former Associate Professor at Beijing Normal University, Hsu Wei-hsun, who defected to freedom in September 1965.

Jia Zhongling said: "The Maoist regime sacrificed three million Chinese compatriots needlessly on the battlefields of Korea. Today, it once calls for assisting [North] Vietnam and for 'world revolution' abroad and using the 'Red Guards' to slaughter their own compatriots on the mainland. This is a great harm to the entire nation and all our compatriots. Only by removing Maoist tyranny can our nation have hope for survival." The image shows: Jia Zhongling, a volunteer soldier of the "Resist U.S. aggressors and aid Korea" People’s Volunteer Army, who defected together with members of his unit from the battlefield in Korea to freedom on January 23, 1954.

Lin Yong'an said:  "Today's prosperity in Taiwanese society and the people's affluent lifestyle are all thanks to the wise leadership of the great President Chiang. We cannot stand by and watch our compatriots on the mainland suffer under the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party, living a life worse than that of cattle and horses. We are willing to dedicate everything we have and follow President Chiang to regain the mainland and to rescue our compatriots." The image shows: Lin Yong'an, a young man who swam to freedom in Kinmen from the opposite shore in August this year. He graduated from Xiamen Municipal High School.

51213400

This is a patriotic New Year’s leaflet depicting the nationalist Army with the Chinese flag. The text on the entire leaflet is:

Happy New Year

The mighty national army welcomes our Communist brothers to defect and join our ranks!

Felicitations from all officers and soldiers of the Republic of China Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Keeping this document can be used to prove anti-communist intentions and enjoy various privileges.

51213700

This is an attractive folded card with a golden ship with a red background. The text on the front is:

Happy New Year

There is a photograph of a Chinese navy boat on the inside of the card and the following text:

Learn from the example of your comrades Wu Wenxian, Wu Zhenjia, Wu Chunfu and others from the Minbei Transportation Team of the Chinese Communist Navy, who piloted the Chinese Communist F-131 landing craft to defect, for that is the true path to the light!

We welcome to the ranks of the Nationalist Navy, defectors from the Chinese Communist Navy.

1. All past actions will not be investigated. Your personal safety is guaranteed, human dignity is respected, and you will enjoy equal treatment in the Nationalist military.

2. Those defecting from the Chinese Communist Navy will be promoted according to their merits or freely choose their profession based on their wishes.

3. Those who lead ships to defect will be awarded bonuses according to the following standards:

Light cruiser - 100,000 taels of gold.
Destroyer - 10,000 taels of gold.
Coastal defense gunboat - 5,000 taels of gold.
Minesweeper - 5,000 taels of gold.
Patrol gunboat - 5,000 taels of gold.
Patrol boat - 3,000 taels of gold.
Amphibious tank landing craft - 2,000 taels of gold.
Medium landing craft - 1,000 taels of gold.
Infantry landing craft - 600 taels of gold.
Tank landing craft - 3,000 taels of gold.
Submarine - 10,000 taels of gold.
Torpedo boat - 500 taels of gold.
Coastal minesweeper - 500 taels of gold.

The text on the back is:

Bon Voyage!

[Translator’s Note]: A tael is the name given to a unit of measurement used in East and Southeast Asia. In Mainland China the tael was standardized to 50g in 1959, but in Taiwan a tael is 37.5g. As the leaflet is for a Mainland audience, I can only presume that the tael in question is more likely the mainland weight of 50g, but I cannot be certain.

Red Chinese pilot who defected to Taiwan

It was not only aircraft that made the leaflets. Back in November 1966 I wrote about a Red Chinese pilot who defected to Taiwan with a MiG-15. This defection inspired another leaflet shown above with the text in part:

Chinese Communist Navy Brothers: Take Liu Cheg-sze as a model. We welcome you to come over to our side.

Many of the leaflets that encouraged red Chinese pilots to defect to Taiwan had maps giving them course and distance to fly because the Chinese Communists had removed the Island of Taiwan from the maps that they were given for security reasons. These leaflets were very successful. At the Republic of China Air Force Museum at Ching Chuan on Taiwan there are five MiGs and an Aisle 28 Beetle Bomber on display, all of which defected from the mainland to Taiwan in this period.

In The Aerial Leaflet of May 1967, I wrote about a leaflet that depicted Chiang Kai-shek on one side and various routes that a Communist pilot could use to defect to Taiwan on the other. The title of that leaflet was “The Invincible Chinese Air Force on Taiwan.” The leaflet message explained the four principals of President Chiang Kai-shek. They are rewards for defections, positions for those willing to fight the Communists, protection for those who participated in anti-Communist activities and forgiveness to those who followed the Communist line in the past. The leaflet ends:

Any member of the Communist army, navy or air force who participates in an uprising against the Communist regime, or responds to the National forces counter-offensive by coming over with his military equipment shall be generously rewarded according to his merits, and shall receive the same treatment as our own government troops.

A Nationalist Chinese Display showing the reach of its Propaganda Radio

On the subject of defections and rewards, Mark Magnier mentions them in an article about the radio war between the Chinas in “50-Year War of Words.” The Times, 2005

Like two old soldiers locked in a wrestling grip, the broadcasts press doggedly on, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, outlasting even North and South Korea's loudspeaker battle across their tense demilitarized zone. “This isn't just a broadcast,” said Cheryl Lai, president of Radio Taiwan International. “This is war. China sees it as a hot war. We see it as a cold war. But it's still a war.” Chen, the broadcaster, grows animated as she recalls her early days at the station. Recruited in 1978 at age 18, she was tested, her family and friends screened and her ideology reviewed for any hint of communist sympathy before she got a job as “professional political warfare agent,” as presenters were then called.

For most of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, propaganda airwaves in both directions were filled with hard-core screeds, slogans and denunciations. Another Taiwanese show during this period, dubbed the “Black Hole Program” by staff members, was so hush-hush that regular announcers weren’t even supposed to know of its existence. Eventually word leaked out that the project was producing fake “mainland” broadcasts, designed to trick Chinese listeners into thinking they were generated from Beijing, even as their content subtly undermined the communist regime's messages.

It is difficult to assess the number of hearts and minds converted over the years by either side through these various campaigns. Nor has much scientific effort been expended to do so. Occasionally, however, there were big propaganda coups. From the early 1960s through the early 1980s, both sides used radio broadcasts to lure fighter aircraft and ships across the strait with promises of glory and gold.

Taiwan was generally more aggressive and cumulatively threw more money at the program - paying out more than 2 1/2 tons in gold bars. Periodically, it broadcast a menu of rewards that included the number of gold bars, based on what machine the defector arrived in; how the purse would be divided if two soldiers came together; and what job was guaranteed in the Taiwanese military - always at a promotion over current Chinese rank. Both sides lured more than a dozen aircraft and several ships. The record reward on the Taiwanese side went to mainlander Sun Tianqin, who received 770 pounds of gold for flying over in a MIG-21 jet in 1972. One of the biggest purses for traveling the other way went to Taiwanese pilot Huang Zhi-cheng, who arrived in the mainland's Fujian province in 1981 in an F-5E, for which he earned the equivalent of $800,000 at today's exchange rates.

51213800 - Happy New Year

A number of the Chinese Nationalist leaflets are very "arty." That is to say, they have various forms that make them different from the standard 3 x 6-inch U.S. leaflet. In this case, the leaflet is in the form of a Chinese screen. The two doors on the front open to show the leaflet message inside. The text on the outside basically says "Happy New Year." The propaganda message appears when one opens the screen. The title on the inside is:

To heed the glorious call of President Chiang, uniting against the Communist Party, is the only bright path to salvation for us and for the nation!

The text lists Chiang Kai-shek's three proclamations to members of the political and military establishment on the mainland, which are basically: Do not actively resist us [during our invasion to re-take the mainland] and we will not harass you; if you accept Kuomintang leadership and abide by the ten stipulations proclaimed in 1962 you will be able to keep your political or military rank; the ultimate goal is to be rid of Mao Zedong and construct a China based on the Three People's Principles of Sun Yat-sen.

51110100 - Defecting Militia Leader

Some of the leaflets are cut in such a way that opening the leaflet (like a greeting card) exposes the picture and message inside. In this case, part of the first page has been cut out to expose some of the picture beneath on the second page. A number of leaflets were prepared like this one with different fancy designs in the cut-away portion. In this case, the text to the left of the vignette says:

Paving the way for Communist Party cadres to stride toward freedom: Chinese Communist militia leader Zhang Zongyao (Chang Tsung-yao)

The text on the inside tells of how the Communist militia officer defected to Taiwan, found a way to freedom and set an example for his fellow officers.

The commander of the People's Militia in Bao'an, Guangdong Province, Zhang Zongyao, defected to freedom on 27 August 1966. After seeking political asylum from the authorities in Hong Kong, he was duly escorted to Taiwan by the government. Zhang, 32 years of age, was a native of Yantian Village, Bao'an County, Guangdong Province. He graduated from the Anti-Chemical Command and Engineering Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, was a member of the Communist Party, and held various positions, including as an observer and cartographer for the Communist 36th Artillery Regiment, a platoon leader, and a lieutenant staff officer in the artillery division. He also served as the commander of the militia in Shatoujiao, Yantian, Bao'an County. After his arrival in Taiwan, Zhang was determined to participate in anti-communist activities. In line with President Chiang's declaration of “If not enemies, then comrades,” the government has arranged suitable work for him according to his wishes. The picture shows Mr. Zhang Zongyao at a press conference in Taipei, where he is exposing the brutality of the communist regime.

51110300

This leaflet depicts a defecting Chinese actress being interviewed by the press. The text is:

Chinese Communist Hong Kong actress Wu Xiufang has defected to freedom!

Chinese Communist Hong Kong Flying Dragon Film Company actress Wu Xiufang, dissatisfied with the Chinese Communist Party's "Cultural Revolution" and its suppression of film and drama workers, defected to freedom in August of this year.

She received a warm welcome from Li Hanxiang, the host of Taiwan's Guolian Film Company, who immediately signed a five-year contract with her. On 30 August, Wu Xiufang flew safely to Taiwan aboard a civilian airliner with the assistance of the government.

Wu Xiufang, aged twenty-two and from Taishan, Guangdong, joined the Hong Kong Flying Dragon Film Company two years ago. She starred in nine films including "Who's the Real Murderer?" "Damsel of the Three Sects," "Since Your Departure," and "Love and Hate." Upon stepping onto the land of freedom in Taiwan, Wu Xiufang received warm regards from the people and military of her motherland. She expressed her willingness and desire to help save her suffering compatriots on the mainland under the leadership of the great and kind-hearted President Chiang.

The image shows Wu Xiufang recounting her journey to freedom during a press conference in Taipei City.

[Translator’s Notes]: The press conference shown on this leaflet appears to be the same as the one shown on leaflet 51111000. I tried to find the official English names of the movies mentioned in the text, but could only find them for two of them, the rest are approximate translations. You’re better off just saying that she starred in nine movies.

51112100

Sun Yat-sen is a favorite topic of the Nationalist leaflets. Here is another short set featuring his portrait and words. The text is:

Only by realizing Dr. Sun Yat-sen's selfless Three Principles of the People in mainland China can we alleviate the suffering of the entire nation, who are controlled in thought, economy, forced labor, and endless class struggle by the Maoist regime!

Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who created the Republic of China.

The same image of Sun Yat-sen is on leaflet 51112200. The text on that leaflet is:

President Chiang solemnly declares, in accordance with the spirit of selflessness espoused by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, our founding father: “If not enemies, then comrades.” All members of the Chinese Communist Party, if they are willing to defect and return, and participate in the national revolution, each and every one of them is our comrade. Once the Maoist bandits are overthrown, the Second National Assembly of the Republic of China will be immediately convened, with representatives elected by the people nationwide, to revise the constitution. Regardless of class or party affiliation, a new China will be rebuilt based on the principles of freedom, equality, and independence.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who created the Republic of China.

51140400

Renowned director Wen Yimin, who worked for Hong Kong based Communist film companies Longma, Great Wall, and Phoenix, responded to President Chiang’s call and defected to freedom in Hong Kong in September of this year and arrived in Taiwan on 27 September.

This he did due to his detestation of the Communist Party’s “Cultural Revolution” and its suppression of film and drama workers.  Wen, now aged 65 and originally from Beijing, and who served as a director of the "South China Film Workers' Union" under the Chinese Communist Party, said: "I may be 65 years of age, but freedom is something desired by people of any age.

Now that I have obtained freedom, I want to advise all CCP cadres that following the CCP is a dead end. Hurry and rebel to seek freedom; only by being free can one be truly fortunate!"Free people are the ones truly fortunate!"

The picture shows Wen Yimin holding a press conference in Taipei on 30 September to recount his defection. Sitting to his right in red clothing is the recently defected Chinese Communist Hong Kong actress, Wu Xiufang.

[Translator’s Notes]: The press conference shown on this leaflet appears to be the same as the one shown on leaflet 51110300.

51111000- Defecting Movie Star

It wasn’t only military officers that defected to Taiwan. Here, a beautiful Chinese actress smiles warmly as she carries the Nationalist flag. The text is:

Actress Wu Show-fong said after she gained her freedom: “Under the sun and blue sky [the symbol on the Republic of China flag] there is freedom and a bright future.”

Actress Wu Show-fong worked for the Communist Felung Films but escaped and was invited to visit the Republic of China and attend the Double-ten events. She was so impressed with what she observed of the happiness and prosperity the people of Taiwan and the strength of the Republic of China forces exhibited in the parade and the kindness President Chiang Kai-shek showed to her. The photograph shows how happy Wu is with a Republic of China flag held in her hand standing in front of Chiang Kai-shek’s office.

This leaflet can be used as identification to prove you are a brave anti-Communist and entitled to enjoy many special privileges. Keep it safe for future use.

As we mention again below, the “Double-Ten” (10th month, 10th day) refers to the October 10, 1911 founding of the Republic of China.

 

51212600 - Newspaper Reporter Defects

I selected this leaflet because I like the image. Two cranes are shown flying toward the White Nationalist sun on a deep blue background. The text is:

Liu Yuesheng, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Director of Interviews of the Chinese Communist Party's Hong Kong newspaper, chose freedom from the Maoist regime on 5 November in Hong Kong and safely arrived in Taiwan on the afternoon of 10 November.

Liu Yuesheng was a capable cultural propaganda cadre of the Chinese Communist Party stationed in Hong Kong. However, the Maoist regime's destruction of Chinese culture and its atrocities against intellectuals led him to lose confidence in the Maoist regime.

This Chinese Communist Party cultural cadre, who responded enthusiastically to President Chiang's call of "if not enemies, then comrades," declared passionately: "On 1 October, I still went to Beijing to celebrate the pseudo 'National Day' instituted by the Chinese Communist Party, but my spiritual allegiance was already in Taipei. Although Mao Zedong boasted of his nuclear missiles, he can never control the yearning for freedom among intellectuals."

"The Maoist regime is doomed to fail!" Liu Yuesheng joyously exclaimed, "I see the blue sky and the white sun again! I am free!"

Liu Yuesheng, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Director of Interviews of the Communist Party's Wen Wei Po in Hong Kong, exclaimed with immense excitement:

"I see the blue sky and the white sun again, I am free!"

The Text on the back is:

Liu Yuesheng opened the door to freedom as a member of the Chinese Communist Party!

Vice President Yan (left) personally met with Mr. Liu Yuesheng, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Director of Interviews of the pseudo-Chinese Communist Hong Kong [Newspaper] Wen Wei Po, who had defected from Hong Kong to Taiwan in support of freedom.

President Chiang’s Three Declarations to the Communist Party's Government and Military Cadres

1. If you do not oppose the national army during our national army's large-scale counterattacks and do not resist but instead cooperate with the national army, you will be rewarded based on your merits, receive a rank in the national army, and enjoy equal treatment as the national army.

2. If you initiate an uprising first, as long as you adhere to the laws of the government of the Republic of China and implement the "Ten Articles" that I announced on Double Tenth Day in the fifty-first year of the Republic of China (1962) to the soldiers of the Communist army, Communist party cadres, and their party members and organizations, then we will immediately recognize your military and political status. You will be appointed as leaders at various levels, such as platoon leaders, company commanders, battalion commanders, regimental commanders, division commanders, and army commanders, and promoted according to your merits. At the same time, you will be granted the authority of regional administrators in the areas you liberate. If your troops in the coastal areas request assistance from the national army, we will dispatch large forces to support you within six hours and fight alongside you.

3. I believe that today, whether it is for the survival of the nation, the life of the nation, the livelihood of the people, or even for individual freedom, the entire nation, both military and civilian, shares the same fate. So, we must be united in overthrowing the scoundrels of this country, the shame of the nation, the cunning and deceitful tyrant - Mao Zedong! We also have only one goal, and that is to realize the new China of the Three Principles of the People created by the founding father of the Republic of China, Mr. Sun Yat-sen, which embodies freedom, equality, and fraternity. I often say, "If not enemies, then comrades." If you are sincere and trustworthy, not hostile to our National Revolutionary Army, then even a member of the Communist Party can be our comrade. We will treat you all as comrades just like our own, without any distinction or discrimination. Once the Maoist bandits are overthrown, we will advocate for the convening of the Second National Assembly of the Republic of China, where representatives will be elected by the people nationwide to revise the constitution. Regardless of class or party affiliation, every citizen of the Republic of China will have the right to vote and to be elected. This is to rebuild our free, equal, unified, and independent new China based on the original aspiration of our National Revolutionary common cause!

Note: The Wenweipo Press was a major news service believed to be run by the Chinese Communist Central Propaganda Unit.

41186100 - Circular Leaflet

The Chinese also appear to have liked circular leaflets. When leaflets are airdropped the size and proportions are very important because the disseminator wants to know exactly how far and how fast the leaflet will drop and how much ground it will cover. Since these Chinese leaflets were carried by balloon and there was no worry about rotation and coverage, they could prepare the leaflets in any form that they wished. A second leaflet in the circular format has the Chinese character for “Happiness” on the front and a short message explaining how that happiness is to be found on Taiwan on the back.

The leaflet above again depicts Red Chinese Air Force defector Li Xianbin. The picture shows him being welcomed by throngs in Taipei. The text is:

On November 11, 1965, at 2:30, Li Xianbin heroically piloted his Ilyushin 28 no. 0195 jet bomber towards Free Taiwan.

Text on the back of the leaflet outlines the system of awards payable in gold for defectors from the mainland. The caption at the bottom notes that holding on to this leaflet can serve as proof of intent to defect.

41186200

Another marriage leaflet, this one quite arty. The front shows a fancy scene with the heads of the marriage party in a cut-out. When the folded leaflet is opened you see the entire party, heads, bodies, and all at the left and a message on the right. The back depicts several men in military uniform. The text on the front is:

Gathering of the Four Heroes
Liu Chengsi, Li Xianbin, Gao Youzong, Shao Xiyi
United in resolve, they rebelled for freedom.

The text in the center is:

Liu Chengsi, who defected by piloting a Communist MiG-15 aircraft on 3 March 1962, and Shao Xixian and Gao Youzong, who defected by piloting a Communist civil aircraft on 15 September 1961, along with their young and beautiful wives and little babies, all met together at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on 14 November. They met with Li Xianbin, who had defected on 11 November by piloting an Il-28 aircraft from Hangzhou with tail number 0195. In the moment when the four heroes met, they couldn't help but embrace each other. After a brief exchange of greetings, Liu Chengsi, Shao Xixian, and Gao Youzong all said in unison, “I knew there would be other brothers who are unwilling to be oppressed by the Communists and defect!” Li Xianbin smiled and said, “In that, you are all correct!!” Then everyone burst into joyful laughter of victory. This was truly a profoundly meaningful and great meeting.

The picture on left shows from left to right Mr. and Mrs. Liu Chengsi, Li Xianbin, Air Force Commander General Xu Huansheng, Mr. and Mrs. Shao Xiyi, Mr. and Mrs. Gao Youzong, along with their little baby.

The text on the back is:

Upon receiving the news of Li Xianbin's defection, Liu Chengsi, Shao Xiyi, and Gao Youzong were overjoyed. Eventually, they decided to visit and congratulate Li Xianbin together. Li Xianbin flew to an unspecified airport in Taipei, and was immediately greeted with jubilation by the reception staff. Keeping this document can serve as proof of anti-communist intentions and entitle individuals to various benefits.

   

41186300

The leaflet features a demonstration of people carrying pictures of Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai-Shek. On the front. The back seems to show patriotic leaflets falling on the crowd of demonstrators. The text on the front is:

The spirit of our founding father will remain always.

Young people from domestic and overseas regions gather in firm support of the government in implementing the Three Principles of the People.

November 12th marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of our founding father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a glorious day for our nation and our people. The Three Principles of the People as advocated by Dr. Sun Yat-sen is the lodestar which guides the path of our Chinese nation, heretofore and forevermore. It represents the origin of our era; indeed, the power of the Three Principles of the People has overturned the despotic Qing Dynasty, dismantled Warlord rule, and triumphed over Japanese imperialism.

In recent years, the government in Taiwan has been committed to gradually realizing the teachings of our founding father, resulting in Taiwan becoming the most progressive and stable society in Asia. The people enjoy the highest standard of living in the Asian region. The government is currently making efforts in their preparations for the restoration of the nation through opposing communism. In the future, it is determined to implement the Three Principles of the People on the mainland and build a new China that is free, prosperous, progressive, and strong.

The text on the back is:

Commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, our founding father.

With the power of the Three Principles of the People, let us dismantle the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party! People from all walks of life gathered joyously in front of the Presidential Office square to hold a celebratory assembly.

Keep this document as it can serve as evidence of anti-communist sentiments and entitle you to various privileges.

41186600

This leaflet depicts a Chinese Communist (identified by the red star on his chest), with a big bump on his head. The text on the front is:

Mao Zedong has suffered yet another major setback in his diplomatic efforts.

The text on the back of the leaflet is:

From the Indonesian anti-communist incident, one can see the fate of the Chinese Communist Party.

Mao Zedong attempted to incite the so-called "revolutionary struggle of oppressed nations" in Indonesia using united front tactics, to realize his vision of “surrounding the cities from the countryside” for a global revolution. However, the outcome was not as expected; instead, it triggered a wave of anti-communist sentiment among the Indonesian people.

According to reports, on October 3rd, the people of the Indonesian capital Jakarta were enraged and destroyed the Communist Youth League office, leading to the arrest of over four thousand communist members. A nationwide movement to completely purge the Communist Party is now underway in Indonesia.

41186800

This leaflet depicts a Chinese defector to Taiwan getting married on the left, receiving a promotion in the middle, and the happy husband and wife with child. This idea that people who defect will find mates and live happily every afterwards is also found in Korean and Vietnamese leaflets. Love seems to be a powerful motivator for defecting. The text on the front is:

The Happy Trilogy of Shao Xiyi, who Escaped to Freedom by Plane. On October 7, 1964, the righteous Shao Xiyi and the beautiful and elegant Miss Chen Huiying were married in Taipei. Air Force Commander-in-Chief General Xu Huansheng personally promoted the righteous Shao Xiyi to the next rank. Shao Xiyi added a chubby little baby to the family.

The back is all text and quite long:

On 15th September 1961, former Communist pilot Shao Xiyi, who defected by flying Civil Aviation Flight No. 18132 from Jiaoxian, Shandong Province, was rewarded by the government according to the regulations on rewards for defection. Shao, recognized as a hero, not only enjoys freedom in Taiwan but also experienced a series of joyful events, adding immense happiness to his life.

On 7th October of last year, Shao married the beautiful Miss Chen Huiying. Early this year, Shao was promoted to the rank of Air Force Lieutenant in the national army, and in September of this year, they welcomed a cute baby.

The Regulations on Treatment for Defectors from the Chinese Communist Air Force

1. Absolute respect for personal dignity and a guarantee of safety.

2. You will be free to choose your profession - such as joining the Republic of China Air Force, where you will be given an appropriate position based on your rank and ability. If you wish to pursue further education, you can choose to attend university according to your preferences, or even study abroad.

3. When you defect, you can tune in to the Central Broadcasting Station (750 kilohertz) for guidance. Keep flying in that direction until you reach Taiwan. At that time, the national army will dispatch planes to escort you to the nearest airfield for landing.

4. The government will award you a bonus based on the type of aircraft you flew when you defected. The rewards are as follows:

5. Ground crew members of the Chinese Communist Air Force who facilitate the defection of aircraft are eligible for the same benefits and bonuses.

6. Ground and aircrew members of the Chinese Communist Air Force who escape from the mainland by land or sea are guaranteed the same benefits for themselves and their families. Additionally, they will receive a substantial bonus that will be sufficient to ensure a comfortable life for the rest of their lives.

Plane Reward

Yak-25 4,000 Taels Gold
Mig-19 4,000 Taels Gold
Mig-17 2,000 Taels Gold
Mig-15 1,000 Taels Gold
Il-28 4,000 Taels Gold
Tu-4 2,000 Taels Gold
Tu-2 1,000 Taels Gold
Tu-104 5,000 Taels Gold
Il-18 4,000 Taels Gold
Il-14 1,000 Taels Gold
Il-12 800 Taels Gold
An-2 500 Taels Gold
La-2 500 Taels Gold

Other types of aircraft can receive an equivalent amount of rewards.

41186900

This leaflet depicts Nationalist Chinese and Malagasy officials standing behind a Chinese bomber that was flown by defecting pilots to Taipei. The text is:

President Tsiranana of the Malagasy Republic in East Africa arrived in Taipei with his wife for a visit on the night of 12 November at 10:25 PM. Whilst enroute to our country for his visit, President Tsiranana heard about the defection of Chinese Communist Air Force pilot Li Xianbin, navigator Li Caiwang, and communication officer Lian Baosheng, who flew a Soviet-made Ilyushin-28 jet bomber to defect. Upon his arrival in Taipei, President Tsiranana remarked, "The defection of these Chinese Communist Air Force pilots clearly demonstrates the deep-rooted support [in Mainland China]  for the Republic of China, while also revealing the failures of the Communist regime!" The image on the left shows President Tsiranana and his wife (standing third and fourth from the left in the front row) accompanied by Minister of National Defense Chiang Ching-kuo (second from the left in the front row) and Air Force Commander Xu Huansheng (third from the right in the front row) as they visit the Il-28 get bomber used in the defection at an unspecified airport in the north of Taiwan.

[Translator Notes]: Philibert Tsiranana was President of the Malagasy Republic (present day Madagascar) from 1959 to 1972. He apparently made two visits to Taiwan in his tenure as president, once in April of 1962, and once from the 12th to 15th November 1965. Given that the defection mentioned in this leaflet was the one that happened on 11 November 1965, the contents of this leaflet no doubt occurred during the latter state visit.

41187000

This leaflet depicts two men on the front. They apparently escaped from Burma and defected to Taiwan. The text on the front is:

3,000 zhang of rageful hair and a heart resolute against communism. Righteous men He Yao (right) and Meng Xingguo, who returned to the embrace of the free motherland from Burma. In the determined and resolute faces of these two, is etched a burning fury against communism. Keep this document for proof of anti-communist sentiments and to enjoy various benefits.

The text on the back is:

ONE HEART RESOLUTE AGAINST COMMUNISM, STEADFAST IN REVENGE.

Two more anti-communist men of honor have returned to the embrace of the free motherland on the eve of the centenary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's birth. One is He Yao from Yunlong County, Yunnan Province, and the other is Meng Xinguo from Tengchong County, Yunnan Province. They both struggled for fifteen years to escape the evil clutches of the Chinese Communist Party and finally won their freedom; especially He Yao, who grew his hair for ten years, having vowed not to cut it until he gained freedom. After returning to the free motherland, He Yao said, "Better to die than live without freedom. I now pledge, under the leadership of President Chiang, to fight against communism to the end and seek revenge for our fallen comrades with my undying body." 

[Translator’s note]: A zhang is a Chinese unit of length that was standardized to 3⅓ meters (or about 3.645 yards) in 1930.

Propaganda Booklets

There were a great number of informative propaganda booklets sent from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China. Some are highly illustrated with patriotic themes, some explain sabotage techniques, and some just have text. The 15-page booklet above depicts Wu Shutong on the cover and is an abbreviated version of his speech given in Taiwan. Wu was a communist activist in Hong Kong who visited the Mainland numerous times between 1950 and 1966, and was given a role in various Mainland organizations, but defected to Taiwan during the Cultural Revolution. He paints a dismal picture of the oppression of intellectuals and the Party's role in fomenting riots in Hong Kong.  

Another Booklet

This uncoded booklet depicts has six pages of Chaing Kai-Shek amongst the people, signing autographs, walking with male soldiers, sitting among female soldiers, holding a child, voting in a local election, etc. The text on the front is:

The great and benevolent President Chiang.

Surrounded by a group of patriotic overseas Chinese students in the Philippines, President Chiang is signing autographs to commemorate the occasion.

The text on the back is:

President Chiang voted as a citizen in the election for the village chief.

60800300 - Free Chinese Industry

This leaflet depicts seven Taiwanese buses on the front and celebrates Taiwan's industry, noting that people in Taiwan are able to enjoy these fruits of production in a “modernized, fortunate and free society.” The back depicts five lines of motor scooters at the top and ten trucks at the bottom.

Students in Free China…

In 2013, two more leaflets from Taiwan appeared. The first depicts a young Chinese couple and around them are all of the various types of careers that are open to them on Taiwan: nursing, science, dancing, drafting, teaching etc. The flyer is undated and written with full-form Chinese characters as used in Taiwan and by certain overseas Chinese, not simplified characters as used in the People’s Republic of China. The title is:

In Free China each youth has the freedom to choose a vocation.

The back is all text and says in part:

Students in Free China have the freedom to choose a course of study.

This year over 4,000 overseas Chinese have come to study at universities and secondary schools in Free China. They are now busy pursuing courses of study that they themselves chose.

Why did they all come to the free homeland, not the mainland? Because:

(1) They know that under communism they do not have the freedom to choose a course of study.

(2) They detest communist political studies.

In Free China, students have the freedom to select a course of study and the freedom of not having to receive political training.

In Free China, anyone, according to their own interests can study Chinese literature, philosophy, engineering, chemistry and if it suits their fancy they can study painting and music to prepare for a future as a painter or musician.

Without a doubt, only in an atmosphere of freedom can mature youths employ Chinese thought and culture and blossom into a fresh, bright flower.

Yu Hung-chun

The second leaflet depicts Yu Hung-chun on the front. He was a Chinese political figure who served as premier of the Republic of China on Taiwan between 1954 and 1958. The leaflet is very long and bears his statement and response to the People’s Republic of China’s call for the "Liberation" of Taiwan

This more historical type of leaflet shows a very regal Chinese General reading a scroll. The person depicted in the image is General Guan Yu, respected as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness whose allegiance was to Liu Bei. Guan Yu was deified by some and is still worshipped by many Chinese people today. He was captured by Cao Cao, who was the archenemy of Liu Bei. Cao Cao treated Guan well and tried to buy Guan Yu's allegiance but inevitably failed. Guan Yu is such an icon of unwavering loyalty in Chinese folk culture that, in Hong Kong, he is the deity to ask for blessing from for both the police and the criminal Triads.

The moral seems to be that one should always remain loyal even if he is in enemy territory like Guan Yu, the respected folk hero. Perhaps the leaflet designers hoped to make the Communists think that there were secret Nationalists among them who still had their hearts to the “House of Han.” During the 1980s, as part of a black operation, the Republic of China broadcast “family messages” to the mainland from Quemoy for alleged Nationalist agents. There probably were no such agents, and the real purpose of those broadcasts was to keep the other side on guard against supposed enemies. Perhaps this leaflet had the same purpose. The text is:

Loyal and righteous for a thousand years

My body is in the camp of Cao Cao

But the Royal House of Han remains in my heart

Miniature Leaflets

Many of the leaflets are quite small; just little strips of paper. The three leaflets we depict and show here are all printed on one side only, and can easily be hidden on the person of the finder, and perhaps later stuck on a wall or a window.

Image courtesy of www.war-images.com

The first leaflet is in the form of a pennant with the text:

Soldiers under Mao Tse-tung and under Chu Teh's command!
We offer you the opportunity to come to freedom from the Communist tyranny.

Chu Teh (Zhþ Dé) (1886 - 1976) was a Chinese Communist military leader and statesman. He is regarded as the founder of the Chinese Red Army (the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army) and the tactician who engineered the revolution from which emerged the People's Republic of China.

Image courtesy of www.war-images.com

The second leaflet depicts skulls and bones and the text:

You should not shed blood for the benefit of the Russians.

You should not die for the sake of Mao Tse-tung and Chu Teh.

Image courtesy of www.war-images.com

The third leaflet depicts the flag of nationalist China and the text:

The only way to a happy life is to surrender to the Nationalist Armed Forces.

Bookmarks

As mentioned in several quotes above, the Nationalist Chinese regularly sent various gifts and trinkets to mainland China by balloon. We depict one of their propaganda bookmarks above. A bookmark is a strip or band of some material, such as paper, leather or ribbon, put between the pages of a book to mark a place. Psychological operators have used it on numerous occasions to carry their propaganda messages because the bookmarks tend to be saved and placed in a book and every time the reader opens the book the message is the first thing that is seen. PSYOP Bookmarks have been used in Vietnam, Korea and by the Nationalist Chinese on Taiwan. The text is:

Our leader is the anti-Communist, Russia-resisting, prescient Great Thinker.

(Issued May 20, 1954)

Other bookmarks were all text and had messages such as:

The League of the Chinese College Students urges the youth on the Chinese mainland to rise up and overthrow the tyrannical Communist regime.

Bookmark to Chinese Communist Pilots

One green bookmark has the symbol of the Chinese Air Force at top center and the text:

Chinese Communist Air Force Brothers:

MiG 0651 has already flown to freedom here in Taiwan.  You only have to be decisive, have courage, get free from your shackles, and attain freedom.

We know this bookmark was printed about 1961 because what the Nationalists did not tell their Communist brothers was that on 12 January 1960 Wang Wenping, flying a MiG-15 Fagot (0651), attempted to defect from the People's Republic of China, but the aircraft exploded on landing at Ilan, Taiwan.

Another Bookmark to Chinese Communist Pilots

A white all-text bookmark says: 

Defect with your aircraft and fly to Taiwan and receive 3 Main Guarantees:

1. Guarantee your personal safety.
2. Guarantee a large reward.
3. Guarantee freedom to choose an occupation

Bookmark Bearing the Chinese Flag

Follow the example of Wuchang and raise a righteous revolt.
Down with the tyrannical communist government!

One of the most popular types of bookmarks depicted the Chinese flag at the top. I have seen six of them written with the traditional full-form Chinese characters still used in Taiwan and not the simplified characters as used in the People’s Republic of China.  This indicates that the bookmarks were produced in the early years of the Republic of China government on Taiwan.  Some of the texts are:

Remember Sun Yat-sen, destroy collectivization of farms. Carry out the Principle of People’s Livelihood!

Remember Sun Yat-sen, drive out the Russian bandits. Carry out the Principle of Nationalism!
 
Study the Hsin-hai Revolution. Fervently support the "Oppose Communism, Resist Tyranny" Movement!
 
Celebrate the Double-Tenanniversary of the Republic, Remember Sun Yat-sen, Support President Chiang Kai-shek!
 
Celebrate Double-Ten the real anniversary of the Republic. Rescind the false Ten-One anniversary of the Republic!

[Notes]

“Wuchang” is the city on the Yangtze River where the Revolution of October 10, 1911 started.

“The People’s Livelihood” is one of Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People. The others being Democracy and Nationalism.

“Hsin-hai” refers to the year 1911 in a traditional Chinese dating system.

The “Double-Ten” (10th month, 10th day) refers to the October 10, 1911 founding of the Republic of China.

The “Ten-One” (10th month, 1st day) commemorates the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949.