Li Zongren (1891-1969) was a native of Lingui in Guangxi. A veteran general of the Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party, Li was also founder of the Guangxi faction of warlords. During the Northern Expedition (1926-1927), he had commanded the Seventh Nationalist Army Corps. In spring of 1938, Li also led the battle against the Japanese invaders at Tai'erzhuang in the northern province of Shandong, a battle that shocked the whole world with its ferocity. In 1948, Li Zongren was elected vice president, as partner of Chiang Kai-shek. When Chiang was forced to step down the following year, Li became acting president and supported peaceful negotiations with the Communist Party during the civil war. However, Chiang never really let go the reins of party and military power, and Li was a president in name only, so the two were often at loggerheads. In December 1949, seeing the game was over for Kuomintang and knowing that Chiang would not tolerate him if he too fled to Taiwan, Li left the mainland with his wife for the USA via Hong kong on the pretext of needing medical treatment there.He remained on the otherside of the Pacific for a long time. But Li never ceased monitoring changes on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. He was delighted to see the tremendous changes and prosperity on the mainland,which gave him a new understanding of the CPC. In August 1955,hearing about Premier Zhou Enlai's proposal aired at the Bandung Conference that China was ready to negotiate with the United States on detente across the Taiwan Strait, Li, for his part in the USA,made his own proposal for solving the Taiwan question. He held that the question could be solved only by political means and China would stand no more civil war. He firmly opposed "Taiwan as a trust territory" or "Taiwan ndependence," and suggested peaceful negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party to find a way towards national reunification. Li's words aroused great response in the world. The change in Li's attitude also caught the attention of the Communist Party, which began to express, via proper channels, that they would welcome his return to the motherland. In July 1963, Li told a Milan-based newspaper that he supported the stance of the Chinese government on major issues and said, "Though I'm not a communist, I can't deny what the Communist Party has done for China. China has never been governed as well as it is today. How can I ignore that fact? When have we ever a China like the one we have today?" These words clearly reflected his patriotism, and were highly praised by Premier Zhou Enlai, who once again suggested that he would be welcome back. In February t 964, China and France formally established diplomatic relations. Li was very excited at the news and sent a letter for publication to the International Herald Tribune,calling upon the US government to follow suit, to move with the times and mend relations with the People's Republic as early as possible. Li's letter alarmed and unsettled the Taiwan authorities. Bai Chongxi, one of Li's former partners, called and urged him to correct his error quickly so as to keep his integrity in his later years. Bai even had him followed. But Li Zongren was already preparing to return to China. On July 20, 1965, Li finally arrived at Beijing Capital Airport, having managed to shake off the tails sent by the US government and the Kuomintang, thanks to Premier Zhou's arrangements. He was warmly welcomed by the premier. In a written statement at the airport, Li expressed his delight in getting home and praised the achievements of construction on the mainland. He also called upon his Kuomintang comrades to return from Taiwan and make concerted efforts for the reunification of the motherland. Even on his deathbed, Li was still concerned with national reunification; from here the great patriot dictated a letter to Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou. Besides gratitude,he expressed with deep emotion that "at the last moment when about to leave this world, I am still concerned with the future of the Kuomintang and all patriotic intellectuals who are now living in Taiwan and overseas. They have only one way before them now. That is to return to the motherland, as I have done." Premier Zhou paid his last respects to Mr.Li's body and praised his letter as a "historical document." Zhou Enlai also said that Li Zongren had done three good things for the Chinese people -- his participation in the Northern Expedition, his brave fight against the Japanese invaders at Tai'erzhuang,and his return to his homeland.
