What is the reason why Special Envoy Chen Xiangmei was reprimanded?
At the end of 1980, Reagan sent a special envoy to China to meet with China. In order to show respect for Chen Xiangmei, ** specially held a banquet for her on New Year's Day and arranged her in the position of the first guest of honor, and even US Senator Stevens could only be second.
This kind of treatment can only be enjoyed by Chen Xiangmei in the world.
During the short break of the banquet, Comrade ** especially stopped Chen Xiangmei, and said in an almost reproachful tone: "Regarding the matter of Double Oaks, you did not do it correctly." ”
So, who is this Chen Xiangmei, who is regarded as a guest of honor by Comrade ***? And why did Comrade *** make such criticism of her? Double Oaks, a beautiful building built in 1888, was built by U.S. Revolutionary War general Yulea Frett after purchasing a plot of land in Washington, D.C.
At that time, the United States was in a prosperous scene, so when Yuraia Frett built Double Oaks, she also spared no cost to make Double Oaks one of the iconic mansions in the District of Columbia.
The history of the Double Oaks dates back to the 19th century, when it was owned and maintained by the descendants of Yuraia Fritt. However, in the 20th century, due to the high maintenance costs, the descendants could not continue to maintain it.
So, they sold the historic estate to Hebbard, one of the founders of the National Geographic Society. Hebbard, a wealthy businessman, immediately began a major renovation of the Twin Oaks, employing the world-famous architect of the time, Richard Allen, to turn the estate into a 26-room mansion.
However, despite the luxury of the estate, Hebbard rarely came to live because of his work. In order to avoid the estate being abandoned, he began to rent the estate to many American celebrities in the thirties of the 20th century.
In 1937, the Kuomintang sent several ambassadors to the United States, and Hebbard learned that they had no place to live, so he rented Double Oaks to them. Since then, the fate of the Chinese envoys and the Twin Oaks has begun.
It was not until 1947 that Ambassador Gu Weijun simply bought Double Oaks for 450,000 US dollars, and since then, the estate has become a unique Chinese embassy.
Double Oak Park, which was once the center of communication with the United States, is still the foothold of the Chinese ambassador in the United States after the founding of the People's Republic of China. However, in 1979, the ownership of Twin Oaks became controversial.
Although Sino-US relations have been normalized, the US Congress has recognized the founding of the People's Republic of China, and Carter has also announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, all the property acquired by the Kuomintang before 1978 belongs to Taiwan.
This policy made Twin Oaks once again the property of the Kuomintang.
Taiwan sold Twin Oaks to the Friends of China Association for $20 a week before the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and then bought it back for $2 million, resulting in Taiwan losing Twin Oaks forever.
The driving force behind this was Chen Xiangmei, who was entrusted by the Taiwan authorities to help find a solution, and finally proposed a strategy of "selling and buying". Chen Xiangmei agreed to help, leading to today's embarrassing situation.
** Comrade criticized Chen Xiangmei, but she was still able to sit in the position of the first guest.
In 1958, Chen Xiangmei immigrated to the United States as a 35-year-old Chinese woman and settled in Washington, D.C. Although she came from a famous family, she chose to write books for a living in the United States.
At first, it was thought that as a Chinese, Chen Xiangmei's books might not be accepted in the United States. Unexpectedly, however, her work became a huge hit, and one of them, A Thousand Springs, even became one of the best-selling books of the year in the United States.
As her work became a bestseller, so did her popularity in the United States, and she was often invited to give lectures at universities and companies. Over time, Chen Xiangmei became one of the most familiar Chinese-Americans in the United States.
By the 60s of the 20th century, due to the emergence of Soviet revisionism, both China and the United States were eager to improve their relations with each other. Especially after Kennedy came to power, the normalization of relations between the two countries was put on the agenda.
In order to establish deeper ties with China, Kennedy decided to find an intermediary, and that person was Chen Xiangmei, who was famous at the time. After receiving Kennedy's invitation, Chen Xiangmei became the first Chinese-American woman in the White House.
Since then, she has become one of the most important figures in the United States, not only becoming the first female vice president of American Airlines, but also being selected as one of the most influential people in the United States.
Chen Xiangmei's unique identity and excellent work ability made her deeply trusted by Kennedy. And Chen Xiangmei has not failed to live up to this trust and has made tremendous achievements in Sino-US relations.
In 1972, when Nixon visited China, Chen Xiangmei also accompanied him to China, adding rich colors to the exchanges between the two sides. In 1980, Chen Xiangmei became the new ** Reagan's goodwill ambassador, visiting Chinese mainland and Taiwan successively to promote positive exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the strait.
Chen Xiangmei was a well-known peace messenger who helped Nixon run for the Vietnam War when the United States launched the Vietnam War, on condition that the Vietnam War be stopped. Although she is an American, she has never forgotten her homeland and has done her part for its development.
She has served as an advisor to the China Overseas Exchange Association and an honorary advisor to the All-China Women's Federation. ** Comrade once praised her as "there is only one Chen Xiangmei in the world".
But why did this remarkable woman help Thomas Cochran to hand over Two Oaks? Chen Xiangmei was born in June 1925 and is a lady from a famous family.
Her family originally lived in a wealthy family in Fujian, but they moved to Beijing because her grandfather, Chen Qingyun, became the director of the late Qing Merchants Bureau.
Chen Xiangmei's family conditions are quite superior, her father Chen Yingrong has a doctorate degree from a number of well-known universities, her mother Liao Xiangci is also a lady from a famous family, and her uncle is the famous democratic revolutionary Liao Zhongkai.
With such a family background, Chen Xiangmei received the best education and living conditions since she was a child. However, even in such a privileged environment, Chen Xiangmei's family is not without trouble.
Although Chen Yingrong is highly educated, she has a serious patriarchal tendency, which makes Chen Xiangmei and her five sisters live in an environment that lacks fatherly love from an early age.
In 1937, when the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out, Chen Xiangmei's family was forced to leave Beijing and seek refuge in Hong Kong. However, the family was under tremendous pressure in the midst of a difficult situation.
Her mother, Liao Xiangci, was exhausted from taking care of her six children and eventually died of illness, leaving 12-year-old Chen Xiangmei without both her father and mother. This tragic experience had a profound impact on Chen Xiangmei's life.
In the years that followed, Chen Xiangmei and her five sisters constantly traveled between the mainland and Hong Kong, experiencing many difficulties and tribulations. It was not until the end of 1942 that Chen Yingrong's conscience was discovered and he decided to take his six daughters to live in the United States.
Chen Xiangmei had already contacted the school in China, so she declined her father's invitation and decided to continue her studies in China. However, her path to education was not smooth, and after many escapes, she finally managed to reach a school in Guilin.
Although Chen Yingrong was rejected by his daughter, as a father, he still entrusted his friend Chennault to come to China to take care of his daughters. Although Chennault may sound Chinese, he is actually an authentic American, whose full name is Claire Lee Chennault.
This warrior, born in 1893, joined the U.S. ** team as early as a young man, served as a lieutenant general in the Army Air Corps, and led the famous "Flying Tigers".
In 1936, he was invited by Soong Meiling to become an adviser to China's air force, assisting Chiang Kai-shek in forming the air force. That experience established a deep friendship between Chennault and Chen, and it was the reason why Chennault decided to entrust the care of his daughter to Chennault.
However, Chen Yingrong never expected that his decision would eventually make his friend his son-in-law.
Chennault helped the sisters with many things, even though they didn't see each other much. But Chen Xiangmei, a girl who has always lacked fatherly love, Chennault fills the void in her heart.
In 1944, after graduating from Lingnan University, Chan Heung Mui became a journalist, and her first interview subject was Chennault. At that time, they had no special feelings for each other, and Chennault regarded Chen Xiangmei as the daughter of a friend, while Chen Xiangmei regarded Chennault as an elder, so this interview did not elicit special emotions.
However, when the time came to 1946, after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chen Xiangmei and Chennault met again in Shanghai. This encounter led them into the palace of marriage together.
Chen Xiangmei and Chennault's encounter originated from their mutual friend Chen Yingrong. Chennault's affection for Chen Xiangmei gradually deepened, and he began to pursue it frantically. Although Chen Xiangmei was initially hesitant because of the large age gap, she was finally moved by Chennault's sincerity, and the two began a relationship.
However, this relationship is not favored by everyone. Chen Xiangmei's sister even asked her: "You have so much age difference, it is impossible for you to grow old together!" ”
Chen Xiangmei just smiled: "Even so, I am willing." Her affection for Chennault was unwavering, and she was willing to spend her life with him even in the face of difficulties.
The love story of Chen Xiangmei and Chennault has always been touching. They entered the palace of marriage, had two children together, and lived happily ever after. However, fate was merciless, Chennault died of lung cancer in 1958, and Chen Xiangmei raised the children alone, while also keeping her promise to Chennault and never married.
Chen Xiangmei wrote about this relationship experience in her best-selling book "A Thousand Springs", expressing her deep love for Chennault and her unapologetic marriage. It was this unforgettable love affair that made Chen Xiangmei accept the invitation of the Kuomintang, because Chennault had a very good relationship with Chiang Kai-shek back then, and they were true friends.
Although Chen Xiangmei once handed over Double Oaks to others, this does not affect that she is a Chinese-American with the motherland in her heart. Her love story with Chennault has also become a historical story.
In March 2018, Chen Xiangmei died of a stroke, and her last hope in life was to be buried with Chennault.