Nuclear weapons expert Zhang Xianyi defected to the United States, why is he praised?
On January 12, 1988, Chang Hsien-yi, deputy director of Taiwan's Nuclear Energy Research Institute, arrived in the United States with his family's luggage and important documents. His public identity is that of a technical expert in charge of the use of nuclear power plants in Taiwan Province, but in fact he plays a crucial role in assisting Chiang and his son in nuclear research.
The documents he brought with him revealed an astonishing fact: Taiwan Province has been secretly developing nuclear weapons for a long time, and has collected the materials needed to make a number of atomic bombs, which can be tested in just one or two years.
The news caused a stir at home and abroad. Coincidentally, on January 13, Chiang Ching-kuo died, and some speculated that he was killed by Zhang Xianyi, but this claim has not been confirmed.
Taiwan Province reacted to Zhang Xianyi's ** in an instant. One group of people believes that he is a "traitor" and should be condemned forever, while others praise him for saving Taiwan Province.
What is the reason behind this phenomenon? And why did Zhang Xianyi make such a decision? Let's explore the background and story of this controversial character together.
Zhang Xianyi was born in Taiwan Province in 1945 and was admitted to the Department of Physics of the Taipei Army Polytechnic School in 1963. After Chiang Kai-shek was defeated and retreated to Taiwan Province, in order to develop military science and technology, he imitated the model of the Whampoa Military Academy and opened many military schools, and the Taipei Army Polytechnic School was one of them.
After four years of study, Zhang Xianyi achieved excellent grades, and after graduation, he came to work at the Sun Yat-sen Institute of Science and Technology, becoming a top talent in the scientific and technological research of the military in Taiwan Province. In October 1964, the successful test explosion of Chinese mainland's first atomic bomb greatly stimulated Chiang Kai-shek.
As Qian Xuesen said, "Whether you have a sword or not has a sword is not a different thing", Lao Jiang also hopes to have this kind of lethal **. So, he first sought help from the United States, but the Americans did not agree.
In desperation, he decided to do it himself, knowing that without the help of other countries, the United States would not give much help. As a result, he began to secretly carry out his own nuclear program, and under the banner of peaceful use of nuclear energy, he sent many high-level talents to Israel, France, the United States and other places to learn technology.
Chang's talent in nuclear engineering has been internationally recognized, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in the United States, and Chiang Sr. secretly transported uranium to Taiwan to build a nuclear material processing facility.
However, the United States sensed Chiang's unusual behavior and began to buy off personnel in the nuclear industry in Taiwan Province, especially Chang Hsien-yi. In 1973, the United States began to put pressure on Taiwan after gaining evidence of Taiwan's nuclear research, eventually dismantling the treatment facility in 1976.
Although it is unclear whether the incident was leaked by Zhang Xianyi, he still has the trust of his own ability and the covert support of the United States. He was promoted from a small group leader to the deputy director of the Nuclear Energy Research Institute within 8 years, and received the rank of colonel, which shows that he is becoming more and more central in Taiwan's nuclear research.
Taiwan Province has secretly developed nuclear weapons for many years, but the American secretly leaked the information, and the Chiang father and son were convinced of this and continued to invest. However, the United States was always in control of the situation, and when Taiwan Province made a major breakthrough in nuclear power, Zhang Xianyi revealed the entire plan to the United States instead, which led to the shattering of the dreams of Chiang's father and son.
On January 12, 1988, when Chiang Ching-kuo heard the news, he was deeply affected and became even weaker. Two days after Zhang Xianyi's defection, the American Institute in Taiwan asked Taiwan Province to sign an agreement, and then the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Americans dismantled the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Taiwan, shipped nearly $2 billion of nuclear equipment, and disbanded the relevant research departments.
Chiang and his sons were convinced that they had done a foolish job in the development of the atomic bomb, but Chang's actions revealed to them a brutal truth: all their actions were under the tight control of the United States.
Why, then, did the Chiang family insist on developing the atomic bomb at the risk of being sanctioned? There are two main reasons for this: First, the attitude of the United States has greatly affected their rule in Taiwan Province.
Without the intervention of the United States, Taiwan Province would have returned to the motherland long ago. However, with the easing of Sino-US relations, a series of events, such as the restoration of the legitimate seat of New China in the United Nations, Nixon's visit to China, and the U.S. withdrawal strategy**, made the Chiang family realize that the United States did not really support them, and as long as the bargaining chips were sufficient, they could be abandoned.
Therefore, they want to be able to change their identity, from chess pieces to chess players. In their view, this transformation can only be achieved through the development of nuclear **.
The Chiang family wanted more autonomy, and while they pursued a high-handed policy in Taiwan, they could not make progress in foreign affairs without the consent of the Americans.
At the time"American Institute in Taiwan"He enjoys extremely high power in Taiwan and can do whatever he wants. Therefore, the Chiang family is unhappy with this situation, and although they have to accept the status quo for various reasons, if there is an opportunity to change, they will do their best.
Therefore, they decided to develop a nuclear **. But why are the Americans, who have always supported them, resolutely oppose Taiwan's possession of nuclear **?
The interests of the United States are paramount, and if Taiwan Province has a nuclear **, then it will be difficult for the United States to control, and in order to maintain its influence in Asia, the United States will not let Taiwan Province become a disobedient little brother.
If the Chiang family succeeds in Taiwan Province, it will speed up the process of Taiwan's reunification and even affect the US layout in Asia, which the United States cannot tolerate. Therefore, in the overall planning of the United States, Taiwan Province is only a pawn used to contain Chinese mainland.
Zhang Xianyi was just one of the things that the Americans bought, but the United States later treated Zhang Xianyi well and provided him with a house to live near Tyson Point, Virginia, but was later discovered by Taiwan Province and moved out.
Although some people in Taiwan Province questioned his loyalty, Chang was convinced that he had not violated Chiang Ching-kuo's policy of not building nuclear weapons. He firmly stated that he would stand his ground even if he chose again.
Interestingly, Zhang Xianyi used his original words to block those doubters. Despite the controversy surrounding his approach, many believe that he has succeeded in reducing the risk of cross-strait conflict.
The controversy over Zhang Xianyi has not stopped, and perhaps the final answer can only be given on the day of cross-strait reunification. Let us look forward to the early reunification of the motherland.