The China Mirage: The Hidden History of American Disaster in Asia
By James Bradley
Back Bay Books (2015)
Book Review
This book details numerous myths about the origin of the US wars against Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Bradley begins by revealing how the Roosevelt administration was hoodwinked by the overt fascist Chiang Kai-Shek and Christian missionaries into believing China was ripe for wholesale conversion to Christianity and US-style capitalism. Deceived by Chiang’s promises to wage war against Japan, Roosevelt poured billions into the civil war Chiang was waging with Mao Se Tung. FDR also created an illegal covert mercenary Air Force for Chiang, a major motivator in the Japanese decision to attack Pearl Harbor.
Had FDR listened to advisors who understood the strong support Mao enjoyed from China’s rural peasants, he never would have supported Chiang – or been forced to open a second front (against Japan) the US was totally unprepared for.
In addition to his greater popularity and military strength, Mao was also genuinely interested in establishing a trade relationship with the US.
According to Bradley, the civil war Mao won in 1949 was actually a war of liberation from European colonial powers, just like Kim Sung Il’s war of liberation in Korea and Ho Chi Minh’s war of liberation in Vietnam. Owing to the total ignorance of Asian society and culture, advisors in the Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy administration mistakenly viewed these wars of independence as part of a global communist conspiracy and military aggression the only possible response.
The China Mirage traces the history of each of these conflicts (Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam) in a clear and compelling way, starting with the massive fortune Roosevelt’s grandfather amassed via the opium smuggling the US and UK forced on China via two opium wars.
For me the most interesting part of the book concerns the US oil/steel embargo that supposedly triggered the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. According to Bradley, Roosevelt opposed the embargo. It was surreptitiously enacted by members of his administration while he was at a secret meeting in Canada with Winston Churchill.
The Most Revolutionary Act 
Tubularsock is not familiar with this book but in Tubularsock’s own research over the years have found what you have described here as on the mark.
Tubularsock will venture forth and buy Bradley’s book.
Seems like a fun thing to do.
Thanks DrB.
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I think you will really like it, Tube. Bradley kinda turns everything we’ve been taught about Asia on its head – but in a nice way.
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There was a time, years ago, that Tubularsock taught Asian Studies. The outright lies we have been told to create “our world view” as citizens has ALWAYS been appalling.
Little has changed in that realm is seems but at least the information is out there with less work finding it IF one wants to know.
Thanks for your continued work in that direction, DrB.
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As for myself, Tube, I’m really fed up with getting lied to – about everything.
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Reblogged this on Worldtruth.
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It was surreptitiously enacted by members of his administration This was one of Many that Skull and Bones War department enacted i strongly recommend reading John J McCloy WW2 Daily Diary 2500 pages of personal relationships with the enemy’s of FDR
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Wow, I really like McCloy, gerry. I will definitely seek out the book.
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