The CIA Plan to Remove President Chiang Kai-shek (Part 1): S5-E44

S5E44 - The CIA Plan to Remove President Chiang Kai-shek (Part 1): S5-E44

Published: January 15, 2026

Duration: 27:10

Standard histories tell us that after fleeing to Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek became America’s staunch Cold War ally – an immovable figure with an iron grip on Fortress Formosa. But behind the scenes, parts of the U.S. government were quietly exploring ways to push him aside. Today we uncover a little-known CIA effort to build a “Third Force” – a democratic alternative to both Mao’s Communists and Chiang’s Nationalists. From whispered WWII assassination plots to secret Cold War schemes involving breakaway Chinese generals and hidden training camps, it’s such a riveting story we’ll need two episodes to tell it properl...