The Chinese National Liberation Vanguard (Chinese: 中华民族解放先锋队), known in its abbreviation as "Minxian" (Chinese: 民先), was a youth organization created with the help of the Chinese Communist Party to broaden anti-Japanese alliance in the 1930s. The organization laid the foundation for both the National Salvation Youth Corps (Chinese: 青年救国会), and later the Communist Youth League of China.
History
The founding of the Chinese National Liberation Vanguard was first proposed by the Chinese Communist Party on November 1, 1935, to broaden the anti-Japanese alliance during World War II. The Central Committee issued the document, "A Decision concerning the Work of the Youth" (关于青年工作的决定), which effectively expanded the Communist Youth League (founded in 1920) into a more inclusive, nation-wide youth organization. The League was officially established in Beiping on February 1, 1936. The "Declaration of the Founding of the Chinese National Liberation Vanguard" begins with, "The crisis facing the Chinese nation has come to its pivotal moment!" and proceeds to call for youth participation in the anti-Japanese war.
Notable members
The League was led for a while by Li Chang. The prominent scientist Qian Weichang, Tsinghua University president Jiang Nanxiang, economist Yu Guangyuan and Qian Jiaju were all early organizers of the League.
References
- "民先队成立宣言". 中国共产党新闻党史频道. 人民网. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- Yu, Guangyuan (2 January 2004). Deng Xiaoping Shakes the World: An Eyewitness Account of China's Party Work Conference and the Third Plenum. Eastbridge Books. ISBN 978-1910736937.
- Mazur, Mary (1 April 2011). Wu Han, Historian: Son of China's Times. Lexington Books. p. 210. ISBN 978-0739165096.