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墨書 Inktalez
As descendants, we must say that Eisenhower, an outsider to science, made perhaps the greatest misjudgment of his life.
For the United States, this misjudgment created a formidable opponent.
But that is a story for another time.
Once the President had spoken, the Secretary of State had little left to say. Thus, on the eve of the ambassadorial talks between China and the United States, a principle agreement was reached regarding the release of Qian Xuesen.
Qian Xuesen, released!
On August 4, 1955, the United States Department of Justice signed the notice agreeing to Qian Xuesen's return to China.
On August 8, Wang Bingnan, China's chief negotiator who received directives from the highest levels back home, brought up Qian Xuesen during the talks. This was the only named individual mentioned throughout the entire negotiation process.
Indeed, Qian Xuesen was that important.
The United States ambassador responded, "The United States government has made the decision to allow Qian Xuesen to return home."
In Geneva, thousands of miles away from both the United States and China, Qian Xuesen was finally pulled from the mire of fate. Leaving the United States behind, he would devote the rest of his life to an uncertain future, but in any case, he had obtained what he desired most.
Qian Xuesen escaped from the United States, a place that had caused him immense harm, at the fastest speed he could manage.
On September 17, 1955, Qian Xuesen and his wife and children boarded the Cleveland President Cruise Ship at the port of Los Angeles.
On the way back to his homeland, Qian Xuesen faced reporters and said, "I do not intend to return. I have no reason to come back. I have thought about this for a long time. I am prepared to do my utmost to help the Chinese people build a country where they can live happily and with dignity."
He also stated, "I do not hate the people of the United States. When you are bitten by a dog, you can only hate the owner of that dog."
On October 8, the cruise ship arrived in Hong Kong. Qian Xuesen and his family boarded a small boat and landed at Tsim Sha Tsui, immediately rushing to Kowloon Railway Station, arriving in Shenzhen that afternoon. From then on, Qian Xuesen was never separated from his country again.
Years later, Kimball, who believed that Qian Xuesen was worth five divisions, still felt resentful about it. He thought that forcing Qian Xuesen out was the most foolish thing the United States had ever done. He angrily remarked that calling Qian Xuesen a Communist was no different than saying he was one too!
Kimball was indeed insightful. Qian Xuesen did not bring back any classified documents, but he returned with his mind, knowledge and experience, judgment and leadership.
His return brought China's missile and rocket era at least twenty years ahead of schedule. It was because of Qian Xuesen that China's development of nuclear weapons could take flight and truly become a deterrent weapon.
China finally had the confidence to step onto the international stage.
Qian Xuesen once loved the United States and cherished everything it had given him: knowledge, achievements, honors, and a prosperous life. However, the United States let him down; during those dark days, he felt shame and anger at being called a "United States scientist."
He hated the United States.
Years later, Qian Xuesen was awarded the honorary title of "National Outstanding Contribution Scientist" by China's State Council and Central Military Commission, reaching the peak of his reputation. Perhaps by then, his hatred for the United States had faded, but it is important to note that from 1955 until his death in 2009, he never set foot on American soil again.
Qian Xuesen once wanted to be an ordinary American, a stable scientist. But the times did not allow him to choose such a path. His extraordinary mind destined him to be at the center of great power competition; his life was meant to be extraordinary.
He was destined to be either a sinner of one nation or a hero of another.
Whether he is willing or not.
Is this his fortune, or his misfortune?
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