Reference no: EM133417915

Question: Imagine that in January 1972 you are a foreign correspondent for The New York Times, stationed at the Times Tokyo bureau. You receive an excited phone call from your editor, telling you to catch the next plane to Beijing, because the Times has just heard from the People's Republic of China that Chairman Mao Zedong has agreed to grant the Times an exclusive interview. This is the first time that an American journalist has been able to enter China since the Chinese Communist Party assumed power in 1949, and an interview with Mao is a major journalistic coup. You have been chosen for the job, because of your knowledge of East Asia, but, more importantly, because you speak Chinese. Your answer will be the transcript of your interview with Mao Zedong about his life and career. Be sure to cover all aspects of his role as leader of the Chinese Communist Revolution, including both Mao Zedong Thought and his political, social, and economic policies. Remember that you are a professional who does not want to get thrown out of China or ruin the Times's chances for continued relations with the PRC. Your task is to think of good questions and then figure out how Mao would answer them. Assume that he considers your questions honestly and tries to answer them openly, without, of course, incriminating himself in those areas where his policies have had less than positive results.