A Study On The Political Police In The Period Of Nanjing Nationalist Government

Political police generally aim to maintain state sovereignty and adhere to the ideology pursued by the state.They prevent political crimes and activities that are detrimental to state control in order to safeguard the security of the regime and social stability.Chiang Kai-shek vigorously developed the secret police as part of his efforts to consolidate dictatorial rule,ultimately giving rise to the establishment of the political police.Over time,the secret police grew in strength and infiltrated both the police and military,resulting in a significant integration of these three entities.As a response to the influence of the secret police,police agencies also established their own political security forces.Nationwide,police agencies commonly established political divisions,secret police divisions,inspectorates,and political police brigades to fulfill the functions of the political police.Similarly,the military system also developed organizations such as military police with the responsibility of counterespionage and security.Consequently,the political police of the National Government of the Republic of China in Nanjing included both the secret police and the police agencies,as well as the intelligence,reconnaissance,and counterespionage units within the military system.Under the direct guidance and permission of Chiang Kai-shek,extensive training and education were conducted by the secret police,police,and military systems to cultivate political police loyal to his rule.Recruitment,employment,and daily assessment of political police were exceptionally strict,with a strong emphasis on effectively fulfilling the duties of rigorously conducting reconnaissance,combating internal and external opposition forces,and other political dissidents.The establishment of the political police system during the National Government of the Republic of China in Nanjing originally aimed to maintain Chiang Kai-shek’s personal dictatorship and eliminate political adversaries through the development of a highly loyal political surveillance force.However,due to the secretive nature of the secret service agencies,the political police actually operated with limited legal constraints,leading to their unrestrained infiltration and expansion.The leaders of the secret service agencies were also driven by their personal political ambitions,utilizing the power of the secret police to advance their own political futures.Furthermore,Chiang Kai-shek himself,due to his inherent suspicious and distrustful nature,strengthened control over various forces by employing a strategy of“balancing agencies against agencies,” constantly indulging in the development of the secret service,resulting in its continuous infiltration into military and police agencies with similar tasks.Although the tripartite nature of the military,police,and secret police within the political police structure expanded Chiang Kai-shek’s political surveillance network,their excessive use of covert methods to arrest and dispose of individuals within and outside the party,as well as their arbitrary control over people’s thoughts and freedoms,resulted in widespread criticism.Ultimately,these actions played a significant role in accelerating the disintegration of the National Government of the Republic of China regime to some extent.Even in the present day,political police continue to exist widely in the political systems of various countries worldwide.Our country also regards safeguarding political security as the fundamental aspect of overall national security.The political police during the National Government of the Republic of China in Nanjing,as a product of a specific historical period,offers valuable insights into current public security and national security work.That is,in the process of safeguarding political security and establishing a police force,we must always adhere to the leadership of the party,prioritize the people,carry out all work within the legal framework,and strictly enforce employment criteria while continuously improving the professionalism and capabilities of personnel.