UCLA Asia Institute
Today in Asian History
February 8
1904 Japan launched a surpise attack on the Russian fleet in the Chinese port of Port Arthur (present-day Dalian). Torpedo-boats sank the Russian vessels Variag and Korietz. Frustrated by the failure of negotiations to dislodge Russians from Manchuria and worried about a Russian military build-up, the Japanese ended diplomatic relations with Russia on February 6. They did not formally declare war on Russia until February 10.
1966 U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and South Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Cao Ky and their aids concluded a three day meeting in Honolulu issued a declaration. The Honolulu Declaration outlined shared objectives: defeat the Viet Cong, create constitutional democracy, and promote human rights. Johnson added that he wanted "coonskins on the wall."
1976 The Chinese Communist Party newspaper Renmin Ribao (People's Daily) reported that "acting premier" Hua Guofeng had met with the Venezuelan ambassador, this signaled Mao Zedong's decision to elevate Hua Guofeng. Mao brought Hua (b. 1920 in Shanxi) into the Politboro in 1973. He served as premier after Zhou Enlai's January 1976 death and became chairman of the Chinese Communist Party after Mao's September 1976 death. For a short period, Hua held the top Party, State, and Army positions. Click here to see a 1978 poster "Chairman Hua, the people of all nationalities warmly love you." Deng Xiaoping, however, gradually moved Hua aside. Deng protegés Zhao Ziyang replaced Hua as premier in 1980 and Hu Yaobang replaced Hua as party general secretary in 1981. Deng himself took the top military position, Chairman of the CCP's Military Commission.
The AI "Today in Asian History" page was compiled by Clayton Dube. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send them to <cdube@isop.ucla.edu>.
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