Project National Glory

Project Guoguang (Chinese: 國光計劃; pinyin: Guóguāng Jìhuà; Wade–Giles: Kuo² Kuang Chi⁴ Hua⁴; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Kok-kong Kè-e̍k; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Kwet-kwong Kè-va̍k; lit. 'Project National Glory') was an attempt by the Republic of China (ROC), based in Taiwan, to reconquer mainland China from the People's Republic of China (PRC) by large scale invasion. It was the most elaborate of the ROCs plans or studies to invade the mainland after 1949. Guoguang was initiated in 1961 in response to events involving the PRC, particularly the Great Leap Forward, the Sino-Soviet split, and the development of nuclear weapons. Guoguang was never executed; it required more troops and material than the ROC could muster, and it lacked support from the United States. The use of a large scale invasion as the initial stage of reunification was effectively abandoned after 1966, although the Guoguang planning organization was not abolished until 1972. The ROC did not abandon the policy of using force for reunification until 1990.