Chiang biggest mistake was using dongbei army vs ccp, hoping to kill two birds with 1 stone. 1936 was the last chance to defeat ccp.

If so,China probably would have been like TW ,SK, or Spain, enduring authoritarian rule under chiang, but after he died, gradually democraticized. No way to be civilized like TW and SK now, but similar to Chile or Greece.

Always wonder when chiang lived in TW before he died, ever he 2nd guessed his old choices. Like the old saying

Being too smart might make things worse