During the war Chang Kai-Shek and Claire Chennault (AVG "Flying Tigers" later 14th AF) were closed political allies... it was Vinegar Joe Stilwell always undermining Chang & Chennault to Washington and talking up Mao...
That would certainly be news to those who were there.
I believe that Stillwell was given orders from FDR to favor Mao. FDR was the guy who was doing the will of Stalin and cozying up to Mao.
Finally, FDR went too far, and Chang demanded that Stillwell withdraw from China. But Stillwell was only doing what FDR commanded him to do—the last straw being the demand that Chang should hand over all of his forces to Stillwell.