Final answer:
The correct answer is option B) A brainwashed or mind-controlled individual.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "Manchurian Candidate" does not refer to any of the historical details provided, such as the contest for control of China between the GMD and CCP, or the role of individuals within various economic and political systems like the mandarins or the Mamluks. Instead, a "Manchurian Candidate" refers to B) A brainwashed or mind-controlled individual, typically in the context of political assassinations or espionage. The term was popularized by a 1959 novel by Richard Condon, which was later adapted into two films.
The story involves an American soldier who is captured during the Korean War and brainwashed by Communists into becoming an unwitting assassin for a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government. As such, it is a term that has entered the lexicon to describe someone who is manipulated into performing actions without being aware of their true motivations.