Chiang Kai-Shek Biography and Timeline — Page 3

Lytton Report

The Lytton Report concludes that Japan acted as the aggressor in Manchuria and rejects Manchukuo as genuinely independent.

Role range: 1928-1949

Siege of Ruijing

Continues the fourth encirclement campaign against the Communist Jiangxi Soviet while balancing pressure from Japan.

Role range: 1926-1949 – 1928-1949

Lytton Commission

The Nationalist government cooperates with the League of Nations investigation led by Lord Lytton.

Role range: 1928-1949

Siege of Shanghai

A ceasefire ends the major 1932 fighting in Shanghai between Chinese and Japanese forces.

Role range: 1928-1949

Peace

Nationalist China signs the Tanggu Truce with Japan, establishing a demilitarized zone south of the Great Wall.

Role range: 1928-1949

Fifth Encirclement Campaign

Launches the fifth encirclement campaign against Communist base areas, relying on large troop concentrations and fortified blockhouses.

Role range: 1926-1949

Rebellion of Fujian

The Fujian Rebellion challenges Chiang’s government but collapses after Nationalist military pressure.

Invasion of Hebei

Japanese forces expand into Rehe and northern Hebei during the Great Wall campaign, increasing pressure on Chiang’s government.

Role range: 1928-1949

New Life Movement

Launches the New Life Movement in Nanchang, promoting discipline, hygiene, social order and a moral program influenced by Confucian values.

Role range: 1928-1949

Japan’s Amau statement warns foreign powers against actions in China that Tokyo

Japan’s Amau statement warns foreign powers against actions in China that Tokyo considers contrary to Japanese interests.

Role range: 1926-1949

Jiangxi Soviet Pressure

Nationalist encirclement pressure helps force the Communist leadership to abandon the Jiangxi Soviet and begin the Long March.

Role range: 1926-1949

Alliance Chiang Kai-Shek and German military advisers

Uses German military advisers and fortified blockhouses during the fifth encirclement campaign against the Jiangxi Soviet.

Role range: 1926-1949

Continues a cautious policy toward Japan

Continues a cautious policy toward Japan while concentrating military pressure on internal opponents.

Currency Reform

The Nationalist government introduces a major currency reform replacing silver-based money with a managed paper currency system.

Role range: 1928-1949 – 1928-1949

Yuan National Government

Begins a term as President of the Executive Yuan, combining senior government office with his military leadership.

Role range: 1928-1949 – 1935-1938

League Weakness

Japanese expansion demonstrates the weakness of League of Nations enforcement and increases pressure on the Nationalist government.

Role range: 1928-1949

Arrest of Chiang Kai-Shek

Is seized at Xi’an by Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng during the Xi’an Incident.

Role range: 1926-1949 – 1928-1949

Arrest of Chiang Kai-Shek

Is released from Xi’an after negotiations that help create conditions for a renewed Nationalist-Communist united front against Japan.

Role range: 1926-1949 – 1928-1949

Return from Xian

Returns to Nanjing after his release from the Xi’an Incident, where negotiations had pushed Nationalists and Communists toward cooperation against Japan.

Role range: 1928-1949

Alliance Communists for resistance

After the Xi’an Incident, shifts toward cooperation with the Communists for resistance against Japan.

Role range: 1928-1949 – 1928-1949

Is detained at Xi’an by Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng

Is detained at Xi’an by Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng, who demand an end to civil war and united resistance against Japan.

Role range: 1928-1949 – 1928-1949

Invasion of Suiyuan

Japanese-backed Inner Mongolian forces attack Suiyuan, increasing pressure on the Nationalist government in northern China.

Role range: 1926-1949 – 1928-1949

Peace

Nationalist representatives continue negotiations with Zhou Enlai as cooperation against Japan develops after the Xi’an Incident.

Role range: 1926-1949 – 1928-1949

Sino-Japanese War

The Nationalist government seeks international support as the conflict with Japan expands after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

Role range: 1928-1949

Incident-Marco Polo Bridge

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident near Beijing triggers the escalation into full-scale Sino-Japanese war.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Lushan Statement

Delivers the Lushan statement declaring that China has reached the last point at which it can tolerate further Japanese aggression.

Role range: 1937-1945

Bombing of Beijing

Japanese forces intensify attacks around Beiping as full-scale hostilities spread across northern China.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Bombing of Nankai

Japanese aircraft bomb Nankai University during the fighting around Tianjin.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Capture of Tientsin

Japanese forces capture Tianjin as resistance in the Beiping-Tianjin area collapses.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Siege of Shanghai

The Battle of Shanghai begins as Chinese forces mount major resistance to the Japanese advance.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Alliance Chiang Kai-Shek and resistance

The Chinese Communist Party publicly supports resistance under a renewed united front against Japan.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Invasion of China

The Communist-Nationalist united front strengthens as both sides prepare resistance to Japan.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Capture of Shanghai

Chinese forces withdraw from Shanghai after a prolonged battle, leaving the city under Japanese control.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Capture of Nanking

Japanese forces capture Nanjing; mass killing, sexual violence and other atrocities follow during the Nanjing Massacre.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Head of State

Takes overall command of Chinese resistance as full-scale war with Japan begins.

Capital

Moves the Nationalist government’s wartime center inland toward Chongqing as Japanese armies advance.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Capture of Beijing

Japanese forces capture Beiping during their rapid advance in northern China.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Peace

Suspends the main civil-war campaign against the Communists and cooperates with them against Japan.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Capture of Nanjing

Japan sponsors the Reformed Government of the Republic of China at Nanjing as a collaborationist regime.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949

Capture of Xiamen

Japanese forces capture Xiamen, tightening their control over important coastal positions.

Role range: 1937-1945 – 1928-1949