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I do not yet have detailed summaries of North Central China, South Central China, Southern Coastal China (with Taiwan and Hong Kong), or Southern Interior China. |
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In the early 20th century, the last Chinese empire collapsed. In the early 1900s, the Boxer rebellion was brought to an end, and China began to reform. In the late 1900s, the old Dowager Empress and Emperor both died, and a young child succeded to the throne, dircted by a regent, but reform movments were already spreading. In the early 1910s, the Manchu dynasty was overthrown. Sun Yat-sen was elected as provisional president, but failed to maintain power, and a more dictatorial military leader was installed. In the late 1910s, the country was in more or less a state of anarchy, with local control exerted by various poweful warlords.
In the early mid 20th century, China was divided. In the early 1920s, Sun Yat-sen invited the assistance of the Soviet Union to assist in fighting Japan and the independent-minded war lords. In the late 1920s, Chiang Kai-shek became influential in the Nationalist party and soon dismissed Soviet advisers, which provoked a split with the Communist party. In the early 1930s, the Japanese began to occupy Manchuria, calling it Manchukuo, and extend their dominions. Mao took control of the Chinese Communist Party and led an army on the "Long March" to Northeast China. In the late 1930s, Japan advanced further into China, taking some of its larger cities and forcing a removal of the capital city. Intermittent conflict occurred between the Nationalists and the Communists occurred at the same time both resisted the Japanese. The US and Britain backed the Nationalist forces as much as they were able.
In the mid 20th century, China was successfully reunited and started to become a significant world power. In the early 1940s, the Nationalist and Communist authorities had a nominal truce while they each fought the Japanese. Following the surrender of Japan, in the late 1940s the Nationalist and Communist forces were involved in open civil war, which ended with the Nationalist defeat and flight to Taiwan, where they set up a government in exile. The Communists proclaimed the People's Republic of China in 1949. In the early 1950s, the Communists consolidated their rule and supported the attempt of Communist North Korea to extend its rule over all Korea. I am lacking detail on the late 1950s.
Beginning in the early 1960s, Mao instituted a "cultural revolution" in China, which continued in the late 1960s. In the early 1970s, he accepted the new policy of the United States towrd China which gained China considerably enhanced prestige and power. I do not yet have details of 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, or 1975. In the late 1970s, Mao died (1976), and after a period of struggle over the succession, capitalist-oriented reformers came to power, though the political structure of the Communist Party remained in control of he country. I do not yet have details of 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, or 1980.
In the early 1980s after Mao's death, China began to adopt liberalized economic polices. I do not yet have details of 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, or 1985.
In the late 1980s, China became a focus of world attention. In 1989, the govenment ordered a supression of pro-democratic demonstrations in Tianenmen Square. I do not yet have specific details for 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, or 1990.
In the early 1990s, China was mostly quiet, and developed economically. The controversial Three Gorges dam was announced and begin. I have no events for 1991 or 1992, but in 1993, Jaing Zemin was chosen as the President of China. I also have no specific events for 1994 or 1995.
In the late 1990s China remained relatively quiet. In 1996, The Chinese conducted military exercises near Taiwan and protested US policies on trade relations, but agreed not to sell more nuclear technology to Pakistan. In 1997, the former revolutionary and important political figure Deng Xiaoping died. A new municpality, Chongquing (Chunking) was created from Sichuan province, and Hong Kong was transferred from British rule to Chinese. In 1998, flooding of the Yangtze river killed thousands of people. In 1999, China imposed new restrictions on internet usage. Its embassy in Yugoslavia was accidentally bombed in the Kosovo War, and it launched its first Shenzhou spacecraft, patterned after the Soviet Soyuz. It also initiated a program of repression of the Falun Gong sect. Macao was transferred from Portuguese rule to Chinese rule. In 2000, it again threatened invasion of Taiwan, and continued to repress the Falun Gong movement.
The early 21st century including the early 2000s, late 20001, and early 2010s has recent and currrent events, which are not yet sorted out into events of North Central China, South Central China, Southern Coastal China, or Interior South China.