View source for Events preceding World War II in Asia

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This article is concerned with the events that preceded [[World War II]] in Asia.

== Kuomintang and Communism in China ==

{{off topic|date=February 2011}}
The revolution led by the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT, or Chinese Nationalist Party) and others ended the last Chinese dynasty, the [[Qing dynasty]], which was replaced by a [[republic]], the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]], in 1912. Prior to [[World War I]], however, the ROC central government failed to effectively rule its territory. China fell into a fragmented region of local [[warlord]]s.  Other than the warlord-controlled central government, two primary forces aimed to unite China under their [[ideology]]. The KMT was reorganized in 1919, and the [[Chinese Communist Party]] was formed in 1921. The two parties were not immediate enemies and had short-term partnership. In 1924, KMT started a military campaign to defeat the northern warlords. In 1927, with much of southern and central China under the KMT control, the KMT openly turned on the CPC. The KMT took most parts of China under its power in 1928, and the warlord controlling [[Manchuria]] agreed to KMT leadership of Generalissimo [[Chiang Kai-shek]].

== Noteworthy events ==

The following events played a significant role in setting the stage for the involvement of Asia and the Pacific in World War II:
* 1839: Outbreak of the [[First Opium War]] in [[Qing dynasty|Qing China]] against the [[British Empire]], forcing China to import British [[opium]] from India. Britain won the war and as a result gained control over Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pletcher |first=Kenneth |title=Opium Wars |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Opium-Wars |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref>
* 1853: Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry|Matthew Perry]]'s fleet arrives in [[Tokyo Bay]]<ref name="Beasly 1532">{{cite book |last1=Beasley |first1=William G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j399Lfj6baYC&pg=PA153 |title=The Perry Mission to Japan, 1853–1854 – Google Books |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2002 |isbn=9781903350133 |access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref> and forces the [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa Shogunate]] to allow trade with American merchants with threat of military action.
* 1856:  Outbreak of the [[Second Opium War]] or the Arrow War in China. Resulting [[Treaties of Tianjin]] at 1858, [[Treaty of Aigun]], etc., [[Unequal Treaties]] and also burning, looting of the [[Old Summer Palace]] and [[New Summer Palace]]. "Beyond any doubt, by 1860 the ancient civilization that was China had been thoroughly defeated and humiliated by the West."
* 1858:  Western nations force Japan to sign the [[Unequal Treaties]]. These articles established export and import tariffs and the concept of "[[extraterritoriality]]" (i.e. Japan held no jurisdiction over foreign criminals in its land. Their trials were to be conducted by foreign judges under their own nation's laws). Japan had no power to change these terms.
* 1868:  Japan, in an effort to modernize and prevent future Western dominance, ousts the Tokugawa Shogunate and adopts a new [[Emperor Meiji|Meiji Emperor]]. The next few decades see arguably the most rapid and successful industrialization of any economy in world history during the [[Meiji Restoration]].
* 1884-1885: A failed diplomatic solution over Vietnam independence results in [[Sino-French|Tonkin War]].
* 1894–1895: The [[First Sino-Japanese War]] ends in Japanese victory, results in Japanese dominance in [[Korea]] and Japanese control of the [[Liaodong Peninsula]] (later returned to China for payment), [[Taiwan]] and [[Penghu|Penghu Islands]].  Balance of power in [[Asia]] permanently altered.
* 1899:  With newly gained power from recent industrialization, Japan successfully renegotiates aspects of the Unequal Treaties.
* 1899–1901: The [[Boxer Rebellion]] led China to a humiliating defeat by the [[Eight-Nation Alliance]] of Western powers including the [[United States]] and Japan, ceding more territory, and dealing one of the final blows to the struggling Qing dynasty.
* 1904–1905:  The '''[[Russo-Japanese War]]''' begins with a surprise attack and ends by an eventual Japanese victory over [[Imperial Russia]]. [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese control over Korea]] until World War II is assured.
* 1910: Empire of Japan annexes Korea.

=== Republic of China era ===
* 1911: The [[Xinhai Revolution|Chinese Revolution]] overthrows the [[Manchu]] [[Qing dynasty]] and establishes the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]. Warlord factions, however, continue to fight for personal gains, resulting in near-constant warfare as the [[Kuomintang|Chinese Nationalists]] struggle to gain international recognition and support while bringing peace to volatile regions of [[China]].
* 1914:  During [[World War I]] Japan and other Allies seize [[Germany|German]] colonial possessions.
* 1919:  The [[May Fourth Movement]] erupts in [[Beijing]] to protest to the Chinese government’s weak response to the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. Japan, as a member of the victorious [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] during World War I, gains a [[League of Nations Mandate|mandate]] [[South Seas Mandate|over various Pacific islands]] previously part of the [[German colonial empire]]. The primary island chains are the [[Marshall Islands]], [[Marianas]], the [[Caroline Islands|Carolines]], and [[Truk Lagoon]].  Japan joins the [[League of Nations]].
* 1921:  Foundation of the [[Chinese Communist Party]].
* 1922:  The [[Washington Naval Treaty]] is signed, limiting the fleets and vessels of the navies of the [[United States Navy|United States]], [[Royal Navy|United Kingdom]], [[Imperial Japanese Navy|Japan]], [[French Navy|France]], and [[Regia Marina|Italy]].  Japan is limited to about two-thirds of the fleet allowed for the United States and Britain.  This is seen in Japan as a denial of Japanese equality amongst European powers.
* 1924: [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin]] [[Death and state funeral of Vladimir Lenin|dies]] in [[Moscow]]. After internal political intrigues, primarily against [[Leon Trotsky]], [[Joseph Stalin]] takes power over the [[Soviet Union]] a year later. The [[1st National Congress of Kuomintang|first congress]] of the [[Kuomintang]] under [[Sun Yat-Sen]] is held in [[Guangzhou]].
* 1925: [[Dr. Sun Yat-sen]] dies in [[Beijing]]. After internal political intrigues, primarily against [[Wang Jingwei]], [[Chiang Kai-shek]] takes over the leadership of the KMT
* 1926: [[Hirohito]] becomes emperor upon [[Emperor Taishō|his father]]'s death.
* 1927: Open conflict between the [[Chinese Communist Party]] and the Kuomintang commences.
* 1928:
** [[Jinan incident]] (May 1928)
** [[Huanggutun incident]] (Japanese assassination of the Chinese head of state Generalissimo [[Zhang Zuolin]] on 4 June 1928)
** [[Northeast Flag Replacement]] ([[Zhang Xueliang]]'s announcement on 29 December 1928 that all banners of the [[Beiyang government]] in Manchuria would be replaced with the flag of the [[Nationalist government]], thus nominally uniting China under one government)
* 1929: The [[Sino-Soviet conflict (1929)|Sino-Soviet conflict]] over the Manchurian [[Chinese Eastern Railway]] demonstrated the military weakness of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] (KMT). Later the Soviet Union sell its stocks to the [[Manchukuo]] government.
* 1930: The [[London Naval Treaty]] is signed, putting a halt to [[battleship]] production until 1937.  Limitations on [[submarine]]s and other [[surface combatant]]s are also made.

==World War II in Asia==
Many historians argue that World War II began with the [[Marco Polo Bridge Incident]] on July 7, 1937. While other historians believe the war began with the [[Mukden Incident]] in Manchuria on September 18, 1931. Japanese occupation of much of Asia would last until 1945.

===1931–37: Japan vs. China===
*September 18, 1931: The [[Mukden Incident]], known as the "9.18 Incident": Japanese agents blow up part of the Japanese owned [[South Manchurian Railroad]] at [[Mukden]] in [[Northeast China|northeastern China]], and label it sabotage by Chinese forces. Using the incident as a pretext, the [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]] is launched. Within six months the occupation of [[Manchuria]] is complete.
* January 28, 1932: The [[January 28 Incident]]: fighting erupts between Chinese boycotters and Japanese troops protecting the Japanese section of [[Shanghai]]. The Japanese dispatch a naval invasion force in an attempt to capture Shanghai. However, the invasion ended in a stalemate. United Kingdom and United States broker a cease-fire between China and Japan three months after the hostilities begin.
* February, 1932: [[Manchukuo]] is announced as an independent nation, in reality a Japanese puppet government for [[Manchuria]]. It encompassed the three northeastern Chinese provinces occupied by Japan since the "9.18 Incident." Japanese control remains direct however, and Japanese owned interests gain considerable power. Additionally, the opium trade is encouraged. Manchukuo was not recognized by the [[League of Nations]] and Japan subsequently withdraws from the organization.
* May, 1932 [[May 15 incident]]: Japanese Prime Minister [[Inukai Tsuyoshi]] assassinated by a group of young officers for his support of the London Naval Treaty, which is seen in Japan as preventing parity of forces. 
* January 1934, the Soviet Union invades the Republic of China in the [[Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang]].
* October, 1934 – November, 1935:  The Chinese Communists led by [[Mao Zedong]] conduct the [[Long March]], retreating  from [[Jiangxi]] to [[Yan'an]] in [[Shaanxi]]. 
* December 29, 1934:  Japan abrogates the [[Washington Naval Treaty]].
* December, 1935:  Large-scale anti-Japanese riots take place in Beiping (now called [[Beijing]])
* February, 1936 [[February 26 Incident]]: Japanese junior officers coup attempt.
* November, 1936:  Japan joins Germany in signing the [[Anti-Comintern Pact]], concluded to provide a two-front threat to the Soviet Union.  Japan is however not interested in being drawn into a European war, and thus the pact is not a true alliance.
* December 25, 1936:  [[Xi'an Incident]]: Arrest of [[Chiang Kai-shek]] by [[Zhang Xueliang]] leads to [[Second United Front]] alignment against Japan.
* July 7, 1937:  [[Marco Polo Bridge Incident]]. Japanese forces conducting military exercises outside Beijing claimed that several Japanese soldiers were not accounted for after the exercise.  Japanese launch an all-out assault. Nanjing government declares its intent to resist Japan, marking the start of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. (Note: For political reasons, war was not declared by either side at this point. The Chinese declaration of war came on December 8, 1941).

===1937–39: The War expands===
* August–October 1937: the Soviet Union invades the Republic of China in the [[Xinjiang War (1937)]]
* August–November 1937: Full-scale fighting erupts throughout northern China, and Japan overcomes initial failures with landings and reinforcements in Shanghai. Before the [[Battle of Shanghai]], the Tokyo government announced that Japan would complete the conquest of Shanghai in three days, and all of China within three months. KMT troops held Shanghai for over three months.
[[Image:Chinese soldiers poorly armed.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Chinese soldiers poorly armed.]]
* December 1937:  the city of [[Nanjing]] is captured and subjected to months of the rampage. The [[Nanjing Massacre]] resulted in the deaths of up to 200,000 Chinese civilians. This is in line with the [[Three Alls Policy]]: ''kill all, burn all, loot all.''
* April, 1938:  Chinese Nationalists gain a major victory over Japanese forces in [[Shandong]] province.
* June, 1938:  The Japanese advance along the [[Yellow River]] is halted by the breaking of dams by the Chinese.  The surprise flood kills many Japanese but also as many as 1,000,000 civilians.
* July, 1938:  Japanese forces provoke a battle with the Soviets at [[Lake Hassan]] in Manchukuo.  The Soviets handily defeat the Japanese.
* October, 1938:  The Japanese Central China Army captures [[Hankou]] in the [[Battle of Wuhan]], ending their advance up the [[Yangtze River]].  Landings near [[Hong Kong]] capture [[Guangzhou|Canton]], cutting off of the Chinese Nationalists from ocean ports.
* November, 1938:  The [[New Order for East Asia]] is declared by Japan. This declaration of Japanese plans for dominance of East Asia further deteriorates their relations with western nations.
* February, 1939:  Japan captures [[Hainan Island]], which is seen to have strategic implications by the British.
* May–September, 1939:  Japan and the Soviet Union engage in [[Soviet-Japanese Border War (1939)|border clashes]] around the [[Khalka River]] in [[Mongolian People's Republic|Mongolia]], culminating in the [[Battles of Khalkhin Gol]]. Crushing defeats lead the [[Nanshin-ron|Strike South Group]] to avoid conflict against the powerful [[Red Army]].
* July, 1939:  The United States announces its withdrawal from its [[commercial treaty]] with Japan.

===The conquest of Southeast Asia and the road to Pearl Harbor===
{{Main|Events leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor}}
* September 1940: [[Japanese invasion of French Indochina|Japan invades French Indochina]].
* April, 1941: American volunteer pilots secretly recruited in U.S. Their first actual combat will be in December 1941 in Burma where they will begin to wreak havoc upon Japanese forces and will soon be named the [[Flying Tigers]].
* June 22, 1941: [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] invades the [[Soviet Union]] in what became known as [[Operation Barbarossa]].
* August, 1941: The United States, which at the time supplied 80% of Japanese oil imports, initiates a complete oil [[embargo]]. This threatens to cripple both the [[Economy of Japan|Japanese economy]] and military strength once the strategic reserves run dry, unless alternative oil-sources can be found.
* December 7, 1941: Japan [[Battle of Hong Kong|invades Hong Kong]], [[Battle of Guam (1941)|Guam]], [[Japanese invasion of Malaya|Malaya]] and [[Philippines campaign (1941–1942)|The Philippines]] shortly after [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|attacking Pearl Harbor]]. The [[United States declaration of war upon Japan|United States]], [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom declaration of war on Japan|United Kingdom]] formally declare war on Japan the next day.

== See also ==
* [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]
* [[Germany–Japan relations]]
* [[World War II]]
* [[Causes of World War II]]
* [[Events preceding World War II in Europe]]
* [[Nanjing Massacre]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{World War II}}

[[Category:Chronology of World War II]]
[[Category:1930s in Asia]]