Chinese History: A Lover Scorned And other associated events
Our Tale Begins in 1830 China’s economy is vast Recently opened to new trading partners Massive silver exports The world is watching
Trouble In Paradise Opium War (1939) Treaty Ports – foreign control of taxes and goods Taiping rebellion (1850-1864) US delegation to Japan (1853)
1st Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) Japan sees Chinese weakness Invades Korea Declares "Senkaku/Diaoyu" islands as part of Japan Loses Formosa
The Boxer Rebellion 1898-1900 Mass revolt against foreign influence Disintegration of national identity/authority
Qing Dynasty Falls (1644-1912) Foreign Influence Nationalism Education Reform Modernization Warlords fill in and government control is functionally non-existent
WW1 China remains neutral until 1917 Declares war against the axis Joins in order to get a seat at Treaty talks US seeds more land to Japan China declines to sign and comes home in disgrace
CCP Is Born – 1921 In response to the failing Nationalist party Fights over future of China (foreign versus domestic focus) The Red Army (fights warlord control) Mao Women has more power and control
2nd Sino – Japanese War (1937-1945) Japan invades mainland China Officially declares war when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor Simultaneously fighting the Soviets 14 million dead Taiwan put back under Chinese control but Nationalists fled there in 1949
1949-1976 Revolution against the ruling classes (Soviet style) The 5 year plan – no private ownership of property The Great Leap Forward Cultural Revolution Nuclear Weapons
1976-1989 Mao dies Sino-Vietnamese war of 1979 Tiananamen Square Protests One Child Policy
Current CCP
Who matters? The Central Military Commission – in charge of military decisions The Central Committee elects a Political Bureau (Politburo) of about 20–25 full members The Political Bureau’s Standing Committee of about six to nine of its most-authoritative members is the highest echelon of leadership in the CCP
Who matters? Xi Jinping – President and Head of the Communist Party; more liberal and Western leaning than the former president Li Keqiang – Ranking member of the Standing Committee
The Military Army – 1.6million ground troops Navy – 255,000 ; 3 separate fleets Air Force – 400,000 Army Rocket Force – controls nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles (100-400 nukes) Strategic Support Force – newest; in charge of space, cyberspace, electronic warfare