XI'AN INCIDENT - CAUSES

In 1936, Japan controlled Manchuria China and was seeking to advance further. In Europe, the Olympic Games were held in Hitler's Nazi Germany. In the United Kingdom, King George IV took the crown. The United States fell into the Great Depression.

In half-colonized China, warlords defended their own lands. Jiang Jieshi's Nationalist Party was holding the government. The Communist Party just finished their incredible Long March and settled down in Northwest. Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria had moved away to the Great Walls, and became close friend with Jiang. While Jiang was the Commander in Chief of the National Army, Zhang Xueliang was the second. Their relationship reached a peak in the 1930s. Zhang and his army were ordered to the Northwest, held by the Communism.

The Japanese Empire had expanded its small islands to the Asian Continent, and was ready to attack the biggest enemy - China. Chinese people hated Japanese very much, but it seemed that the Nationalist government was not very interested or prepared involving into the war.

There were two major conflicts between Zhang and Jiang. Jiang was aware of Zhang Xueliang, and he wanted to weaken Zhang in any chance he had. Zhang seemed to notice something. Another important reason was Jiang wanted to make the Communists disappear, but the young general was a patriot who wanted to fight Japanese instead of the Communists.

Jiang was unhappy with Zhang's speed against Communist Party. Jiang wanted his followers devote more on the war against Communists.

Their conflict ignited in the Xi'an Incident on December 12, 1936.

Designed and Edited By Hanzhe Zhang