1933: A restless land

Author: Chen Hongmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: On the day of 1933, the Shanhaiguan, known as the "Gates of Heaven" on the Great Wall, echoed with the harsh sound of gunfire. It shattered the peaceful sky, mercilessly crushed the people's dreams, and left all the Chinese people shaken. This ominous gunshot foretold that China would not enjoy peace in the new year. After Japan invaded Manchuria, the already complex political situation in China became even more chaotic: Jiang Jieshi insisted on the policy of "first securing the interior before expelling the foreigner," but Japan did not follow Jiang's schedule. After capturing Jehol, Japan launched an attack on various passes along the Great Wall. Jiang Jieshi, after sending his elite troops to offer only a brief resistance, signed the Tanggu Agreement with the Japanese forces, hoping to gain time for "securing the interior" (primarily to suppress the Communist Party) through compromise. He focused his main forces on the "suppression of the Communists" in Jiangxi. After four defeats, he finally saw a glimmer of hope for victory. In an era that revered military power, military struggle seemed to be the panacea for all disputes: On the issue of resisting Japan, the heroic resistance of the guerrilla forces stood in stark contrast to the timid hesitation of the regular army, making it particularly tragic. The civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party spread across the southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern regions. Even within the Kuomintang, political struggles were fueled by the use of force. As for the unruly warlords in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Xinjiang, they shut themselves off and fought fiercely. Amidst all this chaos, how could the nation rebuild and improve democracy?