Yunnan-Guangxi War
Encyclopedia
The Yunnan
–Guangxi
War was a war of succession fought for the control of the Chinese Nationalist Party after the death of Sun Yat-sen
in 1925. It was launched by the Yunnan clique
against the party leadership and the New Guangxi clique
.
On 18 March 1925, six days after Sun's death, Tang Jiyao
, leader of the Yunnan clique, claimed to be the rightful leader of the Kuomintang against acting generalissimo Hu Hanmin
and the party executives. He had been a revolutionary since the Qing dynasty
, was one of the most prominent leaders of the National Protection War
against Yuan Shikai
, co-founded the Constitutional Protection Movement, and assisted Sun during the Guangdong-Guangxi War
and Chen Jiongming
's rebellion. Despite this, his relationship with Sun was not solid. He had previously negotiated with the Beiyang government
and other northern warlords, resisted Sun's call for the Northern Expedition, and was unwilling to provide the National Assembly
long-term shelter during the Guangdong-Guangxi War. Sun had also recognized the authority of Gu Pinzhen, who had briefly overthrown Tang in 1921.
Given that he was the most accomplished and famous general in the Kuomintang, Tang believed he was the natural leader of the national revolution. He justified his claim in that Sun had named Tang his "deputy generalissimo" in 1924. In actuality, Tang had declined this position when he learned it was inferior to Hu Hanmin's "vice generalissimo" rank. The party leaders denounced Tang as a usurper.
Frustrated, Tang rallied his allies in Yunnan
and Guizhou
to lead an expedition to Guangzhou
. Hu Hanmin requested the New Guangxi clique
to form a defense. Li Zongren
successfully routed Tang's invading armies during the summer. Li Zongren's stature rose as a result of the war and he would later become acting president.
The fortunes of the previously obscure Chiang Kai-shek
also rose during the war. In August, the right-wing Hu Hanmin was blamed for the assassination of fellow party executive Liao Zhongkai
and was arrested and exiled by Chiang and Wang Jingwei
. Chiang took over General Xu Chongzhi's role as commander of the KMT's military since Xu was suspected of either taking part of the assassination, knowing about it, or was simply incompetent in providing security. (Xu was a replacement of his mutinous superior, Chen Jiongming.) Many KMT right-wing leaders were demoted like Lin Sen
and Dai Jitao. This effectively made Chiang the second most powerful person in the KMT after Wang Jingwei.
In September, Chen Jiongming launched his final rebellion in Guangdong which was crushed by Chiang. Chen and Tang became allies and were elected premier and vice premier respectively of the new China Public Interest Party in San Francisco on October. The party advocated federalism
and multi-party democracy; it moved its headquarters to Hong Kong
in 1926.
Chiang Kai-shek eventually ousted Wang Jingwei following the Zhongshan Warship Incident
in the spring of 1926. After the Nationalists' successful Northern Expedition, many of Tang's generals wanted to realign themselves with the Kuomintang. Long Yun
forced Tang into retirement in February 1927. Tang died one month later at the age of 44. The China Public Interest Party is currently part of the People's Political Consultative Conference in the People's Republic of China
.
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
–Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
War was a war of succession fought for the control of the Chinese Nationalist Party after the death of Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
in 1925. It was launched by the Yunnan clique
Yunnan clique
The Yunnan Clique was one of several mutually hostile cliques or factions that split from the Beiyang Government in the Republic of China's warlord era. It was named for Yunnan Province....
against the party leadership and the New Guangxi clique
New Guangxi clique
After the founding of the Republic of China, Guangxi served as the base for one of the most powerful warlord cliques of China: the Old Guangxi clique. Led by Lu Rongting and others, the clique was able to take control of neighbouring Hunan and Guangdong provinces as well...
.
On 18 March 1925, six days after Sun's death, Tang Jiyao
Tang Jiyao
Tang Jiyao was a Chinese general and warlord of Yunnan during the Warlord Era of Republican China. Tang Jiyao was military governor of Yunnan from 1913-1927.-Life:...
, leader of the Yunnan clique, claimed to be the rightful leader of the Kuomintang against acting generalissimo Hu Hanmin
Hu Hanmin
Hu Hanmin was one of the early leaders of Kuomintang , and a very important right-winger in Kuomintang.-Biography:Hu Hanmin was qualified as juren at 21 years of age. He studied in Japan since 1902, and joined Tongmenghui as an editor of 《Minbao》 in 1905. From 1907-1910, he participated in...
and the party executives. He had been a revolutionary since the Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, was one of the most prominent leaders of the National Protection War
National Protection War
The National Protection War , also known as the anti-Monarchy War, was a civil war that took place in China between 1915 and 1916. The cause of this war was Yuan Shikai's proclamation of himself as Emperor. Only three years earlier, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, had been overthrown...
against Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
, co-founded the Constitutional Protection Movement, and assisted Sun during the Guangdong-Guangxi War
Guangdong-Guangxi War
The Guangdong–Guangxi War or the First and Second Yue-Gui Wars , occurred between the Chinese Revolutionary Party and the Old Guangxi Clique.-First Yue-Gui War:When Sun Yat-sen, leader of the Chinese Revolutionary Party, attempted to reestablish himself in...
and Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming was a revolutionary figure in the early periods of the Republic of China. Chen Jiongming was born in 1878 at Haifeng, Guangdong, China....
's rebellion. Despite this, his relationship with Sun was not solid. He had previously negotiated with the Beiyang government
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
and other northern warlords, resisted Sun's call for the Northern Expedition, and was unwilling to provide the National Assembly
National Assembly of the Republic of China
The National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
long-term shelter during the Guangdong-Guangxi War. Sun had also recognized the authority of Gu Pinzhen, who had briefly overthrown Tang in 1921.
Given that he was the most accomplished and famous general in the Kuomintang, Tang believed he was the natural leader of the national revolution. He justified his claim in that Sun had named Tang his "deputy generalissimo" in 1924. In actuality, Tang had declined this position when he learned it was inferior to Hu Hanmin's "vice generalissimo" rank. The party leaders denounced Tang as a usurper.
Frustrated, Tang rallied his allies in Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
to lead an expedition to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. Hu Hanmin requested the New Guangxi clique
New Guangxi clique
After the founding of the Republic of China, Guangxi served as the base for one of the most powerful warlord cliques of China: the Old Guangxi clique. Led by Lu Rongting and others, the clique was able to take control of neighbouring Hunan and Guangdong provinces as well...
to form a defense. Li Zongren
Li Zongren
Li Zongren or Li Tsung-jen , courtesy name Delin , was a prominent Guangxi warlord and Kuomintang military commander during the Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
successfully routed Tang's invading armies during the summer. Li Zongren's stature rose as a result of the war and he would later become acting president.
The fortunes of the previously obscure Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
also rose during the war. In August, the right-wing Hu Hanmin was blamed for the assassination of fellow party executive Liao Zhongkai
Liao Zhongkai
Liao Zhongkai , Kuomintang leader and financier. Liao Zhongkai was the principal architect of the first Kuomintang-Chinese Communist Party United Front in the 1920s....
and was arrested and exiled by Chiang and Wang Jingwei
Wang Jingwei
Wang Jingwei , alternate name Wang Zhaoming, was a Chinese politician. He was initially known as a member of the left wing of the Kuomintang , but later became increasingly anti-Communist after his efforts to collaborate with the CCP ended in political failure...
. Chiang took over General Xu Chongzhi's role as commander of the KMT's military since Xu was suspected of either taking part of the assassination, knowing about it, or was simply incompetent in providing security. (Xu was a replacement of his mutinous superior, Chen Jiongming.) Many KMT right-wing leaders were demoted like Lin Sen
Lin Sen
Lin Sen , courtesy name Zichao , sobriquet Changren , was President of the National Government of the Republic of China from 1931 until his death.-Early life:...
and Dai Jitao. This effectively made Chiang the second most powerful person in the KMT after Wang Jingwei.
In September, Chen Jiongming launched his final rebellion in Guangdong which was crushed by Chiang. Chen and Tang became allies and were elected premier and vice premier respectively of the new China Public Interest Party in San Francisco on October. The party advocated federalism
Chinese federalism
Chinese federalism refers to political theories which argue that China's central government either does or should devolve large amounts of power to local entities....
and multi-party democracy; it moved its headquarters to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1926.
Chiang Kai-shek eventually ousted Wang Jingwei following the Zhongshan Warship Incident
Zhongshan Warship Incident
The Zhongshan Warship Incident , or "March 20th Incident", on March 20, 1926, involved a suspected plot by Captain Li Zhilong of the warship Chung Shan to kidnap Chiang Kai-shek. It triggered a political struggle between the Communist Party of China and Kuomintang...
in the spring of 1926. After the Nationalists' successful Northern Expedition, many of Tang's generals wanted to realign themselves with the Kuomintang. Long Yun
Long Yun
Long Yun was governor and warlord of the Chinese province of Yunnan from 1927 to near the end of the Chinese Civil War, when he was overthrown in a coup by Du Yuming under the order of Chiang Kai-shek in October, 1945.-Life:Long Yun was an sinicized ethnic Yi , a non Han Chinese people native to...
forced Tang into retirement in February 1927. Tang died one month later at the age of 44. The China Public Interest Party is currently part of the People's Political Consultative Conference in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.