This article attempts to present a concise picture of significant developments.
Events are grouped chronologically into major directories, with individual years listed in sub-directories.
Events outside of China and those involving foreign countries are listed in blue.
It is important to note that the information presented here does not necessarily match official or academic versions of history, which often suffer from distortion, taboo, official censorship, self-censorship, diplomatic constraints, etc.
We will continue to check and update accordingly.
The modern history of China can roughly be divided into several periods:
End of the Qing Dynasty (1911)
Civil wars and the Republican period (1912 - 1936)
War with Japan (1937 - 1945)
People’s Republic of China vs Republic of China (1949 - )
Modernization and democracy movements (1976 - )
Major Events
British victory at the Battle of Waterloo. (1815)
First Opium War. (1840)
Second Opium War. (1858)
Meiji Restoration in Japan. (1868)
First Sino-Japanese War. (1894)
Hundred Days' Reform. (1898)
Founding of the Republic of China. (1911)
Yuan Shikai attempts to become emperor.(1912-1916)
First World War. (1814-1818)
May Fourth movement for science and democracy. (1919)
Civil war among warlords. (1920-1923)
Northern Expedition and establishment of Nationalist China. (1924-1928)
Civil wars. (1929-1936)
Second Sino-Japanese War. (1937-1945)
Second World War. (1939-1945)
Civil war between Nationalists and Communists. (1945-1949)
Land reform in Taiwan. (1949)
Founding of the People’s Republic of China. (1949)
Korean War. (1950-1953)
Great Leap Forward. (1958-1961)
Cultural Revolution. (1966-1976)
Economic reform and the Four Modernizations. (1978)
Democratic elections in Taiwan. (1986)
Democracy movement in Beijing. (1989)
1981
January - Verdicts on the Gang of Four. Zhang Chunqiao and Jiang Qing were sentenced to death; both sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in 1983. The others are sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
June - Official Resolution on Party History. Official accounts of the Communist Party state that over 700,000 people were ‘framed and persecuted during the Cultural Revolution, of whom around 30,000 died. The Cultural Revolution is condemned as a serious disaster and ten years of chaos.
June – Hu Yaobang becomes chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, replacing Hua Guofeng. Deng Xiaoping becomes chairman of the Military Affairs Commission.
September – Beijing announces the “Nine-Point Proposal for Peaceful Reunification,” whereby Taiwan would become a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. Taipei responds with “Three No’s”: no contact, no negotiations, and no compromise.
1982
January - Strike Hard Campaign Against Economic Crimes aims to curb corruption in coastal areas.
April - Chen Yun proposes a birdcage approach to economic reform. The economy would be allowed to develop within the confines of central planning.
August - Third communiqué between the PRC and the U.S. The United States commits to gradual reduction of arms sales to the Republic of China, and termination of sales after an indefinite period.
September - Chinese Communist Party adopts a new constitution. Deng Xiaoping emphasizes modernization based on the situation in China and 'socialism with Chinese characteristics. A planned economy would be developed and supplemented by market forces.
September – Margaret Thatcher visits Beijing. Great Britain enters into negotiations with the People’s Republic of China concerning future of Hong Kong.
November - Defection. Wang Bingzhang, a PhD student, sent by Beijing to study in Canada, declares his intention to promote democracy, freedom and human rights in China. Wang started a magazine in New York called China Spring with other Chinese students. Years later, in 2003, Wang was sentenced to life in prison after being kidnapped to China from Burma.
December - At the National People’s Congress of the People's Republic of China, provisions are made for special administrative regions where other political systems can be instituted.
December - In Taiwan, election candidates propose self-determination for the people.
December - Publication of the first issue of China Spring in the United States. The magazine receives popular support from prominent Chinese outside of mainland China.
1983
May - In the United States, Huang Bingzhang proposes political and economic plans for China that includes an end to one-party dictatorship, separation of powers, private property and a market economy.
June - Deng Xiaoping suggests "one country, two systems" as a peaceful way to reunite Taiwan with mainland China.
October – Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign is promoted across mainland China to remove Western influences.
November – Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang denounce the Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign as an effort by the leftists to impede progress.
December - Supplementary elections for the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China. Nearly all newly elected candidates were born in Taiwan.
December - Formation of the Chinese Alliance for Democracy in the New York. It is organized by members of China Spring.
1984
March - Lee Teng-hui becomes Vice President of the Republic of China when Chiang Ching-Kuo is re-elected President by the National Assembly.
April – Fourteen coastal cities of the People's Republic of China are opened for preferential treatment of foreign investors: Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Zhanjiang, and Beihai.
May – At the National People’s Congress, the concept of “one country – two systems” becomes fundamental state policy.
July – First British “green paper” announcing indirect partial elections of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, a British colony.
October – Chinese Communist Party decides to reduce the number of state enterprises. The market economy would be emphasized.
November - Hu Yaobang states that Marxism is not the solution to all China's problems.
December – Joint Declaration signed between the People’s Republic of China and Great Britain concerning the future of Hong Kong. China will resume sovereignty on July 1, 1997. Hong Kong’s social and economic system will be maintained. Hong Kong would become a special administrative region with a high degree of autonomy.
1985
January - Communist Party issues a directive to set the rural economy free. Prices of agricultural goods are allowed to float on the free market.
February - Three economic zones are set up at the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Xiamen.
March – Economic scandal in Hainan Island. Large-scale smuggling of cars involving many corrupt officials is revealed.
March - Liu Binyan publishes A Second Kind of Loyalty, praising those Communists who dare to criticize the Party. Liu would later be expelled from the Party in 1987.
March – Thousands of elderly officers retire from the People's Liberation Army.
April – Beijing government announces plans to lay off a significant portion of the armed forces.
May - Hu Yaobang gives an interview to Hong Kong journalists criticizing conservative members of Party leadership.
October - Deng Xiaoping indicates that some portions of the Chinese population should be allowed to get rich first.
1986
March - In Taiwan, Nationalist Party explores the possibilities of lifting martial law.
August - First securities markets open in Shenyang with two bond issues.
September – Resolution on Building a Spiritual Civilization. The resolution states that the People's Republic of China is still at the initial stage of socialism. Various types of economic elements should be allowed under the dominant system of public ownership. A portion of the populace should be allowed to get rich first. The Resolution passes with the inclusion of anti-liberalization.
September - First stock exchange opens in Shanghai.
September - Formation of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan.
November - In Shanghai, Fang Lizhi calls for human rights and democracy in mainland China.
December – In Taiwan, the first free parliamentary elections in the Republic of China involved two political parties.
December - Students of the University of Science and Technology in Hefei protest Communist Party control of student elections. Fang Lizhi, vice-president of the university, encourages students to stand up for their rights.
December - Large-scale student demonstrations in Shanghai and Beijing asking for more political freedom.
December - Communist Party leadership meets to discuss student unrest. Hu Yaobang is criticized for not taking appropriate measures.
1987
January - Hu Yaobang submits his resignation as General Secretary of the Communist Party. Hu is accused of tolerating spiritual pollution, opposing leftism, contributing to total Westernization, and encouraging consumer demand. Zhao Zhiyang becomes Acting Secretary General. Li Peng becomes Premier.
January - The Communist Party launches the anti-liberalization campaign.
January - Fang Lizhi, vice-president of the University of Science and Technology, is removed from his post. Fang is also expelled from the Communist Party.
January - Liu Binyan is expelled from the Communist Party.
July - Martial law revoked in Taiwan. Martial law was put in place in 1949, on the eve of the Communist takeover of the mainland.
August - Wu Zuguang and other intellectuals are asked to resign from the Communist Party.
August - Rampant inflation in mainland China.
October to November – Thirteenth Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. China is declared to be at the initial stage of socialism in which market reforms are permitted. Zhao Ziyang highlights the idea of continuing economic reform while holding up the Four Cardinal Principles. Deng Xiaoping is opposed to political reform.
November - Students in many mainland cities demonstrate against corruption and ask for democracy.
November - Taipei government lifts ban on travelling from Taiwan to mainland China.
1988
January - Taipei government permits freedom of the press.
January – Chiang Ching-Kuo dies in Taiwan. Lee Teng-hui succeeds as President of the Republic of China.
March – The National People’s Congress passes laws and regulations on private enterprises in Beijing. Congress also amends the constitution regarding land use rights.
March - At the National People's Congress, Hainan island, one of the most corrupt provinces, is permitted to become a Special Economic Zone.
April - Li Peng replaces Zhao Ziyang as Premier of the People's Republic of China. Zhao remains the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.
May - Zhao Ziyang proposes significant price reforms. Rumours of pending price hikes and high inflation cause widespread panic buying in mainland China.
July - Lee Teng-hui was elected chairman of the Nationalist Party.
September - Zhao Ziyang reverses his decision on price reforms.
November - Liu Xiaobo publishes an article criticizing Mao Zedong, calling Mao a monster. Liu supports democracy, human rights and peaceful reform of the Beijing government. Liu was arrested in 2009 for proposing the Charter 08 manifesto. After being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while in prison, Liu died from illness in captivity at a hospital in 2017.
1989
January - Intellectuals in Beijing sign a petition calling for the release of Wei Jingsheng and other political prisoners.
February – U.S. President George Bush visits the People’s Republic of China.
April – Hu Yaobang dies.
April – Crowds gather in Beijing to mourn the death of Hu Yaobang. Students ask for freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Students also demand the resignation of Li Peng.
April 26 – An editorial in People’s Daily claims the students are being manipulated. A ban on demonstrations is issued.
April 27 – Massive student demonstrations in Beijing, supported by the general population.
May 15 – Mikhail Gorbachev visits Beijing.
May 17, 1989 – Gorbachev leaves for Shanghai. Emergency Politburo midnight meeting at the home of Deng Xiaoping. The decision is made to declare martial law in Beijing. Large crowds continue to demonstrate in the streets.
May 19 – Zhao Ziyang goes to Tiananmen Square early to talk to the students. Li Peng declares martial law in the evening.
May 30 – Students from eight art academies erect the Goddess of Democracy in Tiananmen Square.
June 3 – People’s Liberation Army troops enter Beijing.
June 4 – People’s Liberation Army troops surround Tiananmen Square in the early morning hours. Most students retreat from the Square. Thousands of people were killed or wounded by PLA troops in Beijing during the process.
June 9 – Deng Xiaoping offers condolences to PLA troops injured or killed by students and crowds that blocked their advance.
June 26 – Jiang Zemin, party secretary of Shanghai, is called to Beijing to replace Zhao Ziyang.
September - In France, students, scholars and dissidents exiled from mainland China form the Front for Democracy.
November – Deng Xiaoping resigns as chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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