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| 1939 |
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| The fighting continued in an inconclusive way over a large area. There was no indication of any slackening of Chinese determination, and Jiang's government continued to receive supplies from the Soviet Union and other powers, often by the most devious routes. Both the United States and Great Britain made substantial loans to the GMD government. The Japanese, unable to force a decision, developed an indirect attack on the position of the foreign powers in China, demanding a larger share in the Shanghai International Concession and challenging foreign rights everywhere. | 1 |
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| June 14 |
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| The Japanese established a blockade of the British concession at Tianjin (and, incidentally, also of the French), following a refusal by the British authorities to surrender four Chinese accused of “terrorism.” Japanese spokesmen publicly announced that Britain had to give up support of the Chinese Nationalist regime and cooperate with Japan in establishing the “new order” in East Asia. | 2 |
| In accordance with the united front policy (1937–39), the Communist forces had been integrated into the overall GMD military structure, though as independent units. The Red Army in Yan'an became the Eighth Route Army, and Communist forces in central China became the New Fourth Army. In addition, they set up the Shaan-Gan-Ning border government (at the borders of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces) and the Jin-Cha-Ji border regime (at the borders of Shanxi, Chahar, and Hebei). CCP membership rose greatly during the war years, from some 40,000 in 1937 to 20 times that number only three years later. Radical CCP policies toward landlords and land reform were tempered to accommodate the GMD and the discredited policies of the Jiangxi Soviet. Mao's power in Yan'an was threatened within the party by Zhang Guotao, his earlier rival, and Wang Ming (pseud. Chen Shaoyu, b. 1907), the leader of a group of Russian-trained, Stalinist ideologues who were never overly pleased by Mao's independent course. But Mao overcame them both. | 3 |
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| Sept. 3 |
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| The outbreak of World War II in Europe gave the Japanese a chance to press their undeclared war in China. War was not formally declared by China against Japan until Dec. 9, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. | 4 |
| By this time, Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists (Guomindang, GMD) were firmly ensconced in their wartime base in Chongqing (Chungking, Sichuan province); Mao Zedong and the followers of the Chinese Communist Party were in their base in Yan'an (Shaanxi province). Although accommodation had been made between the two sides and a united front to end their civil war and jointly fight the Japanese invaders was in place, the relationship was tense from the very start. Following their escape from Jiangxi and the Long March to Yan'an, the Communists had grown considerably in strength: membership was roughly 800,000 in 1940. The CCP became more popular because they tempered their earlier harsh land policies, as agreed in their united front pact, they demonstrated a greater intent to focus on the external enemy, and they did not allow their troops to abuse the local populace, something the GMD troops were notorious for doing. An anti-Japanese university was established in Yan'an as an institute to instill Party values. | 5 |
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