In the opening decades of the twentieth century, China was to play a part in East Asian politics not dissimilar to that played by the Balkan states in European politics: it was a forum for great-power rivalry, dissent, and - eventually - open hostilities.

Timeline

• 1919 - "May 4th" movement launched by Chinese student protesters
• 1921 - Chinese Communist Party formed
• 1921-22 - Washington Conference attempts to regulate situation in East Asia
• 1924 - Kuomintang government established in Guangzhou
• 1926 - Chiang Kai-shek begins reunification of China (Northern Expedition)
• 1927 - Chiang Kai-shek suppresses Communists at Shanghai
• 1930 - Chiang Kai-shek launches operations against Chinses Communists
• 1934 - Long March of Chinese Communists begins