Yunnan–Guangxi War

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Yunnan-Guangxi War
DateMarch 1925–February 1927
Location
South China
Result Chiang Kai-shek victory
Belligerents
Yunnan clique
Supported by:
 France
Republic of China (1912–1949) National Revolutionary Army
Supported by:
 Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Tang Jiyao
Chen Jiongming
Republic of China (1912–1949) Chiang Kai-shek
Republic of China (1912–1949) Hu Hanmin
Republic of China (1912–1949) Li Zongren
Casualties and losses
Thousands of civilians killed

The Yunnan–Guangxi War was a war of succession fought for 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.[1]

On 18 March 1925--six days after Sun's death--

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 by noting 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, he rallied his allies in

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 Gen. Xu Chongzhi's role as commander of the KMT's military, since Xu was suspected of either taking part in the assassination, knowing about it or was simply incompetent in providing security (Xu was a replacement for 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

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 three months later at the age of 43.

References