Asia Pacific 1949: People's Republic of China

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Political map of East Asia and the Western Pacific on 01 Oct 1949 (End of the Old Order: People's Republic of China), showing the following events: Amethyst Incident; Fall of Nanjing; Creation of State of Vietnam; French Associated State of Laos; People’s Republic of China.

In April 1949, the Chinese Communists crossed the Yangtze River and took the Nationalist capital of Nanjing. On October 1, with Nationalist forces collapsing everywhere, the Communist leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China in Beijing.

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Main Events

20 Apr–30 Jul 1949 Amethyst Incident ▲

On 20 April 1949, advancing Chinese Communist forces damaged and grounded the sloop HMS Amethyst while she was traveling up the Yangtze River from Shanghai to Nanjing to act as guard ship for the British Embassy there. British relief efforts failed and, on 30 April, the People’s Liberation Army demanded that Britain, France, and the United States withdraw all armed forces from China. After negotiations failed, the Amethyst finally managed to free herself and escape on the night of 30 July, marking the end of foreign patrols on the Yangtze. in wikipedia

24 Apr 1949 Fall of Nanjing ▲

On 20 April 1949, the Communist forces of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began crossing the Yangtze River to attack Nanjing, capital of the Republic of China. In response, the Chinese Nationalist government evacuated Nanjing on the 23rd, fleeing to Canton, which was designated as the new capital. The PLA entered Nanjing through open gates the following day, encountering no resistance. in wikipedia

14 Jun 1949 Creation of State of Vietnam ▲

Bảo Đại, former Emperor of Vietnam, was appointed Chief of State of the State of Vietnam—a new associated state within the French Union. The State of Vietnam was centered in Saigon and claimed authority over all of Vietnam, although much of its territory, particularly in the north, remained in the hands of the communist Viet Minh. in wikipedia

19 Jul 1949 French Associated State of Laos ▲

France recognized the independence of the Kingdom of Laos as an associated state in the French Union. in wikipedia

1 Oct 1949 People’s Republic of China ▲

Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing. Beijing, formally Beiping, was declared the capital of the new republic. The Soviet Union recognized the PRC the next day, with most of the other Communist countries following suit that month. However it was not until 1971 that the United Nations would recognize the PRC as the representative of China. in wikipedia

1940s 1949 China Chinese Civil War Chinese Communists Chinese history Cold War France Indochina Japanese history Kuomintang Laos maps October October 1 United Kingdom Vietnam Yangtze

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