Portal:China/Anniversaries/December/December 12

1936 - The Xi'an Incident. Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Kuomingtang (KMT) national government was arrested by Marshall Zhang Xueliang, a former warlord of Manchuria, then Japan-occupied Manchukuo. Forced negotiations led to a cessation of hostilities between the KMT and the Communist Party of China, so that the two could present a united front against the increasing threat posed by Japan.

The Flag of Yuan Shikai's "Great Chinese Empire"

1916 Yuan Shikai declares the Empire of China (1915-1916), becoming the Great Emperor of China (中華帝國大皇帝), taking the era name Hongxian (洪憲).This widely unpopular move provoked a backlash with provinces declaring independence and led to the National Protection War which ended with Yuan Shikai abandoning the monarchy on March 22. Yuan reigned a total of 83 days