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MODERN HISTORY OF CHINA

Objective chronological listing of significant events leading up to modern China.

• January - Questioning Nationalist government's ability and commitment to fight Japan, the United States threatens to stop sending aid to China.
  
• February - U.S. forces capture the Marshall Islands.
  
• February - United States requests sending a mission to Communist Yan'an.
  
• March - Chinese forces (the X Force) from India capture Maingkwan, Burma.
  
• March – Japanese forces in Burma strike and surround British and Indian troops at Imphal and Kohima in India.
  
• April - The United States and China disagree on sending reinforcements into Burma from China. Under intense U.S. pressure, orders are given to send 70,000 Chinese troops (the Y Force) into Burma from Yunnan province in May.
  
• April – Operation Ichigo. Beginning of the largest Japanese attack in the war, involving over 350,000 Japanese troops over a distance of 900 miles. The aim is to open a land transport route from Beijing to the border with Vietnam. The operation lasts a total of eight months with Chinese troops retreating on all fronts.
  
• April - Japanese troops capture Zhengzhou, an important rail junction south of the Yellow River.
  
• May - Chinese troops (the Y Force) begin their advance towards Burma from Yunnan province.
  
• June - Communists asks for an end to Nationalist blockade of Yan'an, formation of a democratic coalition government, freedom of speech and assembly, and also a portion of the U.S. aid to fight the Japanese.
  
• June – Japanese troops launch an attack from Wuhan in central China, while smaller forces advance from Guangzhou and Vietnam in the south.
  
• June – Chinese and foreign journalists visit Communist Yan'an.
  
• June – Japanese forces capture Changsha.
  
• June – Allied forces land in Normandy, France.
  
• July - United States demands Joseph Stilwell be given full command of all Chinese forces. Chiang Kai-shek refuses.
  
• July – The United States Army Observer Group, informally known as the Dixie Mission, arrives in the Communist base in Yan’an. The Communists are seen as supporters of democracy.
  
• August - A combined force of U.S. and Chinese troops capture Myitkyina, Burma.
  
• August – Hengyang in Hunan province is captured by the Japanese after 47 days of intense fighting.
  
• September - Japanese make substantial advances in Guangxi province.
  
• October - The Democratic League calls for immediate end to one-party dictatorship of the Nationalist Party.
  
• October – Upon Chiang Kai-shek's request, Joseph Stilwell is dismissed from his posts and leaves China. Stilwell is replaced by Albert C. Wedemeyer.
  
• November – Japanese troops enter Guizhou province, threatening war-time capital Chongqing.
  
• November - Japanese forces complete link up of rail transport from Beijing to Vietnam. Operation Ichigo ends.
  
• December - In Burma, Chinese troops from India (the X Force) capture Bhamo and reach the Chinese border.
  

1944