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MODERN HISTORY OF CHINA

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

1950

• January – Harry Truman declares that the United States would no longer protect the Republic of China. The United States will not provide military aid or advice to the Nationalist forces on Taiwan.
  
• January - Britain recognizes the People's Republic of China.
  
• February – The People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union sign a thirty-year Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance.
  
• March - Chiang Kai-shek resumes his presidency of the Republic of China.
  
• April - Communist troops take Hainan Island.
  
• May - Kim Il-sung, leader of North Korea, visits Beijing.
  
• May - Nationalist troops withdraw from the Zhoushan islands off the coast from Shanghai.
  
• May - Communists gain complete control of mainland China.
  
• June - In Taiwan, rumors of a coup by Sun Liren to overthrow Chiang Kai-shek.
  
• June – North Korean troops invade South Korea and capture Seoul.
  
• June - The United Nations passes resolution authorizing military assistance to South Korea. The Soviet Union does not exercise its veto power.
  
• June - Harry Truman orders the U.S. Seventh Fleet to patrol the Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan from mainland China.
  
• June - Land reform begins in mainland China. The program would last until 1952. About one million landlords are liquidated and their land given to the tenants.
  
• July - Douglas MacArthur takes command of United Nations forces consisted of troops from 18 countries, mostly from the United States.
  
• September - United Nations troops land in Inchon, Korea.
  
• September - United Nations troops recapture Seoul, Korea.
  
• September - Beijing government repeatedly warns United Nations troops not to cross into North Korea.
  
• October - United Nations troops cross into North Korea.
  
• October - Chinese Communist troops enter Korea.
  
• October - Communist troops enter Tibet.
  
• November - In Korea, United Nations forces in full retreat.
  
• December - Communist troops capture Pyongyang, capital of North Korea.