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China REPUBLICAN CHINA
The republic that Sun Yat-sen and his associates envisioned
evolved slowly. The revolutionists lacked an army, and the power of
Yuan Shikai began to outstrip that of parliament. Yuan revised the
constitution at will and became dictatorial. In August 1912 a new
political party was founded by Song Jiaoren (1882-1913), one of
Sun's associates. The party, the Guomindang (Kuomintang or KMT--the
National People's Party, frequently referred to as the Nationalist
Party), was an amalgamation of small political groups, including
Sun's Tongmeng Hui. In the national elections held in February 1913
for the new bicameral parliament, Song campaigned against the Yuan
administration, and his party won a majority of seats. Yuan had
Song assassinated in March; he had already arranged the
assassination of several pro-revolutionist generals. Animosity
toward Yuan grew. In the summer of 1913 seven southern provinces
rebelled against Yuan. When the rebellion was suppressed, Sun and
other instigators fled to Japan. In October 1913 an intimidated
parliament formally elected Yuan president of the Republic of
China, and the major powers extended recognition to his government.
To achieve international recognition, Yuan Shikai had to agree to
autonomy for Outer Mongolia and Xizang. China was still to be
suzerain, but it would have to allow Russia a free hand in Outer
Mongolia and Britain continuance of its influence in Xizang.
In November Yuan Shikai, legally president, ordered the
Guomindang dissolved and its members removed from parliament.
Within a few months, he suspended parliament and the provincial
assemblies and forced the promulgation of a new constitution,
which, in effect, made him president for life. Yuan's ambitions
still were not satisfied, and, by the end of 1915, it was announced
that he would reestablish the monarchy. Widespread rebellions
ensued, and numerous provinces declared independence. With
opposition at every quarter and the nation breaking up into warlord
factions, Yuan Shikai died of natural causes in June 1916, deserted
by his lieutenants.
Data as of July 1987
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