1975-89
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The chronology will be expanded to track major cross-straits issues and events so check back often.

CONFLICT TIMELINE

1975 Sept. 9, China (People's Republic): Communist Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung dies, replaced by Hua Guofeng.

1975 April 5, Taiwan (National Republic): Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek dies and is succeeded by his son Chiang Ching-kuo.

1979 Jan.1, China (People's Republic): Diplomatic relations are established with the United States. The US severs its diplomatic recognition of the Nationalist Chinese government in Taiwan. The deal requires the US to accept Taiwan as a province of The People's Republic of China and the PRC agrees not to stage a military invasion of Taiwan (Republic of China). Taiwan and the United States maintain semi-diplomatic relations, which result in little real change in the overall political-military situation for the Communist Chinese government.

1979 Feb. 17, China (People's Republic): The PRC invades Vietnam striking 12-20 miles (19-32 km)inside its borders. The PRC attack soon slows and eventually is halted by Vietnamese forces. PRC military forces withdraw by March 15. PRC motivations for the attack are not made clear at the time.

1979 Dec. 10, Taiwan (National Republic): The "Kaohsiung Incident." The tangwai ("outside-the-party") democratic opposition oppose the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party's claim to represent all of China. Demonstrations on the first major human rights day celebration in Taiwan end in a conflict in which more than one hundred people are injured, mostly police. Arrests of the demonstration's leaders result in the trial of a number of opposition politicians.

1980 May 18, China (People's Republic): The PRC successfully test fires an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), it travels approximately 6,200 miles (3,850.2 km).

1980 Sept. 4, China (People's Republic): PRC leader Hua Guofeng is forced to resign on Sept. 4, 1980 by Deng Xiaoping who assumes control.

1981 Oct. 7, China (People's Republic): The PRC's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications adopts six measures as steps for the immediate opening of postal and telegram communications with Taiwan.

1982 July 17, Taiwan (National Republic): US President Ronald Regan extends co-production of the F-5E fighter plane with Taiwan. The PRC protest the move is a violation of the 1979 treaty with the United States.

1982 Aug. 18, Taiwan (National Republic): President Regan orders a reduction in arm supplies to Taiwan. Seen as a response to the Communist complaints over the F-5E fighter CO-production deal with Taiwan.

1984 June 23, China (People's Republic): Deng Xiaoping introduces the concept of "one country, two systems."

1987 Jan. 1-5, China (People's Republic): Thousands of students in 11 cities begin demonstrations. They press for democratic reforms and an expansion of the freedom of expression.

1987 Jul. 21, Taiwan (National Republic): Martial law is ended after 38 years.

1987 Oct. 24, China (People's Republic): The PRC's Ministry of Public Security Bureau of Exit and Entry completes the draft of "Six-article Measures Governing the Entry and Exit of Taiwan Compatriots."

1987 October, Taiwan (National Republic): Taiwanese Minister of Interior Wu Poh-hsiung announces that travel permits to Communist China are now available for application for residents of Taiwan.

1988 July 7, China (People's Republic): The PRC State Council issues "Regulations for Encouraging Investment by Taiwan People."

1989 Jan.18, China (People's Republic): China's State Department forms the Taiwan Affair Office.

1989 May-June, China (People's Republic): Continuing student unrest in Beijing. Troops gather near Beijing, but conflicts are avoided. Martial law is declared on May 20.

1989 June 3-4, China (People's Republic): The Chinese government orders the military to use lethal force and retake T'ienanmen Square from the protesters. Estimated deaths are unconfirmed, but are reported to be from several hundred to 1,500. The real figure is probably closer to the latter.

1989 June 10, China (People's Republic)/Taiwan (National Republic): Indirect telephone calls and telegram communications procedures are relaxed as well as the handling process for postal communications.
Latest Update: September 9, 2003