Asia 761
MID#3264
Dispute Number: 3264
Date(s): November 7, 1944 to August 14, 1945
Participants: 365 Russia/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: Yining is a city in Yili district in China’s largest province, Xinjiang. Rus-
sia long had an interest in Xinjiang, and Xinjiang continued to be an important source
of raw materials for the Soviets in the face of a possible economic collapse. By the
early 1930s a pro-British Islamic republic had been established in Kashi, and the
Japanese had begun to invade Manchuria. When Muslims in Xinjiang rebelled in 1931
the Soviets took a more interventionist approach, but in 1941 Sheng Shicai forced the
Soviets out of Xinjiang, moved toward the Kuomintang (KMT_), and adopted British-
and American-friendly policies. Stalin attempted to reassert influence by supporting
Xinjiang independence.
The Soviet Union established councils, disseminated propaganda, and provided
arms, training, and advice to Xinjiang’s ethnic groups. The guerrillas used Soviet ter-
ritory to train, launch raids, and retreat to safety.
By 1944 the Soviets held the upper hand in its war with Germany, leaving it with a
freer hand in Xinjiang. Meanwhile, the Kuomintang had only 2,000 troops in Yili Dis-
trict. In September the KMT dismissed Sheng Shincai, leaving a weakened adminis-
tration during the transition while plans called for 1,000 American troops to enter Yili
in December. On November 6, Soviet-backed guerrillas left Gongha town and the next
day launched attacks on Yining. Soviet forces became involved. A Soviet force of
3,000 entered the city, Soviet armored vehicles engaged in battle, and the Soviet con-
sulate fired on a KMT reconnaissance plane. On November 12, the Eastern Turkestan
Republic (ETR) was declared. By November 14, the KMT was forced from the city.
Over the next several months ETR forces made progress with the help of the Sovi-
ets, but the KMT continued to hold three positions outside Yining. In January 1945
the Soviets countered KMT reinforcements with reinforcements of their own, and
within the month they drove the KMT from the areas around Yining. In April the Yili
National Army was created and the ETR planned attacks to the north, south, and east
on the KMT. They launched attacks to the north on June 30, to the south in mid-July,
and to the east in early September. On August 22, the ETR captured Hefeng County,
and in early September Ashan district fell. On September 6, the Soviet consulate
helped create the Ashan government with the Soviet’s local allies at the head. The
Soviets and Chinese signed an agreement August 14, 1945, pledging joint cooperation.
MID#2704
Dispute Number: 2704
Date(s): February 1, 1946 to May 3, 1946
Participants: 365 Russia/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None