Topic 1: Anti-Committee Warlords

Background

China in 1925 is roughly divided up by three big Warlord cliques: the Zhili that controls most of central China (mainly led by Wu Peifu), the Fengtian that controls most of Manchuria (led by Zhang Zuolin) and the Guominjun that controls parts of northern China (led by Feng Yuxiang). These four cliques were derived from Yuan Shikai’s Beiyang clique and were generals under him. Subsequently the term “Beiyang government” (1912-1928 OTL) refers to the dominance of these northern warlords in politics. Smaller cliques also existed, such as Yan Xishan’s Shanxi clique, the Muslim Ma clique that ruled much of western China and the minor Xinjiang clique. The Anhui clique, which had dominated northern China from 1916 to 1920, is a shell of its former glory. In exchange for losing Zhejiang to Zhili forces in 1924, the Anhui controlled various important government posts; in this committee they act as a counter balance against the Executive Committee.

Whereas northern and central China are ruled by Beiyang generals with ties to Yuan Shikai, dominions in southern China are ruled by military leaders that took power through the Xinhai Revolution in 1911. The provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi have their own military cliques, whilst Sichuan is divided by many warlords as no one has enough power to control the whole province. The sole exception to this is Sun Yatsen’s Kuomintang, which barely manages to hold Guangdong province. Smaller warlord fiefdoms prevailed in Sichuan with hundreds of minor warlords fighting each other for control of this breadbasket of China.

Warlords striving for national power often put together coalitions in order to have greater troop strength and access to resources. These coalitions are known as cliques and are usually tied through social and provisional lineages. However, most of these are often used to accomplished short term or intermediate goals and hence are unstable. In many cases, warlords are often lured by “silver bullets”, bribes or the lure of wealth that led military commanders and even entire armies to defect. As of 1925, there is an uneasy relationship between the Fengtian Clique and the Executive Committee.

Despite growing tensions within the government, the most immediate threat to the EC is the Zhili Clique. Despite losing its northern Chinese provinces to the Guominjun and the Fengtian, it still controls a significant portion of central China. Most of China’s wealthiest cities are located within Zhejiang, the province which was taken by Zhili Warlord Sun Chuanfang. Recognized by the British Empire and the United States as legitimate representatives of the Republic, the Zhili poses a significant threat to the Central Government’s legitimacy.

Key Questions
 * 1) 							What methods (aside from using armed forces) can the government adopt in capturing Warlord-held territories/ provinces?
 * 2) 							How should Warlords and their armies be treated when they capitulate or surrender to the government?
 * 3) 							What steps could the government take to deter the potential rise and continued existence of Warlordism in China?