Republic of Thianchin
Template:Infobox Former Country The Republic of Thianchin (Hokkien: 天津共和国; Thian-chin Kiōng-hô-kok) was an independent state that existed over the modern day territories of West and East Thianchin from its declaration of independence in 1933 to its partition in 1938 at the conclusion of the Min-Xiaodongese War.
The Republic of Thianchin was declared during the Xiaodongese Civil War shortly following the succession of the Duljunese Khanate in August 1933. The republic was declared ostensibly by president Jiâu Kiûnchiau due to political marginalisation under the State of Xiaodong but was widely seen as being supported by Min, a factor in the start of the Min-Xiaodongese War.
The republic was in perpetual conflict with forces of the remnants of the Heavenly Army and the newly formed Army of National Salvation (consisting of the Xiaodong Regeneration Society and the Communist Party of Xiaodong). The republic was as a result incredibly dependent on Min's military forces to sustain itself, being soon castigated by nationalists a "puppet state" of Min.
Increasing military defeats to the Army of National Salvation and the prominence of Min officials in public life led to a coup d'état by Tiunn Sian Teh in 1937, who expelled many Min officers. This led to the Xiaodongese government under Lu Keqian and Min officials to agree to partition the republic between the two states in exchange for peace between the two armies. In 1938 the Army of National Salvation occupied the majority of Thianchin and transferred rule over the western region to Min; the republic was as soon dissolved.
History
Background
Unlike its contemporaries in the Duljunese Khanate and the Ba Republic the Thianchinese nationalist movement had always been a marginal force in the Heavenly Xiaodongese War. Having been an independent kingdom for much of its history in the 1600's the region fell under the control of Min, and was annexed into Xiaodong following the Great Borean War. The Thianchinese people were ethnically and culturally close to Xiaodongese people, meaning that under the empire they were afforded the right to hold citizenship in contrast to the situation for Duljunese people's.
Thianchin had always been a hub for merchant trade with this tradition being maintained under Xiaodongese rule. As a result Thianchinese merchants and businesses soon occupied a disproportionate role in the economic affairs of Xiaodong. however politically the Thianchinese were marginalised, even within the Imperial Deliberative Assembly where the House of Industry was dominated by northern and southern based Caihongs whose members sought to maintain political-economic power amongst themselves. This led to the Ainnian ambassador Édouard Lamoureux to remark in 1929 that "the Thianchinese are amongst the strangest people in this country...their shrill, strange dialect can be heard loudly in the Chamber of Commerce, but enter the political arena and it is as absent as the guttural tongue of the Duljunese".
Following the creation of the State of Xiaodong and Xiaodong's defeat during the Senrian-Xiaodongese War ethnic tensions increased in Xiaodong alongside political polarisation. The empire's defeat to the Senrians, branded in imperial propaganda as a weak, servile race undermined the legitimacy of the government especially after the signing of the Treaty of Keishi which was seen as a harsh, humiliating treaty by most within the country. Xiaodong's weakness following the war also led to unrest in the army and its neighbours Tinza and Min to agitate for the return of land lost in the Great Borean War.
Since 1929 Xiaodong had been supporting the Independent State of Min resulting in the Min-Xiaodongese War. By 1933 much of Thianchin had been occupied by Min, who were exercising de facto control over the territory.
In June 1933 Duljunese leaders led by Jamuken Mu formed the Duljunese Khanate, starting the Xiaodongese Civil War. This led to several other regions to either declare independence or raise up in military revolt. The most successful military revolt occurred in the Langang prefecture when forces loyal to general Lu Keqian launched the Corrective Revolution, declaring the Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong. Lu's Xiaodong Regeneration Society allied with Fang Lianzhong's Communist Party of Xiaodong which soon formed the Army of National Salvation that occupied large parts of the country. The Auspicious Republic annulled the Treaty of Keishi and fought to destroy the separatist movements.
Formation and civil war
The start of the civil war and separatist agitation led to the creation of the Young Thianchin Party by pre-war politician Jiâu Kiûnchiau which called for the independence of Thianchin. Increased Thianchinese nationalism, the near constant mutinies within the Xiaodongese army and their own weakening position meant Min authorities began to support the Thianchinese nationalist movement. On the 30th August 1933 in Heping military units under the control of General Tiunn Sian Teh and supported by Min occupied government offices. Jiâu Kiûnchiau subsequently declared the independence of the Republic of Thianchin and proclaimed himself president of a transitional government. The new government was immediately was recognised by Min and faced war on three fronts - Lu Keqian's Army of National Salvation to the north, the Duljunese to the northwest and the State of Xiaodong to the east.
The Republic's forces were successful throughout 1933 in maintaining their borders, in part following the signing of the Treaty of Co-operation and Friendship with Min which saw Min give large logistical and military support for the republic in exchange for future economic concessions. President Jiâu in 1934 was also successfully able to secure recognition from Duljun and agree with that state to cease hostilities in order to put up against a united front against Xiaodong.
In 1934 Thianchin held its first and only parliamentary election following the promulgation of a liberal constitution in January 1934. The election resulted in the Young Thianchin Party to win 132 seats in the 134 seat National Assembly with 87.4% of the vote. Jiâu was subsequently elected to a three year term as president.
The republic alongside Min forces boasted of several successful military campaigns between 1934-5. Between March-May 1934 Thianchinese forces alongside their Min comrades launched a siege against the city of Zhinning which was still in the control of the imperial government. After a months long siege the city fell to Min-Thianchinese forces, beginning the start of the so-called "southern advance". The city of Yinbaolei's military governor declared it an open city in May following an advance by Min-Thianchinese forces towards the city; following the occupation of Yinbaolei the two forces began marching to Kuoqing, at the time the third largest city.
The siege of Kuoquing lasted from October 1934-February 1934 and was one of the bloodiest engagements of the civil war, resulting in the deaths of around 45,000 people on both sides. When Min and Thianchinese forces entered the city their forces were crippled, as was the imperial governments; as such both sides quickly came to an agreement to end hostilities. The imperial government extended formal recognition of Thianchin as well as give Min numerous concessions; this was seen as a victory in Thianchin.
The victory over the imperial government however did not end the fighting as the forces of Lu Keqian's Army of National Salvation were rapidly occupying most of the country.
Downfall and partition
Government and politics
The declaration of the independence of the Republic of Thianchin contained provisions emulating the Declaration of the Rights of the People stating "the republic is based on the principle of the consent of the people and the republic guarantees to every citizen within her limits political rights irrespective of nationality, creed, social rank or sex". The constitution also drew upon Sakarist concepts calling for the creation of localised governments, albeit the state of war the republic existed in meant this idea was never fully implemented, whilst Jiâu had during the 1920's been famous for his defence of Concordism having previously advocated a united states of Borea.
In 1934 the republic promulgated a constitution based off of that of Luziyca. A legislature known as the National Assembly would be elected every three years and would in turn elect an executive president dependent on the latter's majority in the National Assembly. Only one election in 1934 was held in Thianchin, which saw a victory for president Jiâu Kiûnchiau's nationalist Young Thianchin Party which swept all but one seat in the republic.
The law of the Republic of Thianchin was based on the concept of civil law and trial by jury. During the republic's existence, the National Assembly passed many laws relating to land reform, universal suffrage, devolution, rights for ethnic minorities (predominantly Ho Ne people), conscription and fiscal regulation. Outside observers noted that during the republic's existence "Min officials, merchants and nationalist activists dominated the political sphere of Thianchin".
In 1937 military officer Tiunn Sian Teh overthrew Jiâu in a coup d'état. Tiunn was supported by the National Assembly in his overthrow as the Young Thianchin party had lost support for Jiâum giving constitutional legitimacy to Tiunn's action. Tiunn as a result maintained the same structure of government until the republic's demise in 1938.
International recognition
During the Republic's existence, it had limited international recognition. Its independence in 1933 was recognised by Min, Senria and others. In 1934 Xiaodongese prime minister Qian Shaozheng announced the State of Xiaodong would establish a consulate in Heping, interpreted by President Jiâu as a sign of Xiaodongese recognition.
Military
Thianchin's army was mostly made up of defectors from the Xiaodongese Heavenly Army, numbering around 350,000 mobilised troops by 1937. This was divided into 6 divisions (of which 2 were motorised), 4 armoured regiments, 5 field artillery divisions, 2 cavalry legions, 2 motor squadrons with 2 armoured car detachments, an air detachment and 4 armoured trains. Thianchin also impounded a select few naval vessels at Heping port and maintain a small airforce, but these were of negligible effect.
The army suffered from poor logistics and was reliant on Min commanders and supplies, with surplus equipment often of high quality being shipped to Min in return for assistance from Min in defence affairs. The Thianchinese army was reorganised several times and became more reliant on conscripts during its time; as such its effectiveness diminished as many of its more experienced officers died in combat.
Despite its skilled personnel and adequate equipment divisions in the officer corps, a poor defence strategy and continued lack of supplies led to the defeat of the army in 1938.