November 27, 1940 - Sheng Shicai declared Xinjiang an independent nation today officially breaking away from Chiang Kai-Shek's government.Xinjiang, though nominally a province of China, had been a de facto protectorate of the Soviet Union's up until September. Following the Second Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Sheng purged Xinjiang of all communist elements in order to curry favor with Chiang and the Kuomintang. His need for allies had grown with Mengjiang nipping at his eastern borders and no Soviet troops to help hold them back. To Sheng's regret, Chiang greatly distrusted him refusing to grant him aid and even calling for his ousting as governor of Xinjiang.
Many believe Sheng's declaration of independence is nothing more than show. Without Stalin or Chiang to protect him, he has seemingly chosen the Japanese as his new patrons. Treaties have already been signed between Sheng's new government and Japan allowing for a contingent of the Kwantung Army to be based there as well as various trade and economic treaties. There is already talk of Japanese investment in the new country.
SOURCE: The Philadelphia Bulletin
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