or Sian Incident
(1936) Seizure of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek by one of his generals, Chang Hsüeh-liang (Zhang Xueliang; 18982001), in order to persuade Chiang to postpone his war on the Chinese communists until the invading Japanese had been defeated.
As a result of the incident, the Nationalists and communists formed an alliance that turned its attention to the Japanese in Manchuria. See also Manchukuo ; People's Liberation Army .