The Jinan Incident, also called the Third of May Tragedy, began as a collision between Chiang Kai-shek's National Revolutionary Army and Japanese troops and civilians in Shandong. Japanese soldiers had been deployed around the consulate and businesses to protect commercial interests threatened by the Northern Expedition. The local Beiyang-aligned army withdrew, allowing the National Revolutionary Army to enter Jinan peacefully, and the Chinese and Japanese forces initially coexisted. Chiang arrived to negotiate a Japanese withdrawal, but fighting erupted the following morning. Accounts disagree over who started the clash, so any assignment of blame at this stage remains uncertain.
Chapter · 10:31-12:43
Why the Jinan Incident's outbreak remains disputed
The clash began after Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expedition entered Jinan, where Japanese troops protected commercial interests under treaty arrangements.