Q&A · 57:42-57:57

The 1939 Tsingtao confrontation in brief

British and Japanese forces faced one another with guns trained, creating a serious standoff that stopped short of war.

Japanese Navy Royal Navy Tsingtao Incident

Question

What happened at Tsingtao in 1939?

Short answer

British and Japanese forces confronted one another and trained guns during a standoff that came close to war but ended without fighting.

Notes

British and Japanese forces confronted one another at Tsingtao in 1939 with guns trained. The encounter came close to open war, but shooting did not begin. The units involved are not identified. No causes or account of how the standoff was resolved are given.