Guangzhouwan

Guangzhouwan (广州 湾/广州 湾, Guǎng Zhou Wān; meaning: Bay / Gulf / Bay of Canton / Guangzhou, also: Kwangtschouwan, Kouangzhouwan, Kwangchowwan, Kuang -chou -wan Tschankiang ) was a territory in the area of a coastal bay on the South China's Leizhou Peninsula to the north of Hainan island.

The area of Kwangtschouwan was from 1899 to ( constructive) 1943 French leased territory with its administrative seat Fort Bayard ( Zhanjiang ). It had an area of 842 km2 and 250,000 inhabitants ( 1935).

History

On May 27, 1898, French troops occupied the territory of the later lease area in the south of Guangdong.

In the year after the occupation of the territory France forced the unequal treaties of the Chinese Empire into a lease for a period of 99 years (see also the British colony of Hong Kong and the German leased territory Kiautschou ).

Main purpose of the lease of the area was the development of southern China, especially Guangdong and Yunnan up to Sichuan, and the construction of railways. Furthermore, from there provided for in this room French sphere of influence should be controlled. The economic cherished hopes fulfilled for France because of the poverty of the region, however, never.

Kwangtschouwan was not a separate colonial territory, and therefore possessed no own governor. It was under the Territoire de Kouang - Tcheou -Wan to the Governor of French Indochina.

After the defeat of France in June 1940, which ruled from Chiang Kai- shek 's Republic of China recognized the " Free France " under Charles de Gaulle to diplomatically and declared it the sovereign over the enclave. As a result, the administration Kwangtschouwans declared himself loyal to the " Free France " and thus failed the Vichy government allegiance, in contrast for example to French Indochina.

After the occupation of the territory by Japan following the Second Sino-Japanese War in February 1943, the leased territory was ceded to the collaborationist Japan Chinese puppet government under Wang Jingwei by the Vichy government on 30 July 1943 which neither the Government of "Free France " has been recognized by the Republic of China.

Formally, the area was finally returned on 28 February 1946 by France to China after the Provisional Government of the French Republic in the former Chinese capital of Chongqing into an agreement with the Republic of China completed, which in the then still valid agreements on the French concession areas China officially canceled.