Tonghua Incident

The Tonghua Incident (Chinese: 通化事件), also known as the February 3 Incident in Tonghua (Chinese: 通化二·三事件) or the Tonghua 3 February Riot (Chinese: 通化二·三反革命暴乱) was an armed uprising that broke out in Tonghua on 3 February 1946. It occurred during the post–World War II transition period when Nationalist and Chinese Communist Party forces were competing to take control of formerly Japanese-occupied territories following the surrender of Japan. According to contemporary Chinese sources, the uprising was organized by Kuomintang agent Sun Gengyao, who gathered former collaborators and remnants of the Japanese Kwantung Army led by Fujita Jitsuhiko in an attempt to seize control of Tonghua from Communist authorities. The conspirators established multiple command posts in the city, recruited Japanese residents through coercion and publicity, and planted informants within hospitals and local government offices. On 2 February 1946, the plot was uncovered by the local People’s Government and the Northeast Democratic Allied Army. The main command center was raided and key leaders, including Sun Gengyao (Chinese: 孙耕尧), were arrested. With the scheduled start of the uprising only hours away, several principal conspirators were executed after interrogation. At approximately 4:00 a.m. on 3 February, armed participants launched coordinated attacks on major government, military, and communications installations in Tonghua. Some buildings, including the Public Security Bureau, were briefly seized. After roughly two hours of fighting, Communist forces suppressed the uprising. Subsequent searches throughout the city led to the capture of additional participants, including Fujita Jitsuhiko (藤田実彦).