In this chronology, I’ll list major conflicts, battles, and war in, and involving, China from Ancient times right through to the modern day.
This timeline of China’s wars, both civil and with other countries, is broken into three main sections being Ancient China, Imperial China with sub sections for the dynasties, and lastly Modern China post becoming a republic.
Jump to: Ancient China (to 221 BC) | Imperial China (221 BC to 1912) | Modern China (1912-current)
Ancient China
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 26th century BC | Battle of Banquan | The Yellow Emperor defeats the Yan Emperor. |
| 26th century BC | Battle of Zhuolu | The Yellow Emperor defeats Chi You and establishes the Han Chinese civilisation. |
| 1675 BC | Battle of Mingtiao | The Xia dynasty is overthrown and replaced by the Shang dynasty. |
| 1046 BC | Battle of Muye | The Shang dynasty is overthrown and replaced by the Zhou dynasty. |
| 707 BC | Battle of Xuge | The Western Zhou dynasty is defeated by the vassal Zheng state. |
| 684 BC | Battle of Changshao | The Lu state defeats the Qi state |
| 632 BC | Battle of Chengpu | The Jin state defeats the Chu state. |
| 627BC | Battle of Xiao | The Jin defeates Qin. |
| 595 BC | Battle of Bi | The Chu state defeats the Jin state. |
| 588 BC | Battle of An | The Jin state defeats the Qi state. |
| 575 BC | Battle of Yanling | The Jin state defeats the Chu state. |
| 506 BC | Battle of Boju | The Wu state defeats the Chu state. |
| 4th century BC | Gojoseon–Yan War | The Yan state defeats the Gojoseon kingdom. |
| 494 BC | Battle of Fujiao | The Wu state defeats the Yue state. |
| 478 BC | Battle of Lize | The Yue state defeats the Wu state. |
| 453 BC | Battle of Jinyang | The Zhao state defeats the Zhi state. Leads to the Partition of Jin. |
| 353 BC | Battle of Guiling | The Qi state defeats the Wei state. |
| 342 BC | Battle of Maling | The Qi state defeats the Wei state. |
| 341 BC | Battle of Guailing | |
| 293 BC | Battle of Yique | The Qin state defeats the Wei and Han states. |
| 269 BC | Battle of Yanyu | |
| 260 BC | Battle of Changping | The Qin state defeats the Zhao state. |
| 259 – 257 BC | Battle of Handan | The allied forces of Zhao, Wei and Chu defeats the Qin. |
| 230–221 BC | Qin’s wars of unification | The Qin state conquers the six other major states in China and unifies the country under the Qin dynasty. |
Imperial China
Qin dynasty (221–206 BC)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 215 BC | Qin’s campaign against the Xiongnu | Qin forces defeat the Xiongnu in the Ordos Desert. |
| 214 BC | Qin’s campaign against the Yue tribes | Qin forces defeat and conquer the Yue tribes in southern China and northern Vietnam. |
| 209 BC | Dazexiang Uprising | Chen Sheng and Wu Guang lead a rebellion against the Qin dynasty. |
| 207 BC | Battle of Julu | A rebel coalition army led by Xiang Yu defeats Qin forces. |
Chu-Han Contention (206–202 BC)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 206 – 202 BC | Chu-Han Contention | Han defeats Chu and its allies and unifies China. |
| 205 BC | Battle of Pengcheng | Western Chu defeats Han. |
| 205 BC | Battle of Xingyang | |
| 205 BC | Battle of Jingxing | Han defeats the Zhao state. |
| 203 BC | Battle of Wei River | Han defeats Western Chu and the Qi state. |
| 202 BC | Battle of Gaixia | Han defeats Western Chu and unifies China under the Han dynasty. |
Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd century BC | Southward expansion of the Han dynasty | The Han dynasty expands its boundaries into southern China and northern Vietnam. |
| 200 BC | Battle of Baideng | The Xiongnu defeat Han forces. |
| 154 BC | Rebellion of the Seven States | The Han central government suppresses a revolt led by seven princes. |
| 138 BC and 111 BC | Han campaigns against Minyue | The Han dynasty conquers the Minyue region (around present-day southeastern China). |
| 133 BC – 89 AD | Han–Xiongnu War | Overall victory for Han forces over the Xiongnu. |
| 133 BC | Battle of Mayi | Inconclusive battle between the Xiongnu and Han forces. |
| 119 BC | Battle of Mobei | Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. |
| 111 BC | Han–Nanyue War | The Han dynasty defeats the Nanyue kingdom,led to the First Chinese domination of Vietnam. |
| 109 BC | Han campaigns against Dian | The Han dynasty conquers the Dian region (around present-day Yunnan). |
| 109 BC | Gojoseon–Han War | Han defeats Gojoseon. Gojoseon kingdom collapses. |
| 99 BC | Battle of Tian Shan | The Xiongnu defeat Han forces. |
| 89 AD | Battle of Ikh Bayan | Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. |
| 73 AD | Battle of Yiwulu | Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. |
| 67 BC | Battle of Jushi | Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. |
| 36 BC | Battle of Zhizhi | Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. |
| 23 AD | Battle of Kunyang | Liu Xiu overthrows the Xin dynasty and restores the Han dynasty (as the Eastern Han dynasty). |
| 43 AD | Han suppression of the Trung sisters’ rebellion | Han forces strikes down the Trung sisters’ rebellion,led to the Second Chinese domination of Vietnam. |
| 184–205 AD | Yellow Turban Rebellion | Han forces defeat the Yellow Turban rebels. |
| 190–191 | Campaign against Dong Zhuo | The Guandong Coalition attacks Dong Zhuo. No conclusive results. |
| 190 | Battle of Xingyang | |
| 191 | Battle of Jieqiao | Yuan Shao defeats Gongsun Zan. |
| 191 | Battle of Xiangyang | Sun Jian is killed in action against Liu Biao‘s forces. |
| 194–195 | Battle of Yan Province | Cao Cao defeats Lü Bu and takes back his territories in Yan Province. |
| 194–199 | Sun Ce’s conquests in Jiangdong | Sun Ce conquers many territories in Jiangdong (southeastern China) and lays the foundation of Eastern Wu. |
| 197–199 | War between Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu | Zhang Xiu surrenders to Cao Cao after they fought three battles between 197 and 199. |
| 198 | Battle of Xiapi | Cao Cao and Liu Bei defeat Lü Bu. Lü Bu is executed after his capture. |
| 199 | Battle of Yijing | Yuan Shao defeats Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan commits suicide. |
| 197–199 | Campaign against Yuan Shu | Han forces defeat Yuan Shu. |
| 200 | Battle of Guandu | Cao Cao defeats Yuan Shao. |
| 200–207 | Cao Cao’s campaigns in northern China | Cao Cao attacks Yuan Shao’s heirs and allies in northern China and unifies the region under his control. |
| 202 | Battle of Bowang | Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao’s general Xiahou Dun and then retreats. |
| 204 | Battle of Ye | |
| 208 | Battle of Xiakou | Sun Quan defeats Huang Zu. |
| 208 | Battle of Changban | Cao Cao’s forces defeat Liu Bei. |
| 208 | Battle of Red Cliffs | Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao. |
| 209 | Battle of Jiangling | The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao’s general Cao Ren. |
| 211 | Battle of Tong Pass | Cao Cao defeats a coalition of northwestern warlords led by Ma Chao and Han Sui. |
| 212–215 | Liu Bei’s takeover of Yi Province | Liu Bei seizes control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang. |
| 214–215 | Battle of Xiaoyao Ford | Cao Cao’s general Zhang Liao defeats Sun Quan’s forces. |
| 215 | Battle of Yangping | Cao Cao takes control of Hanzhong commandery from Zhang Lu. |
| 217 | Battle of Ruxu | The forces of Cao Cao and Sun Quan clash at Ruxu with no conclusive results. |
| 217–219 | Hanzhong Campaign | Liu Bei seizes control of Hanzhong commandery from Cao Cao. |
| 219 | Battle of Fancheng | Cao Cao’s forces successfully hold off a siege on Fancheng by Liu Bei’s general Guan Yu. |
| 219 | Lü Meng’s invasion of Jing Province | Sun Quan’s forces capture Liu Bei’s territories in Jing Province. Liu Bei’s general Guan Yu is captured and executed. |
Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 221–222 | Battle of Xiaoting / Battle of Yiling | Wu defeats Shu. |
| 222–225 | Cao Pi’s invasions of Eastern Wu | Wei attacks Wu three times. |
| 224 | Incident at Guangling | |
| 225 | Zhuge Liang’s Southern Campaign | Shu pacifies its southern borders and compels the Nanman tribes into submission. |
| 227–228 | Xincheng Rebellion | Wei general Sima Yi suppresses a revolt by Meng Da. |
| 228–234 | Zhuge Liang’s Northern Expeditions | Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang leads six campaigns to attack Wei but makes no significant territorial gains. |
| 228 | Battle of Shiting | Wu defeats Wei. |
| 228 | Battle of Jieting | Wei defeats Shu. |
| 234 | Battle of Wuzhang Plains | Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang dies during a stalemate. Shu forces retreat. |
| 238 | Sima Yi’s Liaodong campaign | Wei general Sima Yi suppresses a revolt by Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong (northeastern China). |
| 244 | Battle of Xingshi | Shu repels a Wei invasion. |
| 244–245 | Goguryeo–Wei War | Wei defeats Goguryeo. |
| 247–262 | Jiang Wei’s Northern Expeditions | Shu general Jiang Wei leads nine campaigns to attack Wei but makes no significant territorial gains. |
| 251–258 | Three Rebellions in Shouchun | Wei suppresses three consecutive revolts in Shouchun. |
| 252 | Battle of Dongxing | Wu defeats Wei. |
| 263 | Conquest of Shu by Wei | Wei conquers Shu. |
Jin dynasty (265–420), the Southern Dynasties (420–587), the Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439) and the Northern Dynasties (386–581)
Sui dynasty (581–618)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 589 | Conquest of Chen by Sui | |
| 598–614 | Goguryeo–Sui War | Goguryeo defeats Sui. |
| 602 | Sui–Lý War | The Sui dynasty defeats the Early Lý dynasty,led to the Third Chinese domination of Vietnam. |
| 611–619 | Wagang ArmyUprising | Led by Zhai Rang and later Li Mi |
| 613 | Yang Xuangan‘s Rebellion | |
| 616 | Battle of Xingyang | Wagang Army defeats Sui army led by Zhang Xutuo |
| 617 | Battle of Huoyi | Li Yuan overthrows the Sui dynasty and establishes the Tang dynasty. |
| 618 | Battle of Luoyang | Li Mi defeats Yuwen Huaji and then Wang Shichong defeats Li Mi. |
Tang dynasty (618–907)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 621 | Battle of Hulao | Tang forces defeated Dou Jiande. |
| 626 | Xuanwu Gate Incident | Li Shimin killed his brothers Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji in a coup and seized the succession to the Tang throne. |
| 630 | Battle of Yinshan | Tang army, led by Li Jing, defeated and conquered Eastern Turks |
| 635 | Tang campaign against Tuyuhun | Tang forces defeated and conquered Tuyuhun Khanate. |
| 638 | Battle of Songzhou | The Tang Dynasty defeated the Tibetan Empire. |
| 639–646 | Tang campaign against Xueyantuo | Tang forces defeated and conquered Xueyantuo Khanate. |
| 640–657 | Tang campaigns against the Western Turks | Wars between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks. |
| 640–648 | Tang campaign against the oasis states | The Tang Dynasty conquered the oasis states of the Tarim Basin. |
| 640 | Tang campaign against Karakhoja | Tang forces defeated and conquered Karakhoja (Gaochang). |
| 644, 648 | Tang campaigns against Karasahr | Tang forces defeat and conquered Karasahr. |
| 648–649 | Tang campaign against Kucha | Tang forces defeated and conquered Kucha. |
| 657 | Battle of Irtysh River | Tang forces defeated the Western Turks. |
| 657 | Conquest of the Western Turks | Tang forces defeated the Western Turks. |
| 645–668 | Goguryeo–Tang War | The Tang Dynasty defeated and conquered Goguryeo. |
| 663 | Battle of Baekgang | Tang and Silla forces defeated Yamato Japanese and Baekje forces. |
| 663 | Tibetan campaign against Tuyuhun | Tuyuhun Khanate was destroyed. |
| 660 | Baekje–Tang War | The Tang dynasty defeated and conquered Baekje. |
| 670 | Battle of Dafei River | The Tibetan Empire defeated the Tang Dynasty. |
| 685 | Battle of Kaoyu | |
| 697 | Battle of Dongxiashi Valley | Khitan defeated the Wu Zhou. |
| 698 | Battle of Tianmenling | Mohe forces defeated the Wu Zhou. |
| 717 | Battle of Aksu (717) | Tang forces defeated an allied forces of Umayyad Muslims, Tibetans and Turgesh Turks. |
| 745–749 | Siege of Shibao Fortress | Tibetans forces defeated Tang |
| 751 | Battle of Talas | The Abbasid Caliphate and Tibetans defeated the Tang Dynasty. |
| 755 – 763 | An-Shi Rebellion | An Lushan, An Qingxu, Shi Siming and Shi Chaoyi led a massive rebellion against Tang Dynasty. |
| 756 | Battle of Tong pass | The rebel Yan state defeats Tang Dynasty and soon captured Chang’an,the capital of Tang Dynasty. |
| 756 | Battle of Yongqiu | The Tang Dynasty defeated the rebel Yan state. |
| 757 | Battle of Suiyang | Pyrrhic victory for the rebel Yan state against Tang forces. |
| 757 | Battle of Xiangjisi | Tang forces defeated rebel Yan forces and recaptured Chang’an. |
| 758–759 | Battle of Xiangzhou | Rebel Yan forces defeated Tang forces. |
| 762 | Battle of Luoyang | The Tang Dynasty decisively defeated the rebel Yan state,fall of Yan. |
| 763 | Battle of Chang´an | No casualties, Tibetan Empire strategic victory against Tang Dynasty. |
| 765 | Battle of Xiyuan | Tibetan Empire defeated the Tang Dynasty and Uyghur forces. |
| 781 | Battle of Henshui | |
| 801–802 | Battle of Weizhou | Tibetan forces decisively defeated Tang forces in the South-West front. |
| 817 | Conquest of the Western Huai River | |
| 819 | Battle of Yanzhou | Tibetan forces decisively defeated Tang forces in the North-West front. |
| 874–884 | Huang Chao Rebellion | Huang Chao led a rebellion that weakened the Tang dynasty. |
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907–960)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 923 | Conquest of Later Liang by Later Tang | |
| 925 | Conquest of Former Shu by Later Tang | |
| 936 | Conquest of Later Tang by Later Jin | |
| 945 | Battle of Ting-Hsien |
Song dynasty (960–1279)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 964 | Conquest of Later Shu by Song | Song conquest of the Later Shu. |
| 970 | Conquest of Southern Han by Song | Song conquest of the Southern Han. |
| 974 | Conquest of Southern Tang by Song | Song conquest of the Southern Tang. |
| 979 | Conquest of Northern Han by Song | Song conquest of the Northern Han. |
| 979 | Battle of Gaoliang River | The Khitan Liao Dynasty defeats the Song Dynasty. |
| 986 | Battle of Qigou Pass | Liao forces defeat Song forces. |
| 1004 | Battle of Chanzhou | Inconclusive. |
| 1041 | Battle of Haoshui River | The Western Xia defeats the Song Dynasty. |
| 1048 | Battle of Pei-Chou | |
| 1075-1077 | Lý–Song War | Indecisive. |
| 1126–1127 | Siege of Dongjing | The Jurchen Jin Dynasty decisively defeats the Song Dynasty,fall of Northern Song. |
| 1129–1141 | Song-Jin Wars | Wars between the Song and Jin dynasties. |
| 1130 | Battle of Fuping | Jin forces defeats Song forces. |
| 1140 | Battle of Yancheng | Song forces under Yue Fei,defeat Jin forces. |
| 1161 | Battle of Tangdao | Song forces defeat Jin forces. |
| 1161 | Battle of Caishi | Song forces defeat Jin forces. |
| 1234 | Siege of Caizhou | The Mongol Empire and the Song Dynasty decisively defeat the Jin Dynasty,fall of the Jin Dynasty. |
| 1259 | Siege of Diaoyu fortress | Song forces defeat the Mongols. |
| 1273 | Battle of Xiangyang | The Mongols defeat Song forces. |
| 1279 | Battle of Yamen | The Mongols decisively defeat the Song Dynasty,fall of Southern Song. |
Liao dynasty (907–1125)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| Liao-Song War | ||
| 979 | Battle of Gaoliang River | The Liao Dynasty defeats the Song Dynasty. |
| 986 | Battle of Qigou Pass | Liao forces defeat Song forces. |
| 1004 | Battle of Chanzhou | Inconclusive. |
| 1044 | Battle of Hequ | The Western Xia defeats the Liao Dynasty. |
| 1114–1125 | Liao-Jin War |
Jurchen Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 1126–1127 | Siege of Dongjing | The Jurchen Jin Dynasty decisively defeats the Song Dynasty,fall of Northern Song. |
| 1130 | Battle of Fuping | Jin forces defeats Song forces. |
| 1211–1234 | Mongol–Jin War | The Mongols defeat and conquer Jin. |
| 1211 | Battle of Yehuling | The Mongols defeat Jin. |
| 1215 | Battle of Zhongdu | The Mongols defeat Jin. |
| 1232 | Mongol siege of Kaifeng | The Mongols capture the Jin city Kaifeng. |
| 1234 | Siege of Caizhou | The Mongol Empire and the Song Dynasty decisively defeat the Jin Dynasty,fall of the Jin Dynasty. |
Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 1274, 1281 | Mongol invasions of Japan | The Japanese repel the Mongol invasions. |
| 1277–1287 | First Mongol invasion of Burma | Mongol Yuan victory, fall of the Pagan Empire. |
| 1288 | Battle of Bạch Đằng | The Vietnamese defeat Yuan forces. |
| 1293 | Mongol invasion of Java | Failed Yuan expedition to Java. |
| 1301 | Second Mongol invasion of Burma | The Burmese defeat Yuan forces. |
| 1351–1368 | Red Turban Rebellion | The Red Turban rebels overthrow the Yuan dynasty. |
| 1359 | Red Turban invasions of Goryeo | The Red Turban rebels attack Goryeo. |
| 1360 | Battle of Yingtian | |
| 1363 | Battle of Lake Poyang | Zhu Yuanzhang defeats Chen Youliang. |
Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 1381–1382 | Ming conquest of Yunnan | The Ming expelled the last of the loyalist Mongol forces of the Yuan in South China. |
| 1387 | Ming campaign against the Uriyangkhad horde | The Ming received the surrender of the Naghachu based in Manchuria. |
| 1388 | Battle of Buir Lake | The Ming decisively defeated Toghus Temur, Khan of the Northern Yuan dynasty based in Mongolia. |
| 14th century–15th century | Miao Rebellions | Ming forces suppressed rebellions by the Miao and other aboriginal peoples in southwestern China. |
| 1399–1402 | Jingnan Campaign | Zhu Di seized the throne from the Jianwen Emperor in a civil war. |
| 15th century–16th century | Ming–Turpan conflict | The Ming clashed with the Turpan kingdom. |
| 1406–1407 | Ming–Hồ War | The Ming defeated the Hồ dynasty,led to the Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam. |
| 1410 | Ming–Kotte War | The Ming defeated the Kingdom of Kotte. |
| 1410–1424 | Yongle Emperor’s campaigns against the Mongols | The Ming launched punitive expeditions against the Eastern Mongols, Oyirad Mongols, and other Mongol tribes. |
| 1449 | Tumu Crisis | The Mongols defeated the Ming. |
| 1510 | Prince of Anhua rebellion | The Ming suppressed a revolt by Zhu Zhifan (the Prince of Anhua). |
| 1519 | Prince of Ning rebellion | The Ming suppressed a revolt by Zhu Chenhao (the Prince of Ning). |
| Malayan–Portuguese war | ||
| 1521 | First Battle of Tamao | The Ming defeated the Portuguese in a naval battle. |
| 1522 | Second Battle of Tamao | The Ming defeated the Portuguese in a naval battle. |
| 1575–1581 | Li Chengliang campaign against Tuman Khan | The Ming defeated the Mongols |
| 1592–1598 | Japanese invasions of Korea | The Ming and Joseon defeated Japanese invaders. |
| 1593 | Siege of Pyongyang | The Ming and Joseon defeated Japanese invaders. |
| 1597 | Siege of Ulsan | Ming and Joseon forces failed to capture Ulsan Castle from the Japanese. |
| 1598 | Battle of Sacheon | Ming and Joseon forces failed to capture Sacheon from the Japanese. |
| 1598 | Battle of Noryang | Ming and Joseon forces defeated the Japanese in a naval battle. |
| 1618–1683 | Qing conquest of the Ming | The Qing dynasty defeated and conquered the Ming. |
| 1618–1619 | Battle of Sarhu | The Manchus defeated the Ming. |
| 1626 | Battle of Ningyuan | The Ming defeated the Manchus. |
| 1622–1633 | Sino-Dutch conflicts | A series of conflicts between the Ming and the Dutch East India Companythat began on Penghu and concluded with Ming victory at the Battle of Liaoluo Bay. |
| 1641–1642 | Battle of Songjin | The Qing defeated the Ming. |
| 1642 | Battle of Nanyang | |
| 1643 | Battle of Tongguan | Ming was defeated by Li Zicheng in Shaanxi. |
| 1644 | Battle of Beijing | Rebel forces led by Li Zicheng occupied the capital Beijing and overthrew the Ming dynasty. |
| 1644 | Battle of Shanhai Pass | Qing forces allied with former Ming general Wu Sangui and defeated Li Zicheng’s forces. |
Qing dynasty (1644–1912)
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 1652–1689 | Sino-Russian border conflicts | Border conflicts between the Qing and the Russian Empire concluded with Qing victory and the signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk. |
| 1661–1662 | Siege of Fort Zeelandia | Koxinga defeated the Dutch and conquered Taiwan. |
| 1678–1680 | Dzungar conquest of Altishahr | Dzungars conquer the Yarkent Chagatai Khanate |
| 1674–1681 | Revolt of the Three Feudatories | The Qing suppressed rebellions in Fujian, Guangdong and Yunnan. |
| 1683 | Battle of Penghu | The Qing conquered the Kingdom of Tungning in Taiwan. |
| 1690–1757 | Dzungar–Qing War | |
| 1690 | Battle of Ulan Butung | Withdraw of Dzungar Khanate forces. |
| 1696 | Battle of Jao Modo | The Qing defeated Galdan of the Dzungar Khanate. |
| 1718 | Battle of the Salween River | The Dzungars defeated the Qing expedition force to Tibet. |
| 1720 | Chinese expedition to Tibet (1720) | Qing victory against the Dzungars |
| 1755–1759 | Qianlong’s Campaign Against the Dzungars and Revolt of the Altishahr Khojas | Qing victory, destruction of the Dzungar Khanate and Qing conquest of Xinjiang. |
| 1765–1769 | Sino-Burmese War | Burmese victory. |
| 1788–1789 | Campaign in Vietnam | Tây Sơn dynasty victory, Qing troops retreat from Vietnam. |
| 1790–1791 | Sino-Nepalese War | Qing victory. |
| 1794–1804 | White Lotus Rebellion | The Qing suppressed a revolt by the White Lotus Society. |
| 19th century | Ningpo Massacre | Cantonese pirates (with support from the Qing) defeated Portuguese pirates. |
| 1820’s-1850’s | Afaqi Khoja revolts | Aq Taghlik Khojas (Afaqi Khojas) attack Xinjiang. Qing victory |
| 1839–1842 | First Opium War | The Qing lost to the British and ceded Hong Kong to the latter. |
| 1839 | Battle of Kowloon | Stalemate between the British and the Qing. |
| 1839 | Battle of Chuenpi | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1840 | Capture of Chusan | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1840 | Battle of the Barrier | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Second Battle of Chuenpi | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of the Bogue | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of First Bar | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of Whampoa | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of Canton (March 1841) | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Sino-Sikh War | Military stalemate between the Sikhs and the Qing. Treaty of Chushul signed. |
| 1841 | Battle of Canton (May 1841) | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of Amoy | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Capture of Chusan (1841) | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of Chinhai | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1841 | Battle of Keelung (1841–1842) | The Qing defeated the British. |
| 1842 | Battle of Ningpo | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1842 | Battle of Tzeki | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1842 | Battle of Chapu | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1842 | Battle of Woosung | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1842 | Battle of Chinkiang | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1850–1864 | Taiping Rebellion | The Qing defeated the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (founded by the Taiping rebels). |
| 1850 | Jintian Uprising | Start of the Taiping Rebellion. |
| 1852 | Battle of Changsha | |
| 1853 | Battle of Nanjing | The Taiping rebels captured Nanjing from the Qing. |
| 1854 | Battle of Lake Dongting | |
| 1856 | Battle of Nanjing | The Taiping rebels defeated the Qing. |
| 1856 | Third Battle of Wuhan | |
| 1857 | Battles of Lake Tai | |
| 1858 | Battle of Sanhe | The Taiping rebels defeated the Qing. |
| 1859 | Battle of Jiujiang | |
| 1860 | Second rout of the Jiangnan Daying | The Taiping rebels defeated the Qing. |
| 1861 | Battle of Anqing | |
| 1861–1864 | Battle of Guanzhong | The Taiping rebels defeated the Qing. |
| 1861 | Battle of Shanghai | The Qing defeated the Taiping rebels with assistance from British and French forces. |
| 1862 | Battle of Cixi | The Qing defeated the Taiping rebels. |
| 1863 | Battle of Northern Jiangsu | |
| 1863–1864 | Battle of Changzhou | The Qing defeated the Taiping rebels. |
| 1864 | Third Battle of Nanking | The Qing seized Nanjing from the Taiping rebels. |
| 1864 | Battle of Hubei | The Qing seized Hubei and southern Anhui from the Taiping rebels. |
| 1865 | Battle of Fujian | The Qing recover previously lost territories in Fujian from the Taiping rebels. |
| 1866 | Battle of Meizhou | |
| 1866 | Formosa Expedition | Paiwan Aboriginals defeat the Americans |
| 1856–1873 | Panthay Rebellion | The Qing and Hui loyalists suppressed a revolt by the Hui people and other ethnic minorities in Yunnan. |
| 1862–1877 | Dungan revolt | The Qing and Hui loyalists suppressed a revolt by the Hui people in northwestern China. |
| 1870 | Battle of Ürümqi (1870) | The Uzbek controlled kingdom of Kashgaria defeated Hui rebels. |
| 1854–56 | Red Turban Rebellion | The Qing defeated Red Turban rebels in Guangdong |
| 1855–1867 | Punti-Hakka Clan Wars | Hakka were allocated their own independent sub-prefecture, Chixi (赤溪镇), which was carved out of south-eastern Taishan, while others were relocated to Guangxi Province, mass emigration to other countries. |
| 1864–1869 | Nian Rebellion | The Qing suppressed a revolt led by Zhang Lexing and others. |
| 1865 | Battle of Gaolozai | |
| 1867 | Battle of Inlon River | The Qing defeated the Nian rebels. |
| 1867 | Battle of Ganyu | |
| 1867 | Battle of Shouguang | |
| 1856–1860 | Second Opium War | The British, French and Americans defeated the Qing. |
| 1856 | Battle of the Pearl River Forts | The Americans defeated the Qing. |
| 1857 | Battle of Fatshan Creek | The British defeated the Qing. |
| 1858 | First Battle of Taku Forts | The British and French defeated the Qing. |
| 1859 | Second Battle of Taku Forts | The Qing defeated the British, French, and Americans. |
| 1860 | Third Battle of Taku Forts | The British and French defeated the Qing. |
| 1860 | Battle of Palikao | The British and French defeated the Qing. |
| 1874 | Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1874) | Paiwan Aboriginals fight against the Japanese |
| 1876–1878 | Qing reconquest of Xinjiang | The Qing defeat Yaqub Beg’s forces in Kashgaria. |
| 1884–1885 | Sino-French War | Militarily indecisive, diplomatic victory of the French. |
| 1883–1886 | Tonkin Campaign | The French defeated the Qing, Vietnamese and Black Flag Army. |
| 1883 | Sơn Tây Campaign | The French defeated the Qing, Vietnamese and Black Flag Army. |
| 1883 | Battle of Paper Bridge | The Black Flag Army defeated the French. |
| 1884 | Bắc Ninh Campaign | The French defeated the Qing and Black Flag Army. |
| 1884 | Bắc Lệ ambush | The Qing defeated the French. |
| 1884 | Battle of Fuzhou | The French defeated the Qing. |
| 1884 | Battle of Tamsui | The Qing defeated the French. |
| 1884 | Kep Campaign | The French defeated the Qing. |
| 1884–1885 | Keelung Campaign | Stalemate between the French and the Qing. |
| 1885 | Lạng Sơn Campaign | The French defeated the Qing. |
| 1885 | Battle of Shipu | The French defeated the Qing. |
| 1885 | Battle of Zhenhai | The French clashed with the Qing. |
| 1885 | Siege of Tuyên Quang | The French defeated the Qing and Black Flag Army. |
| 1885 | Battle of Hoa Moc | The French defeated the Qing and Black Flag Army. |
| 1885 | Battle of Bang Bo | The Qing and Black Flag Army defeated the French. |
| 1885 | Battle of Phu Lam Tao | The Qing and Black Flag Army defeated the French. |
| 1885 | Pescadores Campaign | The French defeated the Qing. |
| 1884 | Gapsin Coup | The Qing defeated the Japanese. |
| 1894–1895 | First Sino-Japanese War | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1894 | Battle of Pungdo | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1894 | Battle of Seonghwan | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1894 | Battle of Pyongyang | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1894 | Battle of the Yalu River | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1894 | Battle of Jiuliancheng | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1894 | Battle of Lushunkou | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1895 | Battle of Weihaiwei | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1895 | Battle of Yingkou | The Japanese defeated the Qing. |
| 1895–1896 | Dungan revolt | The Qing and Muslim loyalists suppressed a revolt by Muslim forces in western China. |
| 1895 | Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895) | The Japanese occupy Taiwan. |
| 1899–1901 | Boxer Rebellion | The Eight-Nation Alliance defeated the Boxer rebels and Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Battle of Dagu Forts | The Eight-Nation Alliance defeated Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Battle of Tientsin | The Eight-Nation Alliance defeated Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Battle of Shanhai Pass | Inconclusive. |
| 1900 | Battle of Beicang | The Eight-Nation Alliance defeated Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Battle of Yangcun | The Eight-Nation Alliance defeated Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Russian invasion of Manchuria | The Russians defeated the Boxer rebels and Qing. |
| 1900 | Battle of Pai-t’ou-tzu | The Boxer rebels and Qing forces defeated the Russians. |
| 1900 | Battles on Amur River | The Russians defeated the Boxer rebels and Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Battle of Peking | The Eight-Nation Alliance defeated the Boxer rebels and Qing forces. |
| 1900 | Seymour Expedition(Battle of Langfang) | The Boxer rebels and Qing forces defeated the Eight-Nation Alliance. |
| 1900 | Siege of the International Legations | The Boxers assault the Legations in Beijing. |
| 1911 | Battle of Yangxia | Qing and Revolutionary Armies vie for control of Wuhan. |
Modern China
| Year(s) | Event | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Second Chinese Revolution | Yuan Shikai and his military crush a rebellion against his mis gained power. |
| 1915-16 | National Protection War | A civil war against Yuan Shikai, who had declared himself emperor. |
| 1917-1949 | Golok rebellions | A series of military campaigns against unconquered Ngolok (Golok) tribal Tibetan areas of Qinghai (Amdo), undertaken by two Hui commanders, Gen. Ma Qi and Gen. Ma Bufang |
| 1920 | Zhili–Anhui War | Zhili and Anhui cliques for control of the Beiyang government |
| 1922 | First Zhili-Fengtian War | Zhili and Fengtian cliques for control of Beijing |
| 1924 | Second Zhili-Fengtian War | a conflict between the Japanese-backed Fengtian clique and the Anglo-American backed Zhili clique controlling Beijing |
| 1925-26 | Anti–Fengtian War | Guominjun against the Fengtian clique and their Zhili clique allies. |
| 1926–1928 | Northern Expedition | a military campaign launched by the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang(KMT), against the Beiyang government and other regional warlords with purpose of reunifying China |
| 1927–1936 | Chinese Civil War (First phase) | A war fought between the Kuomintang (KMT)-led government of the Republic of China and the Communist Party of China (CPC) |
| 1929 | Sino-Soviet conflict | an armed conflict between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Chinese warlord Zhang Xueliang of the Republic of China over the Chinese Eastern Railway |
| 1929 | Battle of Xahe | The Chinese Muslim Ma clique under Generals Ma Qi and Ma Bufang launched several attacks against Labrang as part of a general anti-Golok Tibetan campaign. |
| 1930 | Central Plains War | a civil war between the Nationalist Kuomintang government in Nanjing led by Chiang Kai-shek and former allies of Chiang. |
| 1930–1932 | Sino-Tibetan War | A war between Tibetan forces and the Chinese Republic. |
| 1930–34 | Kumul Rebellion | A rebellion of Kumulik Uyghurs who conspired with Hui Chinese Muslim Gen. Ma Zhongying to overthrow Jin Shuren, governor of Xinjiang. |
| 1931–1945 | Second Sino-Japanese War (part of World War II) | A military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan with its minor conflicts beginning in 1931 with war declared at the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937 |
| 1932 | Kirghiz rebellion | Kyrgyz irregulars in Xinjiang revolted against the government. |
| 1933–34 | Fujian Rebellion | A breakaway province that aimed to defeat the Kuomintang with Soviet help that didn’t materialise ending in its demise. |
| 1934 | Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang | a military campaign of the Soviet Union in the Chinese northwestern region of Xinjiang in 1934. |
| 1937 | Xinjiang War | 1,500 Turkic (Uighur) Muslims led by Kichik Akhund, tacitly aided by the 36th Division against the pro-Soviet provincial forces of Sheng Shicai. |
| 1945–49 | Chinese Civil War (Second phase) | a war fought between the Kuomintang (KMT)-led government of the Republic of China and the Communist Party of China (CPC) |
| 1946–49 | Ili Rebellion | A Soviet-backed revolt against the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in 1944 |
| 1949-1955 | Post Civil War battles | Innumerous battles between Nationalist (KMT) forces and Communist forces, clearing remnants of the KMT from what is now mainland People’s Republic of China and battles for islands off the coast of the southern China. |
| 1950-1958 | Kuomintang Islamic Insurgency | a continuation of the Chinese Civil War by Muslim Kuomintang Republic of China Army forces in Northwest China, in the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and another insurgency in Yunnan. |
| 1950 | Invasion of Tibet (Battle of Chamdo) | a military campaign by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against a de facto independent Tibet in Chamdo after months of failed negotiations. |
| 1950-1953 | Korean War | a war between North Korea (with the support of China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with the principal support of the United States). The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following a series of clashes along the border. |
| 1954–1955 | First Taiwan Strait Crisis | a brief armed conflict that took place between the governments of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC), which by then had fled and was based in Taiwan. |
| 1958 | Second Taiwan Strait Crisis | a conflict that took place between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) in which the PRC aimed to “liberate” Taiwan from the Chinese Nationalist Party, also called Kuomintang (KMT) |
| 1959 | Tibetan Uprising | Armed conflict between Tibetan guerrillas and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had started in 1956 in the Kham and Amdo regions, which had been subjected to socialist reform. The guerrilla warfare later spread to other areas of Tibet and lasted through 1962. |
| 1959-1975 | Vietnam War | a conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia officially fought between North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam with Soviet, China, and Communist allies backing the north, and United States, South Korea, Australia, Thailand and other anti-communist allies backing the south. |
| 1960-1961 | Campaign at the China–Burma border | a series of battles fought between the Chinese nationalists and the communists at or around the China–Myanmar border, after the Chinese Civil War |
| 1960-current | Xinjiang conflict | an ongoing separatist conflict in China’s far-west province of Xinjiang. Uyghur separatists claim that the region is not a part of China, but that the Second East Turkestan Republic was illegally incorporated into the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and has since been under Chinese occupation. |
| 1962 | Sino-Indian War | a war between China and India over border disputes. |
| 1967 | Nathu La and Cho La incidents | a series of military clashes between India and China alongside the border of the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, then an Indian protectorate. |
| 1969 | Sino-Soviet border conflict | a seven-month undeclared military conflict between the Soviet Union |
| 1974 | Battle of the Paracel Islands | a military engagement between the naval forces of China and South Vietnam in the Paracel Islands on January 19, 1974. The battle was an attempt by the South Vietnamese navy to expel the Chinese navy from the vicinity. |
| 1979 | Sino-Vietnamese War | a brief border war fought between the People’s Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in early 1979. |
| 1996 | Third Taiwan Strait Crisis | the effect of a series of missile tests conducted by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the waters surrounding Taiwan including the Taiwan Strait from 21 July 1995, to 23 March 1996 |
| 2001-current | War on Terror | China is a major ally in the war on terror with the US, UK, France, and Russia. |
| 2009–2016 | Operation Ocean Shield | China was a contributing nation in the successful operation against pirates. |
| 2012-present | Northern Mali conflict | China has peacekeeping forces in Mali and a major player in attempts to stabilise the region |
