ON 1 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 1, 2009

1087 : Death of Shenzong, the sixth emperor (1067-1085) of the Chinese Song dynasty, born on 25 May 1048
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Shenzong_of_Song_China

1220 : Birth of Go-Saga, 88th emperor of Japan (1242-1246) who died on 17th March 1272
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Saga

1637 : Death of Niwa Nagashige, Japanese warlord, born on 11 May 1571
http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Niwa_Nagashige

1793 - In Japan, the volcano Unsen erupts killing about 53,000.

1851 : King Mongkut acceeds to the Siamese throne, crowned on May 15

1856 : Birth of Acacio Gabriel Viegas, Indian physician who discovered the bubonic plague and died in 1933
http://www.goacom.com/goanow/2000/nov/lookingback.html

1867 : Singapore, Penang and Malacca becomes a British crown colony

1901 : At the Malacanang Palace, Aguildano who has been captured, swears on oath accepting the authority of the USA over the Philippines

1912 : Sun Yat-sen is obliged to give up as president of the Republic of China in favor of Yuan Shikai

1914 : Birth Lor Tok, Thai comedian and actor, who died April 29, 2002
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lor_Tok

1920 : Birth of Toshiro Mifune, Japanese actor who died on 24 December 1997 http://www.toshiromifune.org/biography/index.html

1928 : Chiang Kai-shek’s army crosses the Yangzijiang to conquer northern China

1929 : Birth of Payut Ngaokrachang, Thai cartoonist, animator, film director and teacher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payut_Ngaokrachang

1936 Orissa Formerly known as Kalinga or Utkal becomes a state in India

1944 : Japanese troops conquer Jessima, East-India

1945 : Americans invade Okinawa (Ryukyu)
http://www.goacom.com/goanow/2000/nov/lookingback.html
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6366

1946 : Birth of the Malayan Union, but Singapore continue to be a British colony

1949 : After three years of fighting, the Communist Party of China held unsuccessful peace talks with Kuomintang

1955 : Birth of Humayun Akthar Khan, Pakistani stateman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun_Akhtar_Khan

1960 : U Nu, prime minister of Burma since 1948 is re-elected

1963 : In Burma, General Ne Win launches an amnesty offer to all the rebel groups
.


1963 : In Laos, neutralist Foreign Minister Quinim Pholsena is assassinated in Vientiane
http://www.foia.cia.gov/browse_docs.asp?doc_no=0000598464

1968 : North Vietnamese declare that they are ready to meet US representatives on the possibility to stop fighting. Proposition accepted by President Lyndon Johnson

1969 : Opening of the IXth congress of the Chinese Communist Party, up to March 24

1970 : Birth of Sung Hi-lee, Korean-born model
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sung_Hi_Lee
http://www.sung-hi.com/

1970 : France calls for global negotiations on Indochina

1972 : North Vietnamese launch Nguyen Hue offensive
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1764

1975 : In Cambodia, end of president Lon Nol who flees to Indonesia
http://www.edwebproject.org/sideshow/history/end.html

1981 : Birth of Aimee Chan, Miss Hong Kong 2006
http://www.alivenotdead.com/aimeechan

1981 : Death of Eua Sunthornsanan, Thai composer and bandleader, born on January 21, 1910
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eua_Sunthornsanan

1989 : Birth of Yu Ayanami, Japanese video model
http://fhg.javmodel.com/yu_ayanami/index.php

1993 : Birth of Keito Okamoto, Japanese Singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keito_Okamoto
http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/Keito_Okamoto_love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkjDNIYI_SA

2001 : An EP-3E United States Navy plane collides with a Chinese fighter jet which pilot is killed. The American crew makes an emergency landing on Hainan Island and is detained eleven days by the Chinese authorities
http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Hainan_Island_incident

2001 : Death of Trinh Cong Son, Vietnamese composer, born on 28 February 1939
http://www.trinh-cong-son.com/

2001 : The Dalai Lama begins a visit to Taiwan despite the opposition of Beijing

2003 : Death of Leslie Cheung, Hong Kong actor and singer, born on September 12, 1956
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Cheung
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002000/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2aCJlZR1Fo

2007 : In Nepal, following an agreement that put an end to ten years of civil war and five communist leaders join the temporary government

2008 : Pakatan Rakyat or PR (English: People's Alliance) is established. The political coalition comprises a group of Malaysian political parties, namely, the People's Justice Party (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP), and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), who collectively worked together as the Barisan Rakyat (or People's Front) during the 12th Malaysian general election in 2008

ON 2 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 2, 2009

1565 : Birth of Cornelis de Houtman, brother of Frederick de Houtman, Dutch explorer who discovered a new sea route from Europe to Indonesia and managed to begin the Dutch spice trade.
http://wapedia.mobi/en/Cornelis_de_Houtman

1595 : Dutch expedition under Cornesis de Houtman leaves for Indies. http://www.speedylook.com/Cornelis_de_Houtman.html

1788 : Birth of Francisco Balagtas, Filipino poet, who died on February 20, 1862
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Balagtas

1890 : Birth of general Ho Ying-chin, Republic of China defense minister from 1930 to 1944
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Yingqin

1942 : Birth of Roshan Seth, Indian actor
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/529878/index.html
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0786022/

1947 : The United Nations Security Council entrusts the USA for the guardianship of the Pacific islands formerly under Japanese control

1951 : Birth of Moriteru Ueshiba, Japanese martial artist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriteru_Ueshiba
http://www.aikikai.or.jp/eng/doshu.htm

1954 : An Amity Treaty is signed between Pakistan and Turkey

1954 : North Vietnamese Vietminh enter northern Cambodia

1954 : Birth of Susumu Hirasawa, Japanese musician
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susumu_Hirasawa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDKeKzkM784

1954 : Indian Prime Minister Nehru calls for an arrest for and end on nuclear weapons race

1955 : Birth of Princess Maha Chakri Serindhorn, third child of Thailand king Rama IX
http://kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/sirindhorn/index.en.html

1965 : Leaster Pearson, the Canadian Prime Minister, asks the USA to suspend the bombings on North Vietnam

1966 : South Vietnamese troops joined in demonstrations at Hue and Da Nang for an end to military rule.

1967 : In Beijing , hundreds of thousands demonstrated against Mao foe Liu Shaoqi
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CHINAliu.htm

1972 : Death of Toshitsugu Takamatsu, grandmaster of Binjutsu, born on 10 March 1887
http://www.usadojo.com/biographies/toshitsugu-takamatsu.htm

1972 : During the Easter offensive, North Vietnamese soldiers take the northern half of Quang Tri Province
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_history_vietnam_easter1972.php

1975 : Death of Dong Biwu, vice-president of China (1959-1972), born in 1886 http://jugglecate.blogspot.com/2008/10/dong-biwu.html

1975 : In Vietnam, thousands of civilians refugees flee from the Quan Ngai Province in front of advancing North Vietnamese troops

1976 : Khieu Sampan succeeds prince Sihanouk as Premier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khieu_Samphan

1992 : Death of Tomisaburo Wakayama, Japanese actor, born on 1st September 1929
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomisaburo_Wakayama
http://www.kungfucinema.com/tag/tomisaburo-wakayama

1997 : Death of Tomoyuki Tanaka, Japanese film producer, born on 26 April 1910
http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/biography.asp?z=y&CTR=654119

2001 : In the Philippines, the Supreme Court refuses to grant immunity to president Joseph Estrada accused of corruption and recognizes Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new president

2002 : First visit of Pakistani president General Musharaff to Kabul. With Afghan president Hamid Karzai, they commit to fight the terrorism

2003 : Vietnamese prime minister Phan Van Khai has a talk with patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, in house arrest since 21 years, leader of the Unified Buddhist Church, forbidden since 1981
http://www.hdvnbtdt.org/article.php3?id_article=109

2004 : Early legislative elections in Sri Lanka. The United People’s Freedom Alliance wins 105 of the 225 seats ( 77 before) missing the absolute majority by 8 seats. UNP dropes from 114 to 82

2006 : Legislative elections in Thailand, boycotted by the opposition. With 57 % of the votes, Thai Rak Thai wins 349 seat vis 377 one year before.

ON 3 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 3, 2009

78 : Origin of Saka Era in India
http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-518603/Saka-era

1680 : Death of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire in 1674, born on 19 February 1627
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji

1929 : Birth of Fazhur Rahman Khan, Bangladeshi American civil engineer known for his innovations in high-rise building constructions who died on 27 March 1982
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9045265/Fazlur-R-Khan? source=ONTHISDAY

1942 : Japanese forces begin an assault on the US and Filipino troops in the Bataan peninsula
http://home.pacbell.net/fbaldie/Battling_Bastards_of_Bataan.html
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1817

1945 : US and Philippine forces recapture Corregidor (Bay of Manila)

1946 : General Masaharu Homma who led the Battle of the Philippines, condemned to dead, is executed by firing squad
http://www.answers.com/topic/masaharu-homma

1948 : In Jeju (South Korea) a civi-war-like period of violence and human rights abuse begins known as the Jeju massacre
http://kontrasaceh.blogspot.com/2006/04/43-jeju-massacre.html

1956 : After the resignation of Norodom Sihanouk Vice-Premier Khim Tit is sworn in as new Prime Minister of Cambodia (up to 29 July)

1958 : Birth of Jaya Prada, Indian Actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayaprada

1962 : Birth of Jaya Prada, Indian actress
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419685/bio

1963 : Birth of Tsuyoshi Sekito, Japanese composer
http://squarehaven.com/people/Tsuyoshi-Sekito/

1965 : Signature of a draft agreement -- which addressed the question of fisheries, South Korean property claims and the legal status of Koreans living in Japan -- between the Republic of Korea and Japan

1965 : Birth of Nazia Hassan, first South Asian pop singer, who died on 13 August 2000 of lung cancer
http://www.jazbah.org/naziah1.php
http://www.onesmartclick.com/bollywood/jaya-prada.html

1966 : Birth of Mina Tominaga, Japanese seiyu (voice actress)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miina_Tominaga

1968 - North Vietnam agreed to meet with U.S. representatives to set up preliminary peace talks

1969 : In the Vietnam War, US secretary Defense Melvin Laird announces that the USA will start to « vietnamese » the war effort
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1818

1972 : Nixon orders response to North Vietnamese invasion
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1817

1974 : After ten years, Prince Souphanouvong, leader of Pathet Lao comes back to Vientiane
http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Souphanouvong,+Prince

1979 : China denounces the Amity treaty signed with Soviet Union in 1950

1982 : Birth of Kasumi Nakane, Japanese gravure idol
http://www.kineda.com/kasumi-nakane/

1984 : Sikh terrorists kill a member of the Indian Parliament in his home

1985 : Beginning of the fourth official withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Cambodia, totalling 15,000 soldiers

1999 : Beginning of massacres in East Timor by militiamen opposing independence

2005 : Beginning of huge anti-Japan demonstrations in China, officially against the reprinting of an revisionist history book, in fact to oppose the Japanese candidacy for a standing seat at the Security Council of the United Nations
http://flickr.com/photos/wzhang/sets/228300/

2006 : Death of Genzo Murakami, Japanese writer, born on March 14, 1910
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genz%C5%8D_Murakami

ON 4 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 4, 2009

1884 : Birth of Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese naval commander who was killed when his plane was shot down on 18 April 1943
http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=1
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6404

1885 : Signature, in Paris, of a Protocol for the suspension of hostilities between France and China
http://www.taiwandocuments.org/cts166-76.htm

1897 : Birth of John Lionel Kotalawela, third Prime Minister of Ceylon (1953-1956) who died on 2nd October 1980
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lionel_Kotalawela

1905 : In India, an earthquake at 6:19 am, hit the Kangra valley, kills 20,000, and destroys most buildings in Kangra, Mcleodganj and Dharamshala

1912 : Chinese republic is proclaimed in Tibet

1947 : Birth of Wiranto, Indonesian General
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiranto
.

1949 : Birth of Yau Shing-tung, Chinese mathematician
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9090417/Shing-Tung-Yau

1951 : Birth of Hun Sen, current Cambodian prime minister
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/138761.stm

1954 : At the end of French Vietnam war, the French government asks the USA an air and sea operation on Dien-Bien-Phu

1954 : Birth of Chen Yi, Chinese composer
http://www.presser.com/Composers/info.cfm?Name=chenYi

1954 : Birth of Jackie Chan
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000329/
http://www.jackiechan.com/

1957 : Birth of Nobuyoshi Kuwano, Japanese musician
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuyoshi_Kuwano

1960 : In Burma, U Nu is nominated PM for the third time, up to March 1962 when he will be replaced by Ne Win
http://www.bookrags.com/U_Nu

1964 : Birth of Dang Than, Vietnamese poet and writer
http://www.thewriterspost.net/author_dangthan.htm

1967 : The U.S. lost its 500th plane over Vietnam.

1971 : In Sri Lanka, beginning of a Che Guevarist uprising by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or People’s Liberation Front
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Uprising
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/05/08/fea01.html

1972 : Birth of Lisa Ray, Indo-Canadian actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Ray
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712908/

1975 : In Laos, the king give his agreement for a government of twelve members, five of each side, plus two neutral

1975 : Execution of Zhang Zhixin, born on 5 December 1930
http://clearharmony.net/articles/200601/31118.html

1975 : In Vietnam, the Operation Baby Lift knows a terrific blow when an American plane transporting orphans crashes near Saigon causing 172 dies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Baby_Lift
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1768

1976 : Seni Pramoj's Democratic Party wins elections in Thailand

1976 : In China, during the All Souls Day, violents demonstrations in honour of Zhou En Lai
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ZhouEnla.html

1976 : Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as leader of Cambodia and is placed under house arrest

1978 : Birth of Kim Hyun Jung, Korean pop singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Hyun_Jung

1978 : Birth of Aska Yang, Taiwanese singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aska_Yang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ8xCzyO5YI

1979 : President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan is executed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/4/ newsid_2459000/2459507.stm

1987 : Secret US overture to North Korea proposing food and medical aid if Pyongyang participates in Seoul 1988 Olympic

1987 : Death of Chogyam Trungpa, Tibetan Buddhist master, born in February 1939
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chogyam_Trungpa
http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/chogyam-trungpa.php

1994 : Birth of Risako Sugaya, Japanese singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risako_Sugaya
http://www.asianbite.com/default.asp?Display=143

1999 : In Malaysia, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is elected chairman of the People’s Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wan_Azizah_Wan_Ismail

2006 : In spite of his victory in the April 2 legislative elections, but boycoted by opposition, Prime Ministet Thaksin Shinawatra resigns after a meeting with the king

2007 : Nobel Prize laureate Kenzaburo Oe, condemns the government decision to withdraw from the school history books any references to the imposed suicides in Okinawa before the US landing in 1945

Holidays and observances

. Taiwan and Hong Kong - Children's Day

To see the today events in Asian history, go down to the bottom of this page

ON 5 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 5, 2009

1288 : Birth of Go-Fushimi, 93th emperor of Japan (1298-1301) who died on 17th May 1336. Don’t confuse with his father Fushimi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Fushimi

1609 : The daimyo of the Satsuma clan in southern Kyushu, Japan, completes his successful invasion of the Ryukyu kingdom in Okinawa and become a vassal of Japan

1843 : Queen Victoria proclaims Hong Kong a British crown colony

1882 : Birth of Sung Chiao-jen, a closed ally of Sun Yat-sen, fatally wounded in March 1913
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sung_Chiao-jen

1908 : In Korea, the Japanese Army reached the Yalu River as the Russians retreated

1920 : Birth of Rafiq Zakaria, Indian author who died on 9 July 2005
http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/10/stories/2005071002261000.htm

1923 : Birth of Nguyen Van Thieu, president of South Vietnam (1967-1975) who died on 29 September 2001
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/VNthieu.htm
http://ngothelinh.tripod.com/NguyenVanThieu.html

1927 : Birth of Tanin Kraivixien, Thai Prime Minister (October 1976-October 1977)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanin_Kraivixien

1930 : In an act of civil disobedience, Mohandas Gandhi breaks British law after marching to the sea and making salt
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Gandhi/Dandi.html
http://www.kamat.com/mmgandhi/dandi.htm

1942 : Japanese Navy attacks Colombo in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Royal Navy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire are sunk southwest of the island
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_cornwall.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a1983170.shtml

1945 : Soviet Union reneges on the Neutrality Treaty signed with Japan

1945 : Kuniaki Koiso resigns as PM of Japan; replaced by Kantaro Suzuki
http://www.trial-ch.org/en/trial-watch/profil/db/facts/ kuniaki_koiso_596.html
http://www.123exp-biographies.com/t/00034117281/

1947 : Birth of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 14th and current president of the Philippines
http://www.macapagal.com/gma/biography/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Macapagal-Arroyo

1955 : Birth of Akira Toriyama, Japanese manga artist
http://lambiek.net/artists/t/toriyama_akira.htm

1956 : In Sri Lanka, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna wins the general elections in a landslide and Solomon W.R.D. Bandaranaike sworn in as the PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_parliamentary_election% 2C_1956

1957 : In India, communists win their first elections in united Kerala and E.M.S. Namboodiripad is swrn in as the first chief minister
http://www.india-today.com/itoday/millennium/100people/ems.html
.

1964 : In Bhutan, Jigme Palden Dorji, Prime Minister since 1952 is assassinated

1969 : Massive anti-war demonstrations occur in many United States cities
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1776

1970 : Birth of Miho Hatori, Japanese singer and songwriter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_Hatori

1971 : In Sri Lanka, the Janatha Viwukthi Peramune (JVP) launches insurrection against the United Front government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janatha_Vimukthi_Peramuna

1971 : Birth of Dong Abay, Filipino musician, singer and songwriter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dong_Abay

1972 : North Vietnamese troops invade Binh Long province, launching a second front of the Nguyen Hue Offensive
http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/soviet-military-awards/soviet-bloc- awards/north-vietnam/9439-nguyen-hue-offensive-1972-campaign- badge.html
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1775

1974 : Birth of Uhm Tae-woong, South Korean actor and singer
http://www.hancinema.net/korean_Eom_Tae-woong.php

1975 : Death of Chiang Kai-shek, president of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ch-Co/Chiang-Kai-Shek.html

1976 : In China, on the Qingming Festival (for the death), the April Fifth Movement in honour of Zhou Enlai, leads to the Tiananmen incident
http://www.chinatourdesign.com/introduction_of_Tiananmen_Square/ April_Fifth_Movement.htm

1980 : Birth of Lee Jae-won, South Korean, South Korean actor, singer and rapper
http://popseoul.com/category/lee-jae-won/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m024TsMiyZo

1984 : Birth of Shin Min-a, South Korean model and actress
http://www.kpopmusic.co.uk/shinmina.htm

1990 : Birth of Haruma Miura, Japanese Actor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruma_Miura
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXJ0L6zO--s http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/Miura_Haruma

2004 : General elections in Indonesia. Golkar (party of former president Suharto comes first, beating the PDI-P of President Megawati who was first in 1999
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers10/paper981.html

2007 : Death of Leela Majumdar, Bengali writer. She was born on 26 February 1908
http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=21267

2007 : After a trial which inflamed Indonesia, the chief editor of Indonesian Playboy is acquitted of indecency
http://www.nowpublic.com/indonesian_playboy_not_indecent_court_ruling

ON 6 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 6, 2009

1782 : In Thailand, Rama 1 (Chao Phraya Chakri) Succeeds King Taksin who was overthrown in a coup d’état, up to September 1809
http://www.thailandsworld.com/index.cfm?p=473

1886 : Birth of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, The Last Nizam of Hyderabad state (1911-1948) who died on November 19, 1967
http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Sir_Mir_Osman_Ali_Khan_Hyderabad
.

1930 : In India, tens of thousands of people reached the sea following Gandhi’s call to refuse to pay taxes, particularly the tax on salt

1945 : 355 Suicide Japanese planes (Kamikazes) attack the allied fleet on Okinawa et continue during all the battle

1967 : In South Vietnam, 1,500 Viet Cong attacked Quangtri and freed 200 prisoners

1970 : Death of Tang Shengzhi (Tang Sheng-chih), Chinese warlord, then a general of Chiang Kai-shek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Shengzhi

1971 : The Chinese Table Tennis Association issued an invitation to the U.S. table tennis team

1972 : During the Vietnam War’s Easter Offensive, American forces begin sustained air strikes and naval bombardments
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1769
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Offensive

1973 Indies troops invade Sikkim

1973 : Birth of Rie Miyazawa, Japanese actor and actress
http://www.mm52.com/japaneseidols/rie_miyazawa/index.htm

1975 : PM Yen Chia-kan is sworn in as new president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), to replace Chinag Kai-shek
http://www.president.gov.tw/en/prog/news_release/document_content.php? id=1105496087&pre_id=1105498701&g_category_number=410& category_number_2=373&layer=&sub_category=

1983 : Birth of Jeah Seah, Singaporean model and actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Seah
http://ubertiful.net/stars/sg/?page=Jade%2520Seah

1995 : Birth of Ryutaro Morimoto, Japanese Actor and Singer, Nick Hall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryutaro_Morimoto
http://www.asianpopcorn.com/default.asp? display=Chinen_Yuuri_Vs_Ryutaro_Morimoto-11914
http://lynnz88.vox.com/library/photo/ 6a00cd973bdccf4cd500e398bb62000001.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUQ5luLnpE

1992 : A general strike is declared by communist groups In Nepal

1998 : Pakistan tests medium-range missiles capable of hitting India

2001 : In Pakistan, the Supreme Court quashes the Benazir corruption sentence and orders a new trial

2004 : Mahinda Rajapakse of SLFP becomes the 13th Prime Minister ofSri Lanka up to November 2005
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-RajapkseM.html

2005 : For the first time since 1948, a bus line links the two parts of Kashmir

ON 7 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 7, 2009

1521 : Ferdinand Magellan arrives at Cebu
http://www.nndb.com/people/629/000092353/
http://www.studyworld.com/ferdinand_magellan.htm

1541 : Francis Xavier leaves Lisbon on a mission to the Portuguese East Indies
http://www.cin.org/franxav.html

1638 : Death of Shimazu Tadatsune, Japanese ruler of Satsuma, born on 27 November 1576
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/shimazu-tadatsune/

1782 : After a rebellion, Taksin, King of Siam (Thailand) is executed. He was born on 17 April 1734
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9071023/Taksin

1920 : Birth of Ravi Shankar
http://www.ravishankar.org/bio.html
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9067128/Ravi-Shankar? source=ONTHISDAY

1934 : In India, Mahatma Gandhi suspends his campaign of civil disobedience

1934 : Birth of Swami Shantananda, Hindu saint and philosopher
http://www.siddhayoga.org/biographies/Sw-Shantananda.htm

1938 : End of the battle of Taierzhuang, won by the Chinese on Japanese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Taierzhuang

1942 : Birth of Jeetendra, Indian actor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeetendra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qwFpKmYH4k
http://www.hamaraphotos.com/jeetendra_364.html

1945 : The Japanese battleship Yamato, the largest ever constructed, is sunk 200 miles north of Okinawa while en-route on a suicide mission in Operation Ten-go
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6408
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamato

1948 : In China, the communists launch a military action on the Yellow River

1948 : In Shanghai, a Buddhist monastery burns, leaving twenty monks dead

1954 : President Dwight D. Eisenhower coins one of the most famous Cold War phrases when he suggests the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a "domino" effect in Southeast Asia. The so-called "domino theory" dominated U.S. thinking about Vietnam for the next decade
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2630

1954 : Birth of Jackie Chan (Sing Lung), Hong Kong actor and singer
http://men.stareastasia.com/jackie-chan/

1956 : In Sri Lanka, general elections. The leftist opposition wins with a program demanding the withdrawal of the British bases

1957 : Birth of Kim Kap-su, South Korean actor
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453448/

1963 : In Laos, Kieng-Khuang city is taken by Pathet Lao (communist guerilla)
http://countrystudies.us/laos/18.htm

1971 : US president Richard Nixon announces his decision to increase the rate of American troop withdrawals from Vietnam

1976 : Following the 5 April demonstrations, Deng Xiaoping is fired from all his positions and Hua guofeng is nominated Prime Minister

1978 : In the Philippines, first legislative elections since the Martial Law has been proclaimed in 1972. Doubtful victory for the party of President Ferdinand Marcos

1992 : Thailand General Suchinda Kraprayoon is installed as prime minister, up to May 24
http://www.cabinet.thaigov.go.th/eng/pm_19.htm

1998 : Death of Broery Marantika, Indonesian singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broery_Marantika

1988 : Russia announces that it will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan

2000 : Death of Broery Marantika, Indonesian singer, born on June 25, 1944
http://www.broery.com/

2006 : Ichiro Ozawa, 63 years old, is elected chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan prevailing on Naoto Kan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichir%C5%8D_Ozawa
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ON 8 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 8, 2009

563 BC : Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism, is supposed to be born that day
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6861

1336 : Birth of Talermane (Timur), central Asian Turkic conqueror, who died on 19 February 1405
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5246/Timur.html
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1759 : Indian British troops chase French out of Masulipatam (India)

1767 : In now Thailand, Ayutthaya kingdom falls to Burmanese invaders
http://www.thaiwebsites.com/ayutthaya.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_kingdom

1857 : Mangal Pandey, Indian Sepoy who launched the Sepoy mutiny is hanged
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangal_Pandey

1873 : Dutch land troops at Banda Aceh (Now in Indonesia)

1894 : Death of Bankim Chandra Chatterji, born in June 1838
http://www.ceeby.com/people/bankimchandrachatterji.cfm

1913 : Opening of China’s first parliament in Beijing

1929 : At Delhi Central Assembly, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dadutt throw handouts and bombes to court arrest
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batukeshwar_Dutt

1932 : Birth of Sultan Iskandar of Johor, also the 8th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Baginda_Almutawakkil_Alallah_Sultan_Iskandar_Al- Haj_ibni_Almarhum_Sultan_Ismail

1934 : Birth of Kisho Kurokawa, Japanese architect who died on 12 October 2007
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Kisho_Kurokawa.html

1942 : The Japanese take Bataan in the Philippines

1946 : Death of Ye Ting, general of the Chinese Red Army
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Ting

1950 : India and Pakistan sign the Liaquat-Nehru Pact
http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A096

1957 : In Cambodia Prince Sihanouk forms a new cabinet

1968 : End of the Battle of Khe Sanh in South Vietnam after two and half days of combat at mainy loss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khe_Sanh

1983 : Birth of Allu Argun, Indian film actor
http://movies.propeller.com/story/2007/08/24/allu-arjun-biography-son- in-law-of-chiranjeevi/

1984 : Long-March 3 rocket puts on orbit the first Chines geostationary satellite
http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-51079/Long-March-3-launch-vehicle- inside-a-test-building-at

1985 : After the Bhopal disaster, India files suit against Union Carbide for the disaster which killed an estimated 2,000 and injured another 200,000
http://www.bhopal.org/whathappened.html

1986 : Birth of Erika Sawajiri, Japanese actress, model and singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Sawajiri
http://female.thedailymodel.com/erika-sawajiri/
http://www.babebio.com/babe/erika_sawajiri/

1986 : Death of Yukoki Okada, Japanese idol singer, born on 22 August 1967
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/yosha/suicide/Okada_Yukiko.html

1988 : In China, Yang Shangkun succeds Li Xiannian as president of the PRC
http://www.nndb.com/people/971/000111638/

1989 : Birth of Hitomi Takahashi, Japanese singer
http://wiki.theppn.org/Takahashi_Hitomi
http://www.recherche.aol.fr/aol/image?query=Hitomi%20Takahashi& invocationType=imageTab

1990 : After violent protests, king Birendra of Nepal lift a 30-year ban on political parties

1994 : After only 8 months, Morihiro Hosokawa, the first no LDP Premier of Japan, resigns under allegations that he had accecpted an illegal loan in 1982
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9041157/Hosokawa-Morihiro

2001 : Unpopular Japanese Premier Yoshiro Mori resigns
http://www.perfectpeople.net/biography/5945/yoshiro-mori.htm

2003 : In India, after a stormy debate, the parliament condemns the US attack on Irak, demanding a prompt withdrawal of the coalition forces

2005 : Indonesian president Sulilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a two-day visit to East Timor

2007 : Shintaro Ishihara is releected for the third time reelected as governor of Tokyo
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200704/09/eng20070409_364785.html

2008 : In the Philippines, nine military officers have been sentenced to jail for taking part in a failed coup plot against president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A577B1AC-388A-4AFF-A918- 1B5F019985C0.htm

Holidays and observances

Buddha's Birthday in Japan

ON 9 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 9, 2009

93 : Death of Yuan An, prominent scholar, administrator and stateman of the Chinese Han dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_An

1241 : Battle of Liegnitz. Mongols armies defeat Poles and Germans
http://www.historynet.com/mongol-invasions-battle-of-liegnitz.htm

1783 : Tippu Sahib drives out English from Bednore, India
http://www.answers.com/topic/tipu-sultan

1883 : Birth of Mohammed Nadir Shah, king of Afghanistan, assassinated on November 8, 1933
http://www.afghan-web.com/bios/yest/nadir.html

1910 : Birth of Nouhak Phoumsavanh, who died on September 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouhak_Phoumsavanh

1942 : US commander on Bataan, capitulates to the Japanese http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bataan

1942 : Japanese Navy launches air raid on Trincomalee, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The British aircraft HMS Hermes, and Australian warship HMAS Vampire are sunk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/21/a4171321.shtml
http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/remembering1942/vampire/index.htm

1946 : Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is founded, with limited former Japanese small aircraft

1956 : In South Vietnam, President Ngo Dinh Diem renounces to organize elections on reunification of Vietnam as planned in Geneve agreement in July 1954

1961 : Ngo Dinh Diem is reelected president of South Vietnam

1964 : Birth of Soyo Oka, Japanese musician http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyo_Oka
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1965 : India and Pakistan engage in border fighting

1966 : Death of Sutan Sjahrir, first PM of Indonesia (1945-1947), born on March 5, 1909 http://www.slideshare.net/irwanarfandi/sutan-sjahrir-the-biography

1973 : Netherlands recognizes North Vietnam

1984 : Birth of Linda Chung, Hong Kong actress and singer
http://lindachung.ca/

1985 – Bhopal disaster: India files suit against Union Carbide for the disaster which killed an estimated 2,000 and injured another 200,000

1985 : Birth of Yamashita Tomohisa, Japanese singer
http://yamapi.hatsukoi.org/info.php

1993 : President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China (ROC) announces to the National Assembly that he intends to work toward placing the issue of the ROC’s United Nations membership on the agenda of that world body within the next three years

2001 : In protest, after the Japanese government approved the publication of a new history textbook minimizing the Japanese acts of violence in Asia during WWII, Seoul call back its ambassador

2001 : In Pakistan, hundreds of thousands fundamentalists get together in Peshawar to condemn USA politics in the country

2005 : During two days, 20,000 demonstrate in Beijing against the reprint of a Japanese revisionist history texbook. They attack the Japanese ambassy

2008 : North Korea has reached an agreement on compensation in exchange for providing full details of its nuclear programmes
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9B7F28C5-1C60-484D-8103- 29315D5A0E37.htm

2008 : South Korea's Grand National Party (GNP) wins an overall majority by a narrow margin in parliamentary elections
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7337841.stm

ON 10 APRIL IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on April 10, 2009

1407 : The lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing. He is awarded with the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deshin_Shekpa

1656 : Dutch fleet occupies Colombo, Ceylon

1942 : In the Philippines, Bataan March begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=4909

1945 : US troops land on Tsugen Shima Okinawa

1946 : 1st election for Japanese Diet

1948 : Birth of Jaya Bachchan, Indian actress
http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/jaya-bachchan/10225

1950 : Birth of Akiko Wada, Japanese singer and television performer
http://www.japan-zone.com/modern/wada_akiko.shtml

1959 : Akihito, future emperor of Japan, weds Michiko Shoda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Michiko

1965 : After border fighting, Pakistan and India sign a cease-fire

1971 : Sign of thaw in the relation between China and the USA, the PRC hosts the table tennis team for a weeklong visit
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2633

1972 : In Vietnam War, for the first time since November 1967, American B-52 bombers reportedly begin bombing North Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1772

1973 : Pakistan adopts its third constitution, shifting the role of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from president to prime minister
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9079077/Zulfikar-Ali-Bhutto? source=ONTHISDAY

1979 : Birth of Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese artist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuyoshi_Domoto
http://bestuff.com/stuff/tsuyoshi-domoto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSd2z4WH-lo

1986 : Benazir Bhutto retuns to Pakistan after an exile in Great-Britain
http://www.benazirbhutto.org/

1986 : Birth of Ayesha Takia, Indian actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayesha_Takia
http://www.ayeshatakiapics.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4om0QdFeD8g

1992 : 25 die in a bus bombing in Sri Lanka

1995 : Death of Morarji Desai, Indian Prime Minister (March 1977 to July 1979), born in February 1904
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9030036/Morarji-Desai
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1997 : Death of Toshiro Mayuzumi, Japanese composer, born on February 20; 1929
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Toshiro-Mayuzumi

2003 : The North Korean withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty becomes effective

2007 : In Nepal, the provisionnary government adopts an amendment to the constitution for a new constitution

2008 : Burhannuddin Abdullah, Indonesian bank governor is arrested in connection with the misappropriation of $11m
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4FE91BDD-0950-4EA4-9934- E9F6AE673744.htm

2008 : In Nepal, people vote in elections that will decide the future of the direction of the country http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7339813.stm