ON 18 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 18, 2009

1450 : Death of Sejong, 4th king (1418-1450) of the Joseon Korean dynasty, born on 6 May 1397
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejong_the_Great_of_Joseon

1498 : Vasco de Gama reaches the port of Calicut (Khozhikoto) in India
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06374a.htm
http://www.calicut.net/

1584 : Death of Ikeda Motosuke, samurai commander, born in 1559
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikeda_Motosuke
.

1869 : Surrender and dissolution of the Ezo Republic to Japan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezo_Republic

1913 : Birth of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, 6th president on India (1977-1982) who died on 1st June 1996
http://pastpresidentsofindia.indiapress.org/reddy.html

1916 : In China, Chen Qimei is assassinated. Chiang Kai-shek succeeds him as leader of the Chinese Revolutionary Party in Shanghai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Qimei

1916 : In Vietnam, Khai Dinh is the 12th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khai_Dinh

1933 : Birth of Deve Gowda, Indian prime minister from June 1, 1996 to April 21, 1997

1948 : Birth of Yi Munyol, South Korean writer
http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=580

1951 : United Nations adopts a resolution on the boycott of strategic goods to Communist China

1955 : A security treaty is signed between Cambodia and the USA

1955 : Birth of Chow Yun-Fat, Hong Kong actor
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000334/
http://chowofhongkong.com/

1963 : birth of Mari Lijimia, Japanese actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Iijima

1967 : In Vietnam, the US troops cross the demilitarized zone

1974 : India detonates its first nuclear weapon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=5013

1980 : In South Korea, Gwangju uprising up to May 27
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju_Massacre

1988 : Birth of Koji Seto Japanese actor and singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koji_Seto
http://bestuff.com/stuff/koji-seto

1989 : In Beijing one-million people demonstrate http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2671

2001 : In Karachi, extremist Sunni Tekrik chief, Saleem Qadri, is shot
http://www.geocities.com/sipahisahaba/2001/05182001.htm
http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsJune2001/coverstory4.htm

2002 : Kim Hong-gul, third son of South Korea president Kim Dae-jung is arrested on charge of corruption. One of his brothers is already in jail
http://www.iht.com/articles/2002/06/22/t5_46.php

2006 : In Nepal, the parliament, which has been restore, passes a law curtailing the power of the monarchy, making Nepal a secular country

2007 : Death of Yoyoy Villame, Filipino novelty singer and movie actor, born on 18 November 1932
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/ view_article.php?article_id=66711

ON 19 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 19, 2009

1526 : Death of Go-Kashiwabara, 104th Japanese emperor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Kashiwabara_of_Japan

1883 : French Commandant Rivière is killed in a battle against the Chinese Black Flags in Tonkin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Paper_Bridge

1890 : Birth of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese communist leader who died on 2nd September 1969
http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/hochiminh.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/268300/Ho-Chi-Minh? source=ONTHISDAY

1904 : Death of Jamsetji Tata, Indian industrialist, born in March 1839
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamsetji_Tata

1921 : Birth of Yuri Kochiyama, Japanese American human rights activist
http://www.learntoquestion.com/seevak/groups/2004/sites/kochiyama/ main.html

1925 : Birth of Pol Pot, leader of the Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/78988.stm

1926 : Birth of Swami Kriyananda, Indian teacher and author
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Kriyananda

1934 : Birth of Ruskin Bond, Indian author
http://www.iloveindia.com/literature/english/authors/ruskin-bond.html

1938 : Birth of Moisés da Costa Amaral, East Timorese leader who died on February 22, 1989
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mois%C3%A9s_da_Costa_Amaral
.


1939 : Birth of Nancy Khan, Hong Kong actress
http://www.snappville.com/nhanz

1949 : Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek imposes Martial Law on Taiwan

1951 : US begins counter offensive in Korea

1954 : Signature of an mutual assistance treaty between USA and Pakistan

1964 : In Laos, US Air Force begins Operation Yankee Team
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1855

1967 : US bombs Hanoi

1972: South Vietnamese fight to open road to An Loc
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1854

1975 : Birth of Masanobu Ando, Japanese actor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Ando
http://asianmediawiki.com/index.php?title=Masanobu_Ando

1981 : Birth of Bong Tae-gyu, South Korean actor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bong_Tae-gyu
http://www.hancinema.net/korean_Bong_Tae-gyu.php

1989 : A 4:50 am, Chinese communist Party General secretary Zhao Ziyang goes Tian’anmen Square to implore the students to leave
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/zhao.html

1998 : Death of Sosuke Uno, 75th prime minister of Japan from June to August 1989 and obliged to resign after a sex scandal, born on 27 August 1922
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%8Dsuke_Uno
http://www.memoirs-of-a-geisha.info/Geisha_Code_of_Silence.html

2000 : China signs an agreement with Europe Union for its entry in WTO

2001 : In the Philippines, election in the senate. On the 13 seats, the People Power Coalition supporting President Arroyo wins 8 seats vis 4 for former president Estrada supporters (including his wife) and an independent

2002 : East-Timor independence ceremony, effective on 20 May, 0 :am with UN general secretary Kofy Annan, Bill Clinton and Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1996673.stm

2002 : A new Vietnamese National Assembly is elected. All the candidates have been selected by the Communist Party of Vietnam

2008 : In Malaysia, Former Premier Mahathir quits UMNO
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2D222036-EB65-4FF6-B921- 1287D5073FD7.htm

ON 20 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 20, 2009

1498 : Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives at Kozhikode (previously known as Calicut), India
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=5016

1550 : Death of Ashikaga Yoshiharu, Japanese shogun, born on 21 April 1511
http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Ashikaga_Yoshiharu

1619 : Coen, backed by a force of nineteen ships, storms the Jayakarta driving out the Banten forces, and from the ashes of Jayakarta, establishes Batavia (now Jakarta) as the VOC headquarters

1784 : In a Treaty signed in Paris, Netherlands cedes to Britain the port city of Nagappattinam in India and allows the British free navigation rights in the Duch-held Mollucas

1883 : The eruption of Krakatoa (Indonesia) begins, leading ultimaly to the volcano’s destruction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krakatoa
http://video.cityvox.fr/video/iLyROoaftusS.html

1894 : Birth of Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Indian Hindu sage, who died in 1994
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramacharya

1908 : In Netherlands Indies, Foundation of the Boedi Oetomo (Noble Conduct), organization led by Dr Soetomo. Educational movement which turned to politics
http://www.indonesialogue.com/destinations/boedi-oetomo-national- awakening-indonesia.html
http://www.indonesia-ottawa.org/page.php?s=1000history

1941 : Birth of Goh Chok Tong, former Singaporian Premier and currently Senior Minister
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goh_Chok_Tong

1942 : Japan completed the conquest of Burma

1946 : Birth of Xanana Gusmao, former president of East-Timor and current Prime Minister
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/342145.stm

1946 : In Japan, formation of Yoshida cabinet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Yoshida

1948 : Chiang Kai-shek is formally elected President of the Republic of China
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Republic_of_China

1954 : Chiang Kai-shek is reelected president of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

1959 : Japanese-Americans regain their citizenship

1963 : Sukarno is reelected president of Indonesia

1967 : In USA, 10,000 demonstrate against Vietnam War

1967 : Birth of Ramzi Yousef, Kuwaiti-born Pakistani terrorist
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/iraq/956-tni.htm

1969 : End of the Battle of Hambuger (Aptia Mountain) one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=5019

1970 : 100,000 march in New York supporting US policy in Vietnam

1978 : Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek, is elected president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), till his death on January 13, 1988

1982 : In the Afghanistan war, first exchange of prisoners closed of the Pakistani border

1982 : Sir Edward Youde takes office as Governor of Hong Kong

1983 : Birth of Jr. NTR, Indian film actor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jr._NTR
http://movies.indiainfo.com/gallery/view_album.php? set_albumName=album84
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6284988653157988375

1986 : In a joint communiqué Lisbon and Beijing announce the beginning of talks on Macao

1988 : Birth of Carla Humphries, Filipina actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Humphries
http://www.geocities.com/carla_fans/News.htm

1989 : Chinese Premier Li Peng proclaims the Martial Law in Beijing

1992 : India launches its first satellite independently

1993 : Xanana Gusmao, leader of the East-Timor separatist insurgency (arrested in 1992) is condemned to life sentence, changed later to 20 years in prison
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanana_Gusm%C3%A3o

2000 : In Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian becomes the first non KMT president
http://www.who2.com/chenshuibian.html
.

2002 : East-Timor is officially independent from Indonesia

2004 : Chen Shui-bian starts his second mandate as president of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

2007 : The China State Space Administration director announces that China will soon proceed on to the launching of a satellite which will turn around the moon

2007 : In Vietnam, legislative elections. 83 % of the candidates are members of the Vietnam Communist Party. In the final, more than 90 % of the members of the parliament are members of the CPV

2008 : Ma Ying-jeou is sworn in as president of Taiwan
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E6750AE6-9AFB-4845-9DA0- FF3E068854D8.htm
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JE21Ae01.html

2008 : India and Pakistan resume talks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7409672.stm

ON 21 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 21, 2009

1260 : The Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan send his envoy Hao Jing to the Chinese Song Emperor Lizong. Hao Jing is kept in prison

1951 : In Korea, the United Nations forces repel Communist forces that have cross the 38th parallel

1960 : Birth of Mohanlal, Indian actor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohanlal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_51FhosiVY

1968 : Birth of Julie Vega, Filipina actress who died on 6 May 1985
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Vega
http://video48.blogspot.com/2007/09/remembering-julie-vega.html

1969 : Birth of Masayo Kurata, Japanese voice actress
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=387

1991 : Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a female LTTE suicide bomber near Madras
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/21/ newsid_2504000/2504739.stm

1998 : Indonesian president Suharto resigns, succeeded by vice-president B.J. Habibie
http://www.wsws.org/news/1998/may1998/ined-m21.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgEKsnfOASw

2005 : In Indonesia, Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, chairman of the Election National Election, is arrested on charges of corruption
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4569151.stm

2006 : Death of Cherd Songsri, Thai film director, born on September 20, 1931
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherd_Songsri
http://www.thaicinema.org/Essays09cherd1.asp

2007 : Chang Chun-hsiung becomes Taiwan prime minister for a second time replacing Su Tseng-chang
http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/biographies-3.html

ON 22 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 22, 2009

748 : Death of Empress Gensho, 44th ruler of Japan (715-724), born in 680
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/empress-gensho/

1068 : Death of Go-Reizei, 70th emperor of Japan (1045-1068), born on 28 August 1025
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Reizei

1545 : Death of Sher Shah Suri, founder of the short lived Suri Dynasty in India, born in 1486
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sher_Shah_Suri

1772 : Birth of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Hindu reformer who died on 27 September 1833
http://www.boloji.com/people/04003.htm

1885 : Birth of Japanese Admiral Soemu Toyoda who died on 22 September 1957
http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=45

1908 : Birth of Rattana Pestonji, Thai film director, who died on August 17, 1970
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattana_Pestonji

1927 : In Xining (China) an earthquake causes more than 200,000 casualties

1946 : Shigeru Yoshida replaces Kijuro Shidera as prime minister of Japan till May 24, 1947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Yoshida

1958 : Start of Sri Lankan riots of 1958 (end on May 27), this riot was a watershed event in the race relationship of the various ethnic communities of Sri Lanka. The total number of deaths is estimated to be 300, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_riots_of_1958

1960 : Birth of Hideaki Anno, Japanese director
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=15

1966 : Birth of Wang Xiaoshuai, Chinese film director
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/03/wang.html

1969 : Bejing reasserts its hostility on unequal treaties which establish the borders with Russia

1972 : Birth of Annabel Chong, Singaporian actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabel_Chong
http://www.freeones.com/html/a_links/Annabel_Chong/

1972 : Ceylon adopts a new constitution becoming a republic, changes its name for Sri Lanka and joins the Commonwealth of Nations

1981 : Birth of Hara Fumina, Japanese actress
http://wiki.theppn.org/Hara_Fumina
http://www.babebio.com/babe/hara_fumina/

1989 : Seven retired military leaders in China denounce the imposition of martial law

1998 : In Indonesia, President Jusuf Habibie forms his cabinet keeping the majority of the ministers, except the one too closed with his predecessor ousted general Suharto
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/bacharuddin-jusuf-habibie/

2000 : In South Korea, Lee Han-dong, defector from Grand National Party becomes prime minister
http://english.people.com.cn/english/200005/22/eng20000522_41324.html

2002 : Khmer Rouge leader Sam Bith, 69, is arrested. He is responsible for the kidnapping and murder of three western tourists in 1994
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2002/fa076_02.html

2004 : In India, Manmohan Singh forms his cabinet after Sonia Gandhi renounced to be Prime Minister
http://www.indian-elections.com/dr-manmohan-singh.html

2006 : Death of Lee Jong-wook, Korean Director-General of the World Health Organization
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dr-lee-jongwook- 479449.html

ON 23 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 23, 2009

1100 : Birth of Qinzong, ninth emperor of the Song dynasty (1126-1127) who died on June 14, 1161
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Qinzong_of_Song

1523 : Death of Ashikaga Yoshitane, 10th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, born on September 9, 1466
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/ashikaga-yoshitane/

1592 : Beginning of the invasion of Korea by the Japanese

1638 : Kandyan treaty between the Dutch and the king of Kandy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandyan_Treaty_of_1638

1859 : The new royal palace of Mandalay, the new capital of Burma, is inaugurated

1898 : First US Philippine Expeditionary Troops sail from San Francisco

1901 : US captures leader of Philippines rebels Emilio Aguinaldo
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/aguinaldo.html

1939 : Birth of Japanese mountain-climber Junko Tabei, the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 16, 1975
http://www.everestnews.com/history/tabei.htm

1942 : Birth of K. Raghavendra Rao, Indian film director
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._Raghavendra_Rao
.

1944 : Chinese counter offensive against the Japanese at Hunan front

1945 : Birth of Padmarajan, Indian film director, who died on 24 January 1991
http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/padmarajan.html

1947 : Birth of Ann Hui, Hong Kong film film director
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/02/22/hui.html

1951 : Signature of the 17 points agreement imposed by Beijing to Tibetan Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama which recognize Chine sovereignty on Tibet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Seventeen_Point_Agreement_for_the_Peaceful_Liberation_of_Tibet

1966 : Death of Demchugdongrub, Mongolian politician, born on February 2, 1902
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demchugdongrub

1967 : In Hong Kong, end of the fights between Police and Maoist demonstrators which started on May 17

1974 : Birth of Charlie Yeung, Hong Kong actress and singer
http://women.stareastasia.com/charlie-yeung/

1975 : Birth of Kim Sung-soo, South Korean actor
http://www.hancinema.net/korean_Kim_Sung-soo.php

1993 : In Cambodia, beginning of the first free elections under United Nations control, till May 28

1997 : In Banjarmasin city, Borneo island of Indonesia, fights between Muslim party PPP and Suharto party Golkar cause 123 casualties in the arson of a mall

2001 : « Private » meeting between US president George Bush and the Dalai Lama at the White House
http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/05/23/dalai.bush.02/ index.html

2003 : Ong Ka Ting is elected chairman of the Malaysian Chinese Aassociation (MCA)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ong_Ka_Ting

2008 : The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awards Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries

2008 : United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon get a yes from Mynmar's ruler Than Shwe to allow access to all foreign aid workers to the zone affected by the cyclone Nargis
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9C650E4E-2728-4B6E-A20A- E482505C1BF2.htm

ON 24 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 24, 2009

1408 : Death of Yi Seong-gye, founder of the Joseon (Yi) Korean dynasty, born on October 11, 1335
http://au.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1481587798/yi_seong-gye.html
.

1895 : Some pro-Qing proclaim the short lived Republic of Formosa after the Shimonoseki Treaty giving the Island to Japan (up to October 1895)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Formosa

1911 : Birth of Ne Win, Burmese dictator (1962-1988) who died in on December 5, 2002
http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/win.html

1917 : Vyner Brooke, becomes the third and last White Rajah of Sarawak (Borneo) till 15 April 1946, and died on 9 May 1963
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Vyner_Brooke

1923 : Birth of Seijun Suzuki, Japanese director
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840671/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seijun_Suzuki

1931 In India Sister Teresa took her initial vows as a nun

1947 : Katayama Tetsu replaces Shigeru Yoshida as prime minister of Japan until March 1948
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsu_Katayama

1964 : Senator Godwater, running Republican Party candidate to presidency, suggests using atomic weapons in North Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1864

1965 : Birth of Shinichiro Watanabe, Japanese anime director
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=774

1974 : Ban on political parties is lifted in Portuguese Timor. Five political parties emerge

1975 : A group of 80 reporters and cameramen are allowed to fly out of Saigon
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/24/ newsid_2503000/2503771.stm

1980 : Birth of Cecilia Cheung, Hong Kong actress and singer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Cheung
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFtCCQim7Xw

1981 : Birth of Sayaka Ando, Japanese gravure idol
http://www.starasia.net/s/sayaka_ando/
http://www.babebio.com/babe/sayaka_ando/

1985 : A cyclone devastates Bangladesh causing at least 10,000 dead and 250,000 homeless

1988 : Thai Porntip Nakhirunkanok, 19, is crowned 37th Miss Universe
http://www.geocities.com/ranny_singka/spf02.html

1991 : Birth of Erika Umeda, Japanese singer
http://wiki.theppn.org/Umeda_Erika
http://bestuff.com/stuff/erika-umeda

1992 : The last Thai dictator, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, resigns following pro-democracy protest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suchinda_Kraprayoon

1997 : Shohei Imamura’s movie “The Eel” (Unagi) wins the Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120408/

2001 : 15-year-old Sherpa Temba Tsheri becomes the youngest person to climb to the to of Mount Everest
http://www.everestnews.com/history/youngest.htm

2004 : North Korea bans mobile phones

2008 : Myanmar hosts cyclone aid meeting
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C6B6243C-7C17-466E-ACFF- D39DBEEA03D0.htm

ON 25 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 25, 2009

967 : Death of Murakami, 62nd Japanese emperor (946-967), born on June 2, 926
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Murakami

1048 : Birth of Shenzong, the 6th emperor (1067-1087) of the Chinese Song dynasty, who died on April 1st 1087
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9067277/Shenzong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Shenzong_of_Song

1334 : Birth of Japanese Emperor Suko (1348-1351) who died in 1398
http://www.123exp-biographies.com/t/000311641/

1592 : The First Japanese Division arrives at Dongnae eupseong (Korea) and resulted in a Japanese victory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasions_of_Korea_(1592%E2%80%931598)

1792 : In Japan, Mount Unzen (in Kyushu island) erupts causing a big tsunami and the death of more than 14,500 people http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312395/unzen.htm

1886 : Birth of Rash Behari Bose, Indian leader against the British Raj, who died in exile on January 1, 1945
http://www.liveindia.com/freedomfighters/24.html

1895 : In Taiwan, pro-Qing Tang Ching-sung (Tang Qingsong)is elected president of The Republic of Formosa, capital Tinan
http://cta.yam.org.tw/cta31.htm
http://www.famouschinese.com/virtual/Tang_Ching-sung
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Ching-sung
.

1907 : Birth of Yang Shangkun, Communist general, president of the People’s Republic of China (1987-1992)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Shangkun

1907 : Birth of U Nu, First and three times Burmese Prime Minister between 1948 and 1962, who died on February 14, 1995
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Nu

1912 : Birth of Princess Deokhye of Korea, who died on 21 April 1989
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Imperial_Highness_Princess_Duk-hye

1940 : Birth of Nobuyoshi Araki, Japanese photographer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuyoshi_Araki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRIMeqSfdo4

1942 : Birth of Chien Yu, Chinese actress who died from cancer on April 10, 2000
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0950472/

1953 : Birth of Stan Sakai, American Japanese-born comic writer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Sakai

1954 : Birth of Kee Thuan Chye, Malaysian journalist and playwriter
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=11169

1965 : India and Pakistan borders fights

1966 : In China, the first prominent dazibao of the Cultural Revolution is posted at Beijing University
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dazibao

1968 : In South Vietnam, Communist launch a new offensive on Saigon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1867

1969 : In South Vietnam, the National Democratic Front is formed in Saigon, led by President Nguyen Van Thieu
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1866

1972 : Birth of Hikari Ishida, Japanese actress
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ishida_Hikari

1973 : Birth of Ai Kobayashi, Japanese actress
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=14377

1977 : Chinese government removes ban on Shakespeare
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2678

1978 : Birth of Lee Jeong-jin
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Lee_Jung_Jin
http://www.hancinema.net/korean_Lee_Jeong-jin.php

1980 : Birth of Jae Hee, South Korean actor
http://www.ampedasia.com/hunks/Jae-Hee/

1983 : Birth of Kunal Khemu, Indian actor
http://www.kunalkhemu.com/labels/Biography.html

1985 : Bangladesh is hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge which kills approximately 10,000 people

1986 : Birth of Juri Ueno, Japanese actress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juri_Ueno
http://asianmediawiki.com/Juri_Ueno

2005 : Death of Sunil Dutt, Indian actor and politician, born on June 6, 1930
http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/26/stories/2005052604031200.htm

2005 : Death of Ismail Merchant, Indian born film producer, born on December 25, 1936.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Merchant
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/532192/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4580689.stm

2007 : In spite of international pressures, the Myanmar’s military junta extends for one year Aung San Suu Kyi house arrest

2008 : For the first time, the chairman of a Taiwanese ruling party visits China
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6B16D52F-26BF-44DB-AA80- 97A1B82CE5B8.htm

ON 26 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 26, 2009

1234 : The Mongols take Kaifeng and destroy the Jin (Jurchen) dynasty
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Jin_Dynasty_(1115–1234)

1264 : Birth of Prince Koreyasu, 7th shogun (1266-1289) of the Kamakura shogunate, who died on November 25, 1326
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Koreyasu

1293 : In Japan, an earthquake strikes Kamakura, killing 30,000 people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura,_Kanagawa

1877 : Death of Kido Takayoshi, Japanese statesman, born on August 11, 1833
http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/65.html

1879 : Russia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Gandamak establishing an Afghan state
http://www.khyber.org/pashtohistory/treaties/gandamak.shtml

1905 : Birth of Seni Pramoj, three times Thailand’s prime minister, who died on July 28, 1997
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seni_Pramoj

1908 : Death of Mirza Gulam Ahmad, Indian Muslim figure, founder of the Amadiyya Movement, born on February 13, 1835
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Controversy_surrounding_the_death_of_Mirza_Ghulam_Ahmad

1942 : Birth of Ganapathi Sachchidananda, Indian spiritual leader
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganapathi_Sachchidananda

1961 : Birth of Tarsem Singh, Indian film director
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsem_Singh
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0802248/

1964 : China rejects an United Kingdom asking it to intervene for an end of fights in Laos

1965 : Australian troops depart for Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1868

1970 : Birth of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Japanese cartoonist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuhiro_Watsuki

1971 : North Vietnamese troops seize strategic Snoul city in Cambodia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1869

1972 : Chiang Ching-kuo becomes premier of Taiwan

1977 : Birth of Misaki Ito, Japanese actress
http://yummycelebrities.com/2006/04/23/isabella-leung-lok-si/
http://www.jdorama.com/artiste_1339.htm

1982 : Birth of Yoko Matsugane, Japanese model
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Matsugane
http://snarkerati.com/galleries/index.php/Yoko-Matsugane

1988 : Vietnam announces that 50,000 soldiers will be withdrew from Cambodia before the end of the year ant that the remained ones will be under the command of the Kampuchea’s armed forces

1998 : British veterans reject Japanese emperor “sorrow”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/26/ newsid_2502000/2502547.stm

1999 : For the first time since 20 years, Indian air force intervene in Kargill area of Kashmir where Indian military positions have been occupied by rebels supported by Pakistani soldiers

2008 : For the first time, the chairman of a Taiwanese ruling party visits China

ON 27 MAY IN ASIAN HISTORY

Updated on May 27, 2009

1644 : In China, Li Zicheng who overthroned the Ming dynasty one month before is defeated by the Manchus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zicheng

1898 : In South China, Guangzhou Wan (Fort Bayard) is got by the French in a leasing agreement

1905 : First day of the two-day Battle of Tsushima Straits, in which the Japanese annihited the Russian fleet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tsushima

1918 : Birth of Yasuhiro Nakasone, Japanese prime minister
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuhiro_Nakasone

1920 : In now Indonesia, ISDV changes name to Perserikatan Komunis di Hindia (later PKI)

1942 : Death, due to heart attack, of Chen Duxiu, first chaiman of the Chinese communist party (1921-1927), born on October 9, 1879
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9022800/Chen-Duxiu
.

1949 : The Chinese communist troops enter in Shanghai

1951 : Chinese communist force the Dalai Lama to surrender his army to Beijing

1961 : Malaya Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman suggests an confederation including Singapore and British territories on Borneo island

1964 : Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru dies in office
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/27/ newsid_3690000/3690019.stm http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0527.html#article

1965 : United States warships begin bombardments of National Liberation Front targets within South Vietnam for the first time
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=1870

1970 : In Sri Lanka, Mrs Bandaranaïke, leading a leftist coalition, comes back to power

1973 : Death of P. Ramlee, Malaysian actor, singer and songwriter, born on March 22, 1929
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._Ramlee

1980 : China is admitted to International Monitary Found

1980 : In South Korea, end of the repression against the Gwangju uprising when airborne and army troops retake the city from civil militias, killing at least 207 and possibly many more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4557315.stm

1989 : In Hong Kong, over 300,000 people gather at Happy Valley Racecourse in support of the Beijing Tiananmen students

1990 : First multiparty elections in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy wins 60 percent of the votes and 80 percent of the seats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_general_election%2C_1990

2001 : In the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf movement, led by Abu Sayaba, kydnaps abduct 20 people, including 3 Americans

2003 : Chinese president Hu Jintao goes to Russia for his first presidential voyage

2006 : In spite of international pressures, the Myanmar’s military junta expends for one year Nobel Prize Aung San Suu Kyi house arrest

2006 : Death of Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Indian actor born on February 13, 1944
http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/28/stories/2006052806500600.htm
http://movies.deepthi.com/malayalam/actors/oduvil-unnikrishnan.html

2007 : Death of Izumi Sakai, Japanese singer, of cervical cancer, born on February 6, 1967
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumi_Sakai
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/05/28/ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://swiftywriting.blogspot.com/2007/05/r-i-p-izumi-sakai-aka- zard.html

2008 : Myanmar junta extends Suu Kyi detention for one more year
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F7394078-BA0E-472E-9195- 001307E4DAF1.htm