"The first book-length study of the largely neglected 1929 Sino-Soviet war, a short but bloody one fought over the jointly operated Chinese Eastern Railroad (CER) in China's northeast. Although classified as a modern limited war, with comparatively few major engagements, it proved to be the largest military clash between China and a Western power ever fought on Chinese soil. The conflict was also the first major combat test of the reformed Soviet Red Army"--Provided by publisher.

PART I. CREATING CONFLICT : THE CHINESE EASTERN RAILROAD : 1. The troubled frontier -- 2. The northeast evolving : the 1911 revolution and the Great War -- 3. Talks, wars, and railroads (1919-1924) -- 4. Warlordism in decay, CER troubles, and the Northern Expedition -- PART II. CRISIS AND WAR : 5. The rise of Chang Hsueh-liang and the coming CER crisis -- 6. The Chinese and Soviet Russian forces -- 7. The CER incident and war -- 8. Renewed talks, fighting, and frustration -- 9. The decisive ODVA offensive -- 10. The 1929 conflict and interwar warfare -- 11. A war of consequences -- Appendices.