Chiang Kai-shek's decision to initiate a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army occurred against a backdrop of rising tensions in China. Following the Northern Expedition, which aimed to unify China under the Nationalist government, there were growing concerns about the Communist Party's influence within the military. The Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, had previously formed an uneasy alliance with the Communists to combat warlord factions and foreign imperialism. However, by the mid-1920s, ideological differences and power struggles became increasingly pronounced.

On March 20, Chiang Kai-shek, serving as the leader of the Kuomintang, ordered an operation in Guangzhou against officers suspected of having communist ties. This marked a definitive shift in the relationship between the Nationalists and the Communists. Many members of the army, especially those aligned with leftist ideologies, faced arrest or expulsion. Chiang's strategic aim was to consolidate power and eliminate potential threats to his leadership, a move that aligned with his growing nationalist agenda.

The purge had significant implications for Chinese history. It solidified the estrangement between the Nationalists and Communists, leading to a civil war that profoundly altered the country's political landscape. The actions taken in Guangzhou reverberated throughout the nation, showcasing the precarious balance of power and the violent rifts that would define the struggle for control in the ensuing decades.