The correct timeline that identifies the cause of aggression and conflicts that led to the Nanjing Massacre in China and contributed to the beginning of World War II is:
Date Aggression and Conflicts
- 1850s: Japan uses gunboat diplomacy to force trade with the Chinese.
- 1931: Japan seizes Manchuria from China.
- 1937: Japan invades the mainland of China, claiming Beijing and Shanghai.
This timeline accurately reflects key events in the lead-up to Japanese aggression in China, including the invasion of Manchuria and subsequent conflicts leading to events such as the Nanjing Massacre.