Final answer:
Corruption in the Nationalist Party and the Communists' acquisition of Japanese arms were crucial in the Communist victory in the Chinese civil war, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The end of the civil war in China was precipitated by several critical factors, including corruption within the Nationalist Party and the strategic seizure of Japanese arms by the Communists. The widespread corruption in the Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-Shek, significantly degraded the party's credibility and efficiency, leading to loss of support and defections. The Chinese Communist Party, under Mao Zedong's leadership, capitalized on these deficiencies, garnered peasant support, and after World War II, took control of Japanese weapons that bolstered their military prowess. This combination of internal decay within the Nationalist ranks and the strategic advantage gained by the Communists culminated in a decisive victory for Mao's forces. Consequently, Mao declared the creation of the People's Republic of China, while Chiang and his Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan.