ðɪ ˈɛɹiəz tˈɑːɹɡɪɾᵻd wˈʌns fˈʌŋkʃənd æz ðə sˈɛntɚɹ ʌv hˈɛvi ˈɪndʌstɹi ɪn tʃˈaɪnə, fˈɜːst ˌʌndɚ dʒˌæpənˈiːzˌɑːkjʊpˈeɪʃən mˈæntʃjuːˌoʊkjuːˌoʊ ænd kwˈæntʌŋ lˈiːst tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹi ænd ðˈɛn ˌʌndɚ ðə stˈeɪtlˈɛd dɪvˈɛləpmənt ʌvðə pˈiːpəlz ɹᵻpˈʌblɪk ʌv tʃˈaɪnə bᵻfˌoːɹ ɹᵻfˈɔːɹm ænd ˈoʊpənɪŋˈʌp.
The areas targeted once functioned as the center of heavy industry in China, first under Japanese-occupation (Manchuokuo and Kwantung Leased Territory) and then under the state-led development of the People's Republic of China before reform and opening-up.