Backgrounder: Chronicled major events related to Brexit

BEIJING - The British House of Commons on Tuesday passed an amendment to show support for Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal which it rejected earlier this month.

By 317 votes to 301, parliament members gave May a mandate to return to Brussels to call for a re-opening of negotiations on the Irish border issue.

In less than two months for Britain to leave the European Union (EU) on March 29 by default, London is seeking an orderly Brexit while preparing for a possible no-deal divorce.

The following are the chronicled major events related to Brexit -- withdrawal of Britain from the EU:

Jan 15, 2019 -- Parliament members voted 432 to 202 against the deal reached between the British government and the EU after a five-day debate, which was called the worst defeat in almost a century in the British parliament.

Nov 25, 2018 -- The EU's 27 member states endorsed the withdrawal agreement and Political Declaration on Britain's exit from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community, as well as on a framework of the future relationship between the EU and Britain.

Britain's 39-billion-pound "divorce bill" has yet to be passed by the British parliament.

Nov 22, 2018 -- Britain and EU negotiators reached a draft agreement on post-Brexit economic and security ties.

Nov 14, 2018 -- The British Cabinet agreed to Prime Minister Theresa May's Chequers plan on Brexit.

Nov 13, 2018 -- Britain and the EU agreed to the draft deal on Brexit. According to the draft, there will be a 21-month transition period after Brexit, during which Britain will remain in the single European market and the EU Customs Union, and continue to enjoy zero tariffs with EU members. In addition, the two sides are expected to seek to establish a free trade area. Earlier in the day, the EU published contingency plans for a "no-deal" Brexit.

July 2018 -- May put forward the controversial Chequers plan, or proposals for negotiations with the EU for a "soft" Brexit.

June 26, 2018 -- Queen Elizabeth II signed the EU withdrawal bill, according to which Britain will quit the EU at 2300 GMT of March 29, 2019. December 2017 -- Britain and the EU reached a deal on several key terms on Brexit.

June 2017 -- Britain's negotiations with the EU officially started, aiming to complete the withdrawal agreement by October 2018.

March 29, 2017 -- The British government invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on quitting the EU.

July 2016 -- The British government created the Department for Exiting the European Union.

June 23, 2016 -- Britain held a national referendum on quitting the EU with 52 percent of the vote in favor. Britain joined the EU in January 1973.