World War II

Japan and its expansion Japan had modernised from 1860s A model for China Beginnings of empire 1895 Defeated China for control of Korea 1900s Taiwan and Korea both colonies 1904 Defeated Russia for control of Manchuria Felt threatened by growth of a powerful new Chinese state

The Situation in China Warlords Communists Nearly equal balance of power with Chiang Kaishek Communists

The Communist Party Origins: May 4th debates about ideology Early years Emphasis on urban working class Alliance with Nationalist Party 1923-7 Northern Expedition → Nationalist attack → Communists flee from cities Debate Urban workers (Li Lisan) vs peasants (Mao Zedong)

Control part of Jiangxi Nationalist government military campaigns against them → The Long March (retreat to a remote part of Shaanxi)

Mao Zedong in Yan’an

Peng Dehuai and other CCP leaders in Yan’an

Japanese attacks Manchuria 1931 Shanghai 1931 North China 1933 Chiang Kaishek more concerned with balance of power with warlords Japanese establish Manchukuo Shanghai 1931 Chinese troops refuse to obey orders to retreat Violent fighting Japanese win then withdraw North China 1933

Shanghai after Japanese bombing 1932

Chinese Responses Chiang Kaishek “First pacification then resistance” BUT Very unpopular Warlords and Communists claim to be more nationalist than the government Resistance movement National Salvation Associations 1937 outbreak of war with Japan

The War against Japan 1937-1945 1937 fighting round Shanghai Nationalist government pushed inland The situation in 1938 Japan controls north and east China The Nationalist Government controls southwest China The Communists control parts of Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia