Why Did China Cause Ww2

In the early 1930s international tensions were rising to what would become World War II, one of the largest global conflicts in history. Focusing on relations between Japan and China, a variety of factors set up an easily identifiable opportunity for Japan to invade China. The Republic of China in the 1930s was a divided nation, hosting a power struggle between the nationalist rule of Chiang Kai-Shek, and the Communist party led by Mao Tse Tung. Japan, being a small island nation, saw great potential in China’s vast abundance of natural resources. With a divided government and a weak military force, China was an easy target with valuable payoffs. When in July, 1937, Japanese troops reported taking fire from Chinese military at the Marco Polo Bridge outside Beijing, Japan had a scapegoat to begin a complete invasion of China. Japan’s first move in the conflict had
Enraged by a neverending guerilla force of Chinese peasants, the Japanese military committed widespread atrocities that rival even those of the Nazi’s. “Condemning tens of millions of Chinese to high levels of deprivation and hunger throughout the conflict… current estimates of between 15 and 20 million dead… at the least, more than 90 million Chinese became refugees in their own country” (Overy). Perhaps the most famous event during this massacre is the Rape of Nanking. Over a course of six weeks, Japanese soldiers conducted unspeakable acts against the Chinese people, including the brutal torture and murder of Chinese POW’s, and rape and murder of civilian families, children and elderly alike (The Rape of Nanking). Estimates for the casualties in Nanking alone climb as high as 300,000 civilian deaths, and the rape of up to 80,000 women (Sino Japanese War). The brutalities committed during this war had an incomprehensible effect on the lives of the Chinese population, and its lasting impact can never be