The question of when China’s War of Resistance Against Japan began has long been debated. On the mainland, the narrative emphasizes 1931 and the “Mukden Incident” (September 18th Incident) as the starting point, while the Kuomintang (KMT) maintains that the war began in 1937 with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. This divergence is not just about historical accuracy—it reflects different political priorities and narrative strategies.
1. Why Two Different Starting Points?
- Mainland narrative (1931): By marking the Mukden Incident as the beginning, the war is framed as a prolonged 14-year struggle. This highlights the continuous resistance of local forces, guerrilla fighters, and the Communist-led Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.
- KMT narrative (1937): The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marks the point at which the KMT formally engaged in large-scale, frontal warfare against Japan. By choosing this date, the KMT is able to portray itself as the primary leader in China’s national resistance.
2. Why Did the KMT Downplay 1931?
In reality, when Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, the KMT government under Chiang Kai-shek chose a policy of “first pacify internal troubles before resisting external aggression.” Zhang Xueliang, then responsible for defending the Northeast, was ordered to withdraw rather than resist. The result was the rapid fall of Manchuria to Japanese control.
To avoid this embarrassment, later KMT narratives often downplayed or omitted this chapter of history.
3. Who Gets Overlooked in the 1937 Narrative?
- The Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, which fought bravely under extremely difficult conditions, receives far less recognition in KMT accounts.
- Communist-led resistance forces and the anti-Japanese united front are often marginalized in narratives that only focus on the KMT’s role on the “main battlefield.”
4. Political Motivations Behind the Narratives
- KMT’s version: By emphasizing 1937, the KMT consolidates wartime achievements under its banner and avoids responsibility for the loss of Manchuria.
- Mainland version: By emphasizing 1931, the narrative stresses a “14-year War of Resistance” that highlights the perseverance of all Chinese people, especially Communist-led resistance forces, and presents a more complete picture of national struggle.
5. Why It Matters Today
The way history is narrated shapes collective memory. A student who learns the war began in 1931 will see the conflict as a longer, more painful struggle, while one taught that it began in 1937 may place more credit on the KMT’s formal battles. These competing narratives reveal the close relationship between history, politics, and identity.
Ultimately, both 1931 and 1937 represent critical turning points. To fully understand the War of Resistance, it is necessary to examine both, and to reflect on how historical memory is shaped—not just by events themselves, but by the choices of those who write about them.
