Archive · 5 Sep 2025
China's Wartime History: Conflicting Views Emerge
China is celebrating the end of WWII, but there's a lot of disagreement about what happened.
China says it was the main country that fought against Japan, but Taiwan, which used to be the government of China during the war, disagrees.
Taiwan says they did most of the fighting, and the current Chinese government wasn't the one in charge back then.
The United States also helped, giving the Chinese forces training and supplies.
Japan has apologized for what it did during the war, but some people aren't happy with how they've apologized.
It's all a bit complicated, and people have very different ideas about who did what and why.
China commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
China views itself as the primary force in defeating Japan and has lost 35 million people.
Taiwan disagrees with China's narrative and says it was the main force against Japan.
The United States provided military aid and training.
Japan has offered apologies for WWII actions, but some have criticized them.
- Who
- China, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States
- What
- Disputes surrounding China's wartime history, particularly the defeat of Japan in WWII.
- When
- 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
- Where
- China and Taiwan
- Why
- Disagreement over China's role, Japan's responsibility, and other nations' contributions to the war's end.
China
Taiwan
Who defeated Japan?
China
China was the main force in the struggle against Japan.
Taiwan
Taiwan, then the Republic of China, was the main force against Japan, not the current Chinese government.
Role of the Communist Forces
China
Communist forces were the backbone of the fighting in China.
Taiwan
The communist forces only used the war to strengthen their own forces.
- Conflict Start
- 1931 (Japanese invasion of Manchuria)
- China's Casualties
- 35 million
- Event
- 80th Anniversary of WWII End
- Taiwan's Role
- Fought against Japan during WWII under Republic of China
- US Involvement
- Provided military aid and training; flew 'the Hump'