China's War with Japan, 1937-1945

Summary

China's War with Japan examines the often-overlooked Second Sino-Japanese War, which merged into World War II. Rana Mitter reveals how China's eight-year resistance against Japanese invasion was crucial to the Allied victory, yet remains underappreciated in Western historical narratives. The book explores the political complexities between the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek and the Communist forces, the devastating human cost of the conflict, and how this brutal war shaped modern China. Mitter draws on Chinese and Western sources to present a comprehensive account of this transformative period that fundamentally altered China's trajectory and its role in global affairs.