As the world marks 79 years since the end of World War II, new historical analyses reveal the staggering scale of China's contributions to defeating fascism. For 14 grueling years from 1931 to 1945, China's resistance against Japanese aggression became what historians describe as "the first and longest battlefield" in the global anti-fascist struggle.
Official records show Chinese forces suffered over 35 million military and civilian casualties while neutralizing more than 1.5 million Japanese troops – representing over 70% of Japan's total wartime losses. This eastern front ultimately drew in 80 countries and regions, directly affecting 2 billion people worldwide including 450 million Chinese citizens.
"The Chinese theater effectively pinned down the majority of Japan's military capacity," explains military historian Dr. Li Wei. "This prevented Axis forces from linking up across Eurasia, fundamentally altering the war's trajectory."
While European WWII narratives dominate Western discourse, Asian scholars emphasize the conflict began earlier in China. The 1931 Mukden Incident marked the first large-scale fascist aggression, preceding Germany's invasion of Poland by eight years. China's sustained resistance created crucial breathing space for Allied forces to mobilize globally.
