A deadly blow to Japan's economy

A protracted war in China eventually led to the collapse of Japan's economy. Eyeing a quick victory and then developing the occupied regions into a strategic base for its broad aggression in Asia, Japan launched an aggressive and dirty war against China in 1937. But firm resistance from the Chinese people, especially the powerful guerrilla force of the Communist Party of China, behind the enemy lines, crushed the Japanese aggressors' evil ambitions. By disrupting the Japanese aggressors' military supplies during the war, the guerrilla force undermined Japan's economy.

In 1937, Japan's direct military expenditure accounted for 17.6 percent of its national revenues, but the proportion increased to 34.9 percent in 1941. The huge military expenditure seriously affected Japan's production and made life difficult for the Japanese people by lengthening their working days. The protracted war in China, because of the courageous resistance of the Chinese people, also created differences in Japanese political circles and led to fast Cabinet transitions. The Chinese people's war of resistance dealt a serious blow to Japan's confidence and shook its military morale. A weakened economy along with turbulent politics owing to Japan's failure to achieve an expected victory over China contributed to the collapse of Japanese fascism.

Chen Shu is a researcher with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee