A Study Of Chen Cheng’s Thoughts And Activities About Anti-Japanese War

Chen Cheng, one of the major generals in China’s War of Resistance against Japan(1937-1945), underwent changes in his thoughts of Anti-Japanese War. Born in a declining landlord family, Chen was greatly influenced by traditional Chinese value that man must be loyal to sovereign and devoted to his country. His later experience in the Baoding Military Academy contributed to his strategic thought of military and his idea of patriotism. Besides, Chen revealed his loyalty to his Chiang Kai-shek because of his gratitude for Chiang. His thoughts of Anti-Japanese War show the characteristic of patriotism, persistent resistance against Japan and his loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek.After the September18Incident, Chen Cheng expressed his strong indignation and his idea of preparing for the coming war. He criticized Zhang Xueliang unsparingly for his nonresistance, rebuking that Zhang should take weighty responsibility for the loss of north-eastern China. Chen held no belief in the League of Nations which was merely a form. However, Chen had his limitations for the idea that the Anti-Japanese War ought to be led only by the Chiang’s authority.Chen Cheng came up with the military thought,"war of attrition and protracted war", that the protracted war was the best way to destroy Japan’s "blitzkrieg strategy" which meant to swallow China instantly. He put Japan into war of years that was stuck in the mire of war. Meanwhile, Chen proposed the idea of nation-wide resistance, that is to say,"mobilize the masses and the young". With the growing of the Communist Party, Chen began to convert to conservative. He repeatedly reasserted Chiang’s leadership and became reserved towards the nationwide resistance. Wary of the Communist Party, Chen Cheng opposed any activities that destroy the Anti-Japanese National United Front, and fought firmly against desertion to enemy.Chen Cheng put his Anti-Japanese thoughts into practice when he was in charge of Hubei province. He put forward many economic policies for the sake of the people’s livelihood, including "increase of production","physical requisition","barter trade" and "voucher allocation". Chen carried out agrarian reform to promote grain production and implemented the policy of Controlled Economy as to guarantee the supply of the army and people. As for education, Chen managed to offer free education to nurture reserved talents for "the Anti-Japanese and the national founding". Those measures were welcomed by the various circles of Hubei province. There is no doubt that Chen Cheng’s loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek and his animosity against the Communist Party made some of his decision and policy go astray as well.