Okamura Ninji: The strength of the Chinese forces in my eyes
Okamura Ninji (May 15, 1884 – September 2, 1966) was a war criminal of the Japanese army that invaded China, served as the supreme commander of North China and commanded a brutal sweep of the anti-Japanese bases of the Eighth Route Army. As the commander-in-chief of Japan's Chinese dispatch forces, Okamura Ninji has his own views on the strength of the Chinese army. I was reading his memoirs recently and was surprised to find that his assessment of the Chinese military was very different from ours.
In our view, the Chinese army during the War of Resistance included the outstanding Guangxi troops, Liu Xiang's Sichuan army, and the Northwest Army, who performed well in the battle and played an important role. In contrast, we believe that Chiang Kai-shek's troops did not contribute much, and they were passive in battle and avoided actual fighting. However, Okamura Ninji had a very different view, believing that neither the Gui family, the Sichuan army, the Northwest Army nor the Northeast Army together could compare with Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army. This shocked me.
Here's a quote from Okamura's memoirs, documenting his views on the Chinese military:
Reflections on March 6, 1939
Recently, Wang Jingwei, who escaped Chongqing, issued a peace statement that seems to be related to the fighting we are fighting. However, for those of us who are on the front lines, it doesn't make any difference in combat.
China's politics are still dictated by those who wield the power of force. Whether Wang Jingwei's remarks alone can lead to peace remains questionable, and may even have the opposite effect.
In the Chinese army, Chiang Kai-shek's Whampoa army occupies absolute superiority in strength, quality, equipment and unity. Even if the Northeastern, Northwestern, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong and other local troops united (although this is simply impossible), they could not compete with Chiang Kai-shek's troops.
China's military authorities were content with Wang Jingwei's departure from Chongqing and considered building a future peaceful Chinese government centered on him. However, if they use this as an excuse to oppress Chongqing, it is just a pipe dream. Trying to compromise peacefully with them is not only extremely difficult, but potentially counterproductive.
Seeing this text, I couldn't help but doubt Okamura Ninji's point of view. The Chinese army experienced many difficulties during the Anti-Japanese War, but they still persevered in fighting against the invaders and defending the territory of the motherland. Their fighting spirit and courage are impeccable.
Although we may disagree with Okamura Ninji's views, his memoirs are still valuable for understanding history. We should put these perspectives in context, combining information to treat historical events and people. After all, everyone has their own perspective and way of thinking, and this is the charm of history.
