Unforgotten Front: China was the main battlefield against Japanese fascism

Between 1931 and 1941, 80 to 94 percent of Japanese forces were tied down in China. Even after the outbreak of the Pacific War, 50 to 69 percent of Japan's army remained in China (1941-1943), and before Japan's surrender in 1945, over 1.86 million troops – more than half of its overseas combat forces – were still engaged on Chinese soil.

The data poster below presents a data-driven perspective on the Chinese battlefield during World War II, highlighting the critical role China played in the defeat of Japanese militarism and uncovering the scale of sacrifice and contribution often overlooked in global narratives.

Throughout the war, Chinese forces killed, wounded or captured over 1.5 million Japanese soldiers, accounting for more than 70 percent of Japan's total military losses.