What caused fighting between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists to resume after World War II?

Following the end of World War II, the resumption of fighting between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists was driven by a competitive race for territory and power, despite initial efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement.12

Key factors contributing to the breakdown of peace included:

• Territorial Disputes: As Japan’s surrender became imminent, both sides sought to occupy strategic areas and seize Japanese arms. The Communists moved into Manchuria to consolidate control over its heavy industry and resources, while the Nationalists, aided by the United States, worked to occupy major eastern cities and reestablish government authority.2
• Failure of Negotiations: Although leaders Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong reached an agreement in principle in October 1945, they remained deeply divided over the composition of a new government, the control of liberated territories, and the integration of Communist forces into a national military.13
• Internal Opposition: Implementation of peace agreements was undermined by conservatives within the Kuomintang who feared losing political control, and by military leaders who resisted reducing their troop numbers.3
• Escalation in Manchuria: The withdrawal of Soviet occupation troops in early 1946 triggered a scramble for control, leading to renewed military clashes that effectively collapsed the cease-fire agreements brokered by the Marshall Mission.14