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Why did Chiang Kai-shek order Chinese forces in Manchuria not to resist the Japanese invasion?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map of eastern Asia highlighting Manchuria in northeastern China, which includes the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The highlighted area borders Russia, Mongolia, and North Korea.
Manchuria The historical region of Manchuria shown with the boundaries of the modern-day Chinese provinces in its place as well as the portion of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region that is often considered part of Manchuria.

Following the Mukden Incident in 1931, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the commander of Chinese forces in Manchuria, Zhang Xueliang, to adopt a policy of nonresistance and withdrawal.1

Chiang’s decision was driven by several strategic factors:

  • Internal Consolidation: Chiang was primarily focused on establishing his control over the rest of China and prioritizing his extermination campaigns against Chinese communist forces.123
  • Military Preparedness: The Nationalist government in Nanjing believed it was ill-equipped to mount a full-scale war against Japan at that time, and its support base was considered weak.4
  • Diplomatic Reliance: Chiang announced that he would rely on the League of Nations to investigate the situation and determine the outcome of the case, rather than engaging in immediate military conflict.1

This policy of nonresistance allowed Japanese forces to occupy all of Manchuria within five months.4