POLITICS AND WAR IN CHINA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1939, Page 4

POLITICS AND WAR IN CHINA.

ALTHOUGH, within the last few days there has been a renewed outburst of heavy fighting in several parts of China, and the Japanese have continued their ruthless and destructive, but largely futile bombing of Chinese cities, the total military position appears to be one of deadlock. The state of affairs ruling for months past goes far to support an opinion which has been expressed freely by impartial foreign observers that the Japanese can hardly extend theii invasion much further save at inordinate and unprofitable cost. Meantime the development of the Western provinces of China, industrially and in other respects, is being carried on with vigour. So, too, is the organisation of additional military forces, and the Chungking Government has emphatically denied rumours of peace and declared that China will insist upon the preservation of her integrity and the cessation of Japanese aggression. It is in these circumstances that the Japanese have turned once again to political manoeuvring and are sponsoring the formation of a so-called central regime, beaded by Wang Ching-wei, formerly Premier of China and vice-chairman of General Chiang Kai-shek’s Supreme National Defence Council. Although it was only reported in its present shape a few days ago, this project has been in preparation for some time. It was announced from Shanghai a couple of months ago that. Wang Ching-wei had accepted the leadership of a new Nationalist (Kuomintang) Party. Wang Ching-wei has been alternately an opponent and a supporter of Chiang Kai-shek. Both were disciples of the late Sun Yat Sen, but after his death they opposed one another in a bloodthirsty civil war in Canton—a struggle in which Chiang Kai-shek eventually gained the upper hand.. Later Wang Ching-wei made his peace with the Generalissimo and for a period held high office in the Chinese National Government. In December, 1938, however, he submitted to the Kuomintang proposals for the conclusion of peace with Japan. The immediate outcome, from his point of view, was disastrous. lie was expelled from the party, declared a traitor and compelled to seek safety in flight. Several attempts were made on his life and he threw in his lot with the Japanese. As one of the most trusted confidants of the late Sun Yat Sen, Wang Ching-wei long had a considerable following and it lias beei°suggested that if he consolidates the two provisional Japanese-dominated regimes at Peking and Nanking (in the manner now suggested) ‘‘and establishes a bona-fide government. the Chiang regime to all intents and purposes would be ‘outlawed’ in the Western hills.” According to a statement just issued by the Japanese Consul-General in Wellington, the Japanese Government perceives a trend towards the establishment of a new central government in China and in the not distant future will render positive assistance towards its establishment and will endeavour to bring about a complete settlement of “the China affair,” in conditions of “solidarity between Japan and Manchukuo ami new relations between Japan and China.” It is here clearly indicated that Japan has abated nothing of her predatory ambitions in China and now hopes, through the agency of a central puppet government headed by Wang Ching-wei, to reduce at least a considerable part of China to political and economic subservience.

Events may be expected to show, however, that Wang Ching-wei has Jost much ol: his former standing and infiuence by going over to the Japanese. It is hardly to be supposed that°he entirely lacks Chinese support, but the standing of the puppet regimes thus far established in China has been and is extremely poor. There is every indication that the puppet governments in Peking and Nanking are regarded wiih contempt by the mass of their countrymen and Japan herself has been reluctant to extend them formal diplomatic recognition. It seems rather optimistic, from the Japanese standpoint, to assume-that Wang Ching-wei, branded as a traitor, can improve upon the poor showing to date of the puppet regimes and can establish such conditions of political stability in Eastern China as will enable Japan to exploit her conquests economically. It, was reported the other day that the British Ambassador to China, Sir A. Clark Kerr, and a number of his staff, are leaving Shanghai for Chungking this week and will stay in the provisional capilid for at least two months. The move may be of considerable importance in helping to sustain the ‘jluudiiig and authority of the Chinese National Government.