Both sides’ views contained elements of self-deception: the British and Americans wished to give the impression that China was a serious ally without actually putting much effort into the relationship, while Chiang overestimated what he was worth to the Western Allies. But Chiang’s view was hardly irrational. The US knew that if China fell, then the more than 600,000 Japanese troops held down there by Nationalist and Communist forces could be redeployed to the Pacific Theater.
