The Second Sino-Japanese War

The Second Sino-Japanese War (SJW) was historically started by Japan under pretense of the Marco Polo bridge incident on the 7th of July 1937, which led to 8 years of war in China until Japan's capitulation on September 9th, 1945. In Hearts of Iron 4, the SJW is represented by a number of mechanics designed to allow for the slow paced warfare that historically took place. This is a feature of the 喚醒勇虎Waking the Tiger DLC. To start the SJW, due to Japan's reluctance to justify war goals under Emperor Hirohito, Japan needs to take the Marco Polo Bridge Incident national focus. Alternatively, Japan can wait until 全球緊張度world tension hits the 75% mark to justify a war goal or until any Chinese faction nation takes the Pick a Fight With Japan or Provoke Japan national focus and starts a war. In the latter two cases, Japan will bypass the Marco Polo Bridge Incident national focus and enter the conflict without the according debuffs.

National Spirits in the SJW

Japan - Marco Polo Bridge Incident

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident icon
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident
中華民國的國旗 中華民國, 中共的國旗 中共, 晉系的國旗 晉系, 西北三馬的國旗 西北三馬, 滇系的國旗 滇系, 桂系的國旗 桂系 and 新疆的國旗 新疆:
  • Attack Bonus against Country: -50.0%
  • Defense Bonus against Country: -25.0%
Japan is poor in resources, but our neighbours are not. We must take from them what we lack, and only require an excuse to begin doing so. Such an excuse could be provided by a few enterprising soldiers, after which the Emperor will have no choice but to assent to a war, no matter how ill-prepared…

This Japanese national focus serves to debuff Japan's army in the beginning of the SJW. The debuffs can be undone in five steps by repeatedly taking the escalate the war in China decision. Taking the Secure China focus removes the Marco Polo debuffs entirely and allows the Ichi Go decision to be taken.


Nationalist China and Warlords - Army Corruption

Army Corruption icon
Army Corruption
  • Division Attack: −50%
  • Division Defense: −50%
  • Mobilization speed: −30%
Our armed force are rife with corruption and nepotism. If we want to turn them into a potent fighting force, we will have to engage in a lengthy and expensive program of army reform.

The Chinese starting national spirit gives the chinese factions in the SJW debuffs similar, but worse than the Japanese. It can be removed by taking the Army reform decisions.

Japanese Decisions

Escalate the War in China

Escalate the war in China icon
Escalate the war in China
Change national spirit Marco Polo Bridge Incident:

The decision to Escalate the war in China costs 25政治點數 and can be repeated every 30 days. After 5 times, the effects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident national spirit are gone.

一號作戰

一號作戰 icon
一號作戰
美利堅合眾國的國旗 美利堅合眾國 gain +10% base War Support

中華民國的國旗 中華民國, 中共的國旗 中共, 晉系的國旗 晉系, 西北三馬的國旗 西北三馬, 滇系的國旗 滇系, 桂系的國旗 桂系 and 新疆的國旗 新疆:

  • Attack Bonus against Country: +20.0%
  • Defense Bonus against Country: +5.0%
  • Activate Mission: Conquer China
戰爭眼見就要宣告終結。我們可以打出最後一擊來迅速解決這場紛爭。然而,要是我們在下一年內還不能取得勝利的話,那隨着社會輿論對戰爭的影響不斷加深,我們可能會面臨來自內部的穩定問題……

The Ichi Go decision gives a buff to Japanese forces vs Chinese factions for the 365 days duration of the Conquer China mission, which on succesful completion gives +5% 穩定度 and +10% 戰爭支持度, or the reverse effects if failed. The mission is accomplished by capitulating 中華民國的國旗 中華民國. It costs 50 政治點數 PP to take it.

Nationalist China and Warlords Decisions

Army Reform

Army Reform icon
Army Reform
  • Change national spirit Army Corruption:
  • 陸軍經驗 Army Experience Cost: 100
  • Division Attack: +16,7%
  • Division Defense: +16,7%
  • Mobilization Speed: +10%

The decision requires the Army Reform national focus, takes 90 days to complete and costs 100 army XP. Taking it three times removes the army related debuffs for China.

Scorched Earth Tactics

Scorched Earth Tactics icon
Scorched Earth Tactics
  • Damage the 基礎設施 Infrastructure of any states adjacent to occupied states by 3 levels at the cost of 25 政治點數 Political Power
  • Re-enactable once every 30 days
In a struggle for national survival, nothing is unthinkable and every option must be considered.

Industrial Evacuations

Industrial Evacuations icon
Industrial Evacuations
A modern war is won in the factories. An army without guns is nothing but a group of people with silly hats.

Border Clashes

During the SJW, China, Chinese warlord factions and Communist China may engage in Decision category border conflicts.pngBorder Clashes against each other.