Yan Guangchen: Anti-Japanese and Patriotic Propaganda in American Overseas Chinese Periodicals During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression
After the September 18th Incident, vast territories in Northeast and North China fell into enemy hands, and the Chinese nation faced an unprecedented crisis. Japan’s acts of aggression incited the entire nation to rise in resistance; an anti-Japanese national united front gradually formed, within which overseas Chinese played an indispensable role. Students and overseas Chinese living in North and South America held their motherland close to their hearts. Utilizing the conditions afforded by their residence abroad, they established newspapers and periodicals in multiple languages to actively disseminate information, mobilize public opinion, and donate supplies. They played a vital role in mobilizing and inspiring overseas Chinese communities, resonating with public opinion in their host countries, and shaping international pro-justice anti-fascist forces.
Anti-Japanese Patriotic Propaganda in United States Overseas Chinese Publications
The organizers of overseas Chinese publications in the United States can be categorized into Chinese students residing in the U.S., long-term Chinese-American residents, and Chinese cultural figures who traveled to the U.S. to launch publications. The Chinese Students' Monthly was an English-language periodical for students sponsored by the Chinese Students' Alliance in North America. Founded in 1905, its mission was to report on important movements in China and publish articles for discussion and sharp commentary. As Japan’s ambitions for the invasion of China expanded and its aggressive activities unfolded, the journal reported on the Japanese army’s atrocities and anti-Japanese movements both at home and abroad, becoming an important platform for students to conduct anti-Japanese propaganda. For instance, the November 1928 issue published "Disputes between Japan and China," which explicitly pointed out Japan’s ambitions for invading China. Li Xiaomin wrote "Japan's Continuous Occupation of Shandong and the Failure of Sino-Japanese Negotiations," directly identifying Japan’s wanton occupation of North China. An article in March 1929, "Japan and China's 'Manchuria' Issue," denounced Japan’s acts of aggression as flagrant violations of international law. In November 1930, it reported on the "Uprising in Taiwan," focusing on anti-Japanese activities in the Taiwan region and exposing Japan’s "stigmatization" of the uprising. The Chinese Students' Monthly ceased publication in June 1931.
In November 1935, the Chinese Digest (华美月刊) was founded in San Francisco, California, by Thomas W. Chinn (陈参盛), a second-generation overseas Chinese. Published in English, it targeted 75,000 overseas Chinese in the U.S., particularly English-speaking second- and third-generation Chinese born in America. Its focus remained on the Chinese culture of their ancestral home and the dynamics of Japan's invasion. In 1936, the Japanese army increased its troops in North China and continuously manufactured incidents to seek excuses for an all-out invasion. In an editorial note on April 17, editors James McClure Henry and Chou Souyu (周苏瑜), under the title "China Urgently Needs an Air Force!", introduced the de facto state of war between China and Japan and actively reported to overseas Chinese in the U.S. on the Nationalist Government's preparations for armed resistance. The publication established a column titled "The Truth Lies in Our Battle," striving to report specific information on the invasion. It also excerpted special articles from mainstream American newspapers like The New York Times that exposed Japan’s aggressive ambitions and supported the resistance of the Chinese military and civilians. For example, on September 11, 1936, it reprinted "The New York Times on China’s Reconstruction Work," actively introducing news commentary from influential American media to boost the morale of the overseas community. Furthermore, the Chinese Digest reported news of American labor unions boycotting Japan and published updates on the "China War Relief Fund" initiated by groups like the American Red Cross, providing a rare perspective on international aid for the War of Resistance. Published in English, the Chinese Digest adapted to the common language of mainstream American society, achieving a broader reach.
Free World (自由世界) magazine was founded in New York in 1942, published by the Free World Association [1]. Published in Chinese and targeting the overseas Chinese community in the U.S., its goal was to rouse overseas Chinese to support the anti-fascist struggle and actively expand the forces of freedom threatened by Japanese imperialism and fascist powers. It did not merely report on anti-aggression movements but aimed to "improve the cultural level of overseas compatriots" and actively "introduce and analyze international trends." The specific content was managed by the New York branch of the Chinese Editorial Committee of the Free World Association, whose members included prominent figures such as Li Shizhen, Lin Yutang, and Chang Ching-kiang. The publication primarily featured the speeches and activities of major anti-fascist figures from the Allied powers, "aggregating the essence of remarks by world-renowned scholars" with the aim of "building a base for the fighting spirit." For instance, the "Universal Review" section of Volume 1, Issue 2, called upon compatriots to "Donate! Donate! Donate!" Due to Sino-American cooperation in the resistance, overseas Chinese were urged to seize the opportunity to organize groups for investigation, share-recruitment, investment, and business in the U.S., while the embassy was to assist overseas Chinese organizations in their work to promote the development of their enterprises. Free World also published anti-fascist activities conducted by Chinese students in France, seeking to resonate with anti-Japanese public opinion in Europe and America. Publication continued until 1943.
The Chinese Times and Anti-Japanese Propaganda of Overseas Chinese in Canada
The overseas Chinese community in Canada took shape at the end of the 19th century. Influenced by the gold rush and the construction of the Pacific Railway, Chinese laborers migrated to Canada, and the community began to take size. The Chinese Times (大汉公报) was the most influential Chinese newspaper in Canada, published for local overseas Chinese and serving as a vital window for understanding their motherland. Founded in 1905 in Vancouver, it was acquired in 1909 by the Canadian Chee Kung Tong [2] as its official organ, until it ceased publication in 1992. The Chinese Times consistently cared for national construction and the fate of the Chinese nation. After Japan proposed the "Twenty-One Demands" aimed at subjugating China, The Chinese Times published articles attacking Japan's China policy. The article "On Japan's Deliberate and Grand Ambition" exposed Japan’s ambition to occupy China under the guise of protecting peace in East Asia. The paper reported the views of insightful overseas Chinese on national salvation, promoting the ideas that "unifying the people's hearts and promoting the people's spirit is the key to salvation" and "complete weaponry is the means of salvation." The Chinese Times stimulated the patriotic enthusiasm and sense of unity among overseas Chinese in Canada; patriotic groups emerged one after another, and overseas Chinese took practical actions to boycott Japanese goods and promote Chinese products.
After the September 18th Incident, The Chinese Times published the remarks of Zhang Xueliang, who had personally experienced the events, exposing to the public Japan’s conspiracy of fabricating facts and making unreasonable provocations. Regarding the situation of continuous civil war in China and the Nationalist Government's passive resistance, the paper appealed: "to turn the tide and wash away national humiliation, we must eliminate civil war, unite as one, and engage in long-term resistance against Japan." After the July 7th Incident [3], the paper created special columns for war dispatches, analyzing the situation of the resistance and publicizing the victories of the Chinese army to boost morale. The publication mobilized Canadian Chinese to establish fund-raising institutions, actively donate money and goods, and subscribe to national bonds, while encouraging compatriots with talents in aviation, medicine, and mechanics to return to China to assist in the war effort. The Chinese Times also offered advice on how to achieve victory, such as the article "Developing Enemy Work on Multiple Fronts," which provided in-depth discussion from the perspectives of the behind-the-enemy lines battlefield, tactical choices, and diplomatic propaganda. As the organ of the Canadian Hongmen Chee Kung Tong, the paper used the "Hongmen spirit" to inspire overseas Chinese. The article "From the Hongmen Revolution to Long-term Resistance and Final Victory" emphasized: "Set the determination that 'it is either the Japanese invaders or us.' Remain steadfast until the end. We shall not stop until final victory is sworn and achieved," publicizing confidence in persisting in a long-term war of resistance. This became a unique banner of The Chinese Times in its anti-Japanese propaganda.
Anti-Japanese Propaganda in Overseas Chinese Publications in Peru, South America
The origins of overseas Chinese in Peru date back to the period following the Opium War, when 100,000 Chinese laborers traveled to Peru to engage in the large-scale development of guano and rubber industries. By the early 20th century, they had taken root and formed a sizeable society. Peru’s La Voz de la Colonia China (公言报) was founded in 1910, originally named Xinghua Bao. Its mission was to reflect the voices and demands of overseas Chinese, defend their interests through discourse, and promote national prosperity. As Japan’s invasion deepened, the paper paid increasing attention to the situation of the home villages and the nation. In 1934, Zhou Jianchao from Hong Kong became the editor-in-chief. The publication actively reported news of the resistance and contacted scattered compatriots to participate in fund-raising. After the Lugou Bridge Incident [3] in 1937, it published numerous domestic updates and organized donations. According to the commemorative special issue The Central Chinese Benevolent Association of Peru and the Peruvian Chinese, some overseas Chinese in Peru organized a clothing collection committee to directly support frontline soldiers. During the war, La Voz de la Colonia China called on the broad masses of Chinese in Peru to "contribute money if you have money, and labor if you have labor," playing a major role in anti-Japanese propaganda and effectively supporting the Chinese people's War of Resistance. Its propaganda had a positive impact; He Lianxiang, who once participated in street performances for donations, later took up editorial work at the paper, continuing to contribute to friendship between China and Peru. Comrade Zhou Enlai once wrote an inscription for the patriotic fundraising feat of the Peruvian Chinese: "Six thousand compatriots from ten thousand miles away raised a total of two million Peruvian Soles in debt-donations; they are models for overseas compatriots and the glory of the War of Resistance."
Another publication in the Peruvian Chinese community at the time was Revista Oriental (东方月报), founded by Chen Hanrong. Its mission was to facilitate communication between Chinese societies in Peru and throughout Latin America and their motherland. Published in both Chinese and Spanish, with illustrations and text, it was issued regularly and recorded major events in Peru, China, and the world—"making a particularly significant contribution to disseminating traditional Chinese culture." After the outbreak of the war, Chen Hanrong, as editor-in-chief, traveled extensively and made loud appeals to arouse the patriotic fervor of the Chinese in Peru to join the struggle to protect the nation. Later, the anti-Japanese articles published also served to mobilize the patriotism of the overseas Chinese in Peru.
In summary, overseas Chinese publications are important media founded by Chinese migrants within their residential communities. They constitute a non-negligible extension of China's external communication. Due to their inherent spontaneity and strong adaptability, they have become an important expansion of China's international communication soft power. The historical context of national salvation and the special circumstances of rescuing the nation from crisis stimulated the patriotic sentiments of overseas Chinese groups. Utilizing these newspaper platforms and multiple linguistic media including Chinese, English, and Spanish, the American overseas Chinese communities exposed Japan’s ambitions, called for donations, and promoted the patriotic spirit, composing an "American chapter" of the great cause of national survival pursued by the sons and daughters of China at home and abroad during the War of Resistance.