Declaration of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic on Declaring War against Japan, to the Proletariat and Oppressed Nations of the World (April 15, 1932)

To the Soviet Union and the proletariat and all oppressed nations of the world! Since Japanese imperialism has used its brutal policy of aggression, occupying the Three Eastern Provinces by force and attacking Shanghai and other ports along China’s coast and rivers, the Three Eastern Provinces have now been completely colonized by Japanese imperialism, and they serve as a base for armed attack on the Soviet Union and preparation for a Pacific imperialist world war. The bandit combination of the League of Nations and the imperialist countries such as Britain, the United States, France, and Germany are plotting to carve up China and suppress all revolutionary movements under the banner of the Chinese Soviets. The main function of the peace negotiations in Shanghai and the League of Nations investigation mission lies precisely in this. The Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic hereby declares to the proletariat and all oppressed peoples of the world: In accordance with the spirit of the declaration of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviets of Workers, Peasants and Soldiers, we formally decide to declare war on Japanese imperialism, lead the Red Army and the toiling workers and peasants throughout the country in using a national revolutionary war to drive Japanese imperialism out of China, oppose all attempts and schemes of any imperialism to carve up China and attack the Chinese revolution, and strive for the complete liberation and total independence of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Kuomintang warlords and their government have long since become enemies of China’s national revolution. They are tools of imperialist rule over China. Not only will they absolutely never resist Japanese and all imperialist aggression with a national war, but, following their consistent practice of betraying the interests of the Chinese nation,

Declaration on Declaring War against Japan, to the Proletariat and Oppressed Nations of the World

they assist imperialism in implementing its policy of partitioning China, submit to imperialism, work hard to suppress the Chinese revolution and massacre anti-imperialist masses, and especially actively attack the Soviet areas and the Red Army which have already broken away from and oppose imperialist rule. Therefore, overthrowing the rule of the Kuomintang government becomes a necessary prerequisite for the smooth development of a national revolutionary war and for carrying out war against Japan.

Now, under the leadership of the Provisional Central Government of the Soviets, the Red Army and the worker and peasant masses in all Soviet areas are striving to develop the revolutionary war, first overthrowing the Kuomintang rule so as to rally the strength of the toiling workers and peasants and revolutionary soldiers throughout China to drive out the armies of Japanese imperialism and all forces ruling over China. We believe this is a war for the liberation and independence of China’s hundreds of millions of toiling workers and peasants and the entire Chinese nation, and it is also standing on the same front with you to fight against our common enemy—the rule of capitalism. We hope that you will all rise up to assist us in this arduous war, oppose the Japanese imperialist occupation of China, and demand that all imperialists get out of China. We especially hope that our Japanese worker, peasant, and soldier brothers will join with us in overthrowing the rule of Japanese imperialism in China and in Japan.

April 15, 1932