On National Defense
by Jiang Baili
About This Novel
"On National Defense" is a collection of Jiang Baili's military essays, first published by Shanghai Ta Kung Pao in 1937. The first article, "National Defense Economics," emphasizes the establishment of a national defense system that can both feed and fight wars based on China's economic strength. The second part, "Recent World Defense Trends," introduces Douhet's air supremacy thought and Ludendorff's total war thought. The third article, "Historically Explaining the Basic Principles of Defense Economics," strongly advocates the national defense principle of "consistency between living conditions and combat conditions." The fourth chapter, "On National Defense Twenty Years Ago," introduces political and military strategy, the relationship between national power, force and military strength, as well as the contents of the compulsory military conscription system. The fifth article, "On National Defense Fifteen Years Ago," explains the significance of disarmament, military and civilian defense, and a detailed explanation of the compulsory militia system. The sixth chapter, "The Forefather of Chinese National Defense Theory" explains the modern national defense theory by explaining "Sun Tzu·Ji Pian". The seventh article, "The Origin of Modern Culture and the Establishment of a New Outlook on Life," is an essay about the author's trip to Rome. In "On National Defense", Jiang Baili's main arguments are: first, trade space for time, "Whether you win or lose, just don't make peace with it"; second, don't be afraid of being swallowed up, only afraid of cannibalization, and resist the war in an all-out way; third, start a war in Shanghai, use the geographical conditions to weaken the Japanese offensive, prevent the Japanese army from reaching the second ridge (Hunan) to form a confrontation, and form a long-term battlefield. His conclusion was: The resistance against Japan must be based on the people and fight a protracted war.
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