by Jenny Chan

Tianjin, located in northern China, lies along the Bohai Sea's western coast and at the Grand Canal's north end, near the confluence of the Haihe River and several other major waterways. It is approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of Beijing, making it a key gateway to the Chinese capital. Tianjin has historically been a critical strategic location due to its proximity to Beijing and its role as a major port and transportation hub. Tianjin served as the primary access point to Beijing from the sea, making it invaluable for foreign powers seeking to project power, enforce demands, and protect their diplomatic legations in Beijing during periods of unrest, such as the Boxer Rebellion. As a treaty port opened after the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858, Tianjin became a vital center of commerce, facilitating the import of foreign goods and the export of Chinese products like silk and tea. Its location at the terminus of the Grand Canal further linked maritime trade with inland transportation networks, solidifying its importance in controlling the movement of goods and people across northern China. Positioned at the convergence of several rivers, Tianjin also became a key point for riverine trade and military movements, especially during conflicts.[1] By the late 19th century, Tianjin emerged as a critical railway hub, with the Beijing-Tianjin railway enhancing its connectivity and strategic value by providing rapid transportation between the port and the capital. Militarily, control over Tianjin allowed foreign powers to secure their foothold in northern China and launch campaigns, as seen during the Boxer Rebellion and the Japanese invasion in 1937. The city's fortifications and its role as a gateway to Beijing made it a highly contested and strategically significant location throughout modern Chinese history. This series will explore foreigners' struggles to obtain Tianjin through military campaigns, diplomatic maneuvers, and economic exploitation.

by Jenny Chan

by Jenny Chan

by Jenny Chan 

by Jenny Chan

by Jenny Chan

by Rafi Yahya

by Jenny Chan

​By the end of World War 2, after Japan surrendered, Kishi Nobusuke was arrested by Allied forces as a Class A war crimes suspect and detained in the Sugamo Prison for three years. However, he was never formally charged, tried, or convicted. He was released from custody in 1948 as political priorities shifted during the Cold War in the United States. In the years following his release, Kishi was prohibited from participating in political activity until 1952. Despite his wartime record, Kishi later reemerged as a significant political figure in postwar Japan, eventually becoming prime minister in 1957.[Central Intelligence Agency]

by Justin Sewall 

From 1941 to 1945, over 10,000 Canadians served in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two. Their fight began on December 8, 1941, in the defense of Hong Kong and continued until Japan surrendered unconditionally in the summer of 1945. Canadian ground forces in the Pacific theatre of operations often served under the command of British and American forces and fought primarily in the Battle of Hong Kong and the Aleutian Campaign of August 1943. ​

by Emma Jacobs

Japan bombed China’s wartime capital Chongqing 203 times, destroying approximately 17,500 homes, injuring 14,100 residents, and killing 11,889 persons between February 1938 to August 1943  (Lan 111). Most casualties were civilians, and downtown incurred the most damage, which left citizens with psychological wounds and the city with generations-long construction issues. Although the Chongqing Bombing garnered patriotism and international support during the Second World War, Japan’s persistent attacks on families in China caused far-reaching grief and economic wreckage. ​