The Conundrum of Italian Fascism in China – From Arms Dealers to Pro-Tokyo Supporters

A new book Reto Hoffman’s The Fascist Effect: Japan and Italy, 1915-1952, raises some points about Italy’s involvement in China between the wars I’ve often pondered.

For a long time Mussolini opposed Japan’s claims in China as part of his policy on East Asia – this was essentially self-serving rather than anything to do with the illegality of Japan’s occupation of Manchuria. This was also because, in no small part, Italy did very well selling arms and war machinery to Chiang Kai-shek. These sales annoyed Tokyo no end who, of course, wanted to see China cut out of the international arms market and keep her armies poorly equipped. Italy had been involved in equipping China for some time – back when Count Galeazzo Ciano was Italy’s Consul in China (1930-1933) and a celebrity (and legendary skirt chaser) on the city’s social circuit with his wife Edda, Mussolini’s daughter. Ciano also built relations with Zhang Xueliang (The Young Marshal), the Manchurian warlord. However, when Japan invaded China in August 1937 the Italians switched to supporting Tokyo and the axis in the east was firmly established.

Ciano