The Army of the Republic of China, now in its seventh year of fighting the Japanese invaders,

was on its last legs.

But it was still tying down 80% of the Japanese army.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music Episode 438, A Bill of Goods.

A few episodes back, I told you that in early 1944, Chang Kai Sheck, leader of the government

and commander of the military of the Republic of China, warned U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt that Chinese intelligence was

picking up signs that the Japanese intended to begin a major offensive against China in 1944.

I also told you that U.S. and British intelligence agencies dismissed Chang's warning.

In their view, Japan's position in the Pacific,

where it was defending against the United States, and in Burma, where it was defending against

British, Indian, and Commonwealth forces were both getting weaker. Western intelligence

thought it was far more likely the Japanese would be drawing down their forces in China to reinforce Burma and the Western Pacific.

They also didn't trust Chang. Chang was known to be miffed that Roosevelt had broken his promise to send military aid to the Chinese army

and his promise that the US and Britain would execute an amphibious landing in Burma

and reopen the Burma Road,

the route the Western Allies would need to ship large quantities of aid to Chang's forces.

It wasn't only that China desperately needed this promised assistance that now would not be coming.

Chang perceived in these broken promises clear signs of a shift in priorities by the Americans and the British in the Pacific Theater,

a shift that downplayed the importance of China, and threatened Chang's position as a member of the Big Four and a peer of Roosevelt, Churchill,

and Stalin. It seemed the only interest the Americans had in China these days was to use the country

as a base for their shiny new B-29 bombers. And the Western allies were well aware of Chang's views. If Chang was unhappy about their

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