Abstract
Exploring the construction and maintenance of Nationalist Chinese soldiers' graves overseas, this article sheds light on post-World War II commemorative politics. After having fought for the Allies against Japanese aggression in the China-Burma-India Theater, the Chinese expeditionary troops sporadically received posthumous care from Chinese veterans and diaspora groups. In the Southeast Asia Theater, the Chinese soldiers imprisoned in the Japanese-run camps in Rabaul were denied burial in the Allied war cemetery and recognition as military heroes. Analyzing archival documents from China, Taiwan, Britain, Australia, and the United States, I demonstrate how the afterlife of Chinese servicemen under foreign sovereignties mattered in the making of the modern Chinese state and its international status.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 52-99 |
| Number of pages | 48 |
| Journal | Journal of Chinese Military History |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Burma
- China
- commemoration
- India
- military cemetery
- Papua New Guinea
- war dead
- World War II
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- History
Cite this
Bones of Contention : China's World War II Military Graves in India, Burma, and Papua New Guinea. / Vu, Linh.
In: Journal of Chinese Military History, Vol. 8, No. 1, 01.01.2019, p. 52-99.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Bones of Contention
T2 - China's World War II Military Graves in India, Burma, and Papua New Guinea
AU - Vu, Linh
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Exploring the construction and maintenance of Nationalist Chinese soldiers' graves overseas, this article sheds light on post-World War II commemorative politics. After having fought for the Allies against Japanese aggression in the China-Burma-India Theater, the Chinese expeditionary troops sporadically received posthumous care from Chinese veterans and diaspora groups. In the Southeast Asia Theater, the Chinese soldiers imprisoned in the Japanese-run camps in Rabaul were denied burial in the Allied war cemetery and recognition as military heroes. Analyzing archival documents from China, Taiwan, Britain, Australia, and the United States, I demonstrate how the afterlife of Chinese servicemen under foreign sovereignties mattered in the making of the modern Chinese state and its international status.
AB - Exploring the construction and maintenance of Nationalist Chinese soldiers' graves overseas, this article sheds light on post-World War II commemorative politics. After having fought for the Allies against Japanese aggression in the China-Burma-India Theater, the Chinese expeditionary troops sporadically received posthumous care from Chinese veterans and diaspora groups. In the Southeast Asia Theater, the Chinese soldiers imprisoned in the Japanese-run camps in Rabaul were denied burial in the Allied war cemetery and recognition as military heroes. Analyzing archival documents from China, Taiwan, Britain, Australia, and the United States, I demonstrate how the afterlife of Chinese servicemen under foreign sovereignties mattered in the making of the modern Chinese state and its international status.
KW - Burma
KW - China
KW - commemoration
KW - India
KW - military cemetery
KW - Papua New Guinea
KW - war dead
KW - World War II
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85066792941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1163/22127453-12341339
DO - 10.1163/22127453-12341339
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85066792941
VL - 8
SP - 52
EP - 99
JO - Journal of Chinese Military History
JF - Journal of Chinese Military History
SN - 2212-7445
IS - 1
ER -