New Books Network Jennifer Yip, "Grains of Conflict: The Struggle for Food in China’s Total War, 1937-1945" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Nov 15, 2025
Jennifer Yip, a historian at the National University of Singapore, delves into her research on wartime logistics in her book about China’s total war. She explains the vital role of food in the Sino-Japanese war, highlighting how grain became a central strategic asset. Yip discusses the transformation of total war concepts within an agrarian context, and the logistical systems that linked food production to military efforts. Her insights reveal the devastating consequences for civilians and the complex dynamics of grain as both necessity and target in the conflict.
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Agrarian Total War Reframes 'Totality'
- China waged a distinct, agrarian form of total war that relied on mobilizing people and land rather than industrial capacity.
- This recalibrated total war shows totality need not equate to modernization or industrialization.
Yangtze As Lifeline, Not Just A Barrier
- The Yangtze functioned primarily as a life-giving conduit for moving grain from productive regions to frontline consumers.
- Its militarization and civilian mobilization made it central to sustaining armies throughout the war.
1941 Pivot: Tax In Kind And Centralization
- The 1940–41 pivot centralized land tax and shifted collections to in-kind grain under a new Ministry of Grain.
- This move aimed to curb inflation and directly supply soldiers, making granaries strategic infrastructure.
