When asked if Wang Jingwei underwent an ideological transformation, urging that China resist after the Marco Polo Bridge incident and later electing to negotiate peace with the Japanese, Professor Chiu responded by pointing out that: (1) the domestic attitude in China towards Japan prior to the Second Sino-Japanese war was overwhelmingly anti-war; and (2) China did not declare war on Japan until 1941.

Professor Hsu added that Wang Jingwei’s foreign policy ("negotiation in resistance") remained consistent. He also pointed out that Kang Youwei was viewed as a radical until after the Xinhai Revolution, when he became more conservative. Did Kang Youwei change? No. The person did not change, the times did. Wang Jingwei might have made small adjustments; but in fact, his core thinking had remained unchanged throughout.

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