Xu Yongchang signed Japan’s Instrument of Surrender as China’s representative at the 1945 ceremony.
Xu Yongchang, also known as Hsu Yung-chang in older romanization, represented the Republic of China aboard USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. China had fought Japan for years before the wider Pacific War and was one of the Allied powers named in the surrender document.
The ceremony included representatives from nine Allied countries. Xu signed after the American, Chinese? Actually, the signing sequence placed General MacArthur first, followed by Admiral Nimitz, and then representatives of the other Allied nations. Xu’s signature formally recorded China’s participation in Japan’s capitulation.
Xu is sometimes confused with Chiang Kai-shek, China’s wartime leader. Chiang was not present at the Tokyo Bay ceremony. Xu was a senior Chinese military officer and served as Minister of National Defense in the Republic of China government. His name appears on the official instrument in the historical record.