Who signed Japan’s Instrument of Surrender for China in Tokyo Bay in 1945?

Hsu Yung-chang signed Japan’s Instrument of Surrender for China in Tokyo Bay in 1945.

Hsu, a Chinese general, represented the Republic of China at the ceremony aboard USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. He signed after Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, the United States representative, and before Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser of the United Kingdom.

China had been fighting Japan since the Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937, years before the wider European conflict became World War II. Chinese forces and civilians had endured a long war against Japanese occupation and military operations across much of East Asia.

Hsu is sometimes identified with variant romanizations, including Xu Yung-chang or Xu Yongchang. The spelling “Hsu Yung-chang” appears in many English-language historical accounts of the surrender ceremony. He should not be confused with Chiang Kai-shek, China’s wartime leader, who did not travel to Tokyo Bay to sign the document.