After the fall of Nanjing, the National Government of the Republic of China moved to Wuhan and continued to command the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China to fight against the Japanese Imperial Army. In view of this, on the one hand, the Great Japanese Empire supported Wang Zhaoming to form the Nanjing National Government, on the other hand, it attacked Wuhan based on the Yangtze River.

As the center of Chinese territory, Wuhan was not only the temporary residence of the National Government at that time, but also an important heavy industry (including military industry) area during the Republic of China. Land and water transportation extend in all directions, and its strategic position is very important, which is a battleground for the national government. Therefore, the Great Japanese Empire launched the Wuhan Battle, hoping to force the Wuhan National Government to make a strategic decisive battle and destroy the effective forces of the National Revolutionary Army in one fell swoop. At the same time, through the occupation of Wuhan to control the Guangdong-Han railway, it is convenient for the Army Chinese Expeditionary Force to attack Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi. On the one hand, it cut off the support materials that the allies arrived by sea through Guangdong and Guangxi, and the two joined hands with the Southeast Asian Expeditionary Force.