I dont know why the focus is on industry anyways.
China is a major country in ww2, full stop. You begin the game in 1936.
China entered ww2 in 1937 and was in it until the end.
Battles of more than 100,000 troops on both sides, happened, often enough. A few times the numbers reached as high as 1,000,000, in a single battle on the Chinese side. 1,000,000 + if adding Japanese forces to the mix.
Japan attacked the allies as a direct result of its China campaign. China also sent two armies to defend British territory in Burma in 1942, and was a major part of the Burma campaign in 1944, to re-open the Burma Road.
After the war China became the only non-white member of the security council, because of its sacrifice during WW2.
China did more than France.
So if the game was called Industrial Majors of WW2: The economics Game. I would say China is not a major country to pick. However the game is called Hearts of Iron IV, and its main focus is on the world war period 1936-1945.
People are too caught up on what major means in terms of patriotism and colonial attitudes. It's not a rubber stamp that separates the strong countries from the insignificant. To me it means, the countries that had the most war happen, where they fought the most, and therefore you have the most to do. China is a candidate for major status. I mean you have to fight a losing war for 8 years, but in the end you win by outlasting Japan in a war of attrition, and because you keep fighting and never surrender, your industries keep pumping out weapons, and your government maintains control, you directly bring in foreign powers to vanquish your enemy. That's pretty fun to play that challenge, its also a country where your choices matter a whole lot, because you only have 1 and a half years to prepare your country for total war.
