An incident occurred at the Marco Polo bridge near Peiping on the 7th of July, 1937. This event triggered a series of actions that would culminate with the invasion of China by Japan. The cost in lives was measured in the hundreds of thousands. The "incident" ended with the eventual surrender of the Japanese forces in 1945.

The war medal was awarded to soldiers departing for service in China. It was issued clear until 1945. The medal was not to be awarded to soldiers who received the Great East Asia War Medal.

The construction of the medal consists of 30 mm bronze, with a swivel grip. The front of the medal depicts the "Yata-no-karasu" (mythical bird) on crossed Army and Navy flags. Complete with rays of light behind and the Chrysanthemum crest above.

The back of the medal portrays mountains, clouds and waves. The meaning behind this symbology is Northern China, Central China and the red Sea. The inscription reads "China Incident".
The "Yata-no-karasu" is a giant three legged mythical red crow which, according to legend, guided Jimmu Tenno's army through the mountains. In designing the medal, the decision was made to depict the bird with only two legs.

The ribbon is 37 mm wide, watered, with the following pattern and meaning:

1. 3 mm of blue - The sea and the Navy
2. 3 mm light blue - The sky and the Air Force
3. 7.5 mm tan - The red Chinese soil, for the Army
4. 3.5 mm dark pink - The blood staining the Chinese soil
5. 2 mm bright red - Blood and loyalty