Final answer:
The escalation of tensions in North China in July 1937 led to the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War; pinyin and Wade-Giles are systems for transcribing Chinese names, with pinyin being the standard in China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tensions in North China that escalated in July 1937 marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. These events were part of a larger conflict that stemmed from Japanese expansionist policies in Asia, exacerbated by incidents such as these near military exercises that led to full-scale warfare. When discussing historical Chinese figures or events, the transcription of Chinese names can vary.
The pinyin system is an internationally recognized method of transcribing Chinese characters into the Latin alphabet and is the standard used by the People's Republic of China. Some textbooks, however, may use the Wade-Giles system, which is an older method of transcription.
An example given is that of Chiang Kai-shek, a historical figure whose name is often presented in the Wade-Giles form, as opposed to 'Jiang Jieshi' which is how it would be written in pinyin.