Question

what was most surprising about the outbreak of the chinese civil war? chiang kai - shek switched sides to launch an attack on the communist party. the communist party leaders once had declared their opposition to war. the nationalist party and the communist party formerly were aligned. the nationalist party had much to lose and little to gain in a civil war.

Explanation:

The two parties had formed an alliance (the First United Front) to fight warlords and foreign imperial forces before the civil war broke out. Their prior alignment made the sudden outbreak of open conflict between them the most surprising element, as they had been allies against common enemies.

Answer:

The Nationalist Party and the Communist Party formerly were aligned.