History: Japanese Expansion

Paper 1: Move To Global War

Origin of Japanese Nationalism

• Believed they were on a ‘special mission’

• Had long history of independence

• Most Japanese people shared common culture/history

• Only non-European country to win war against a European state (1904-5 Russo-Japanese War)

• Believed in its destiny to lead the Asian sphere and become an imperial power

• Discrimination at hands of Western Powers. (i.e. Paris Peace Conference)

Origin of Japanese Militarism

• Determination to transform Japan into a western-styled military power and achieve their ‘special mission’

• Need for raw materials

Impact of Militarism on Foreign Policy

WW1 and Paris Peace Conference

• Britain used Japan to chinese German colonies in China. Thus, Japan wanted to showcase Japan’s strength on Global stage

• This was seen with the capture of the Shandong Peninsula

When was Meiji Restoration established

1868

What were the impacts of the Meiji Restoration

• Reform based on Western models

• Development of a Constitution and with the Emperor as Commander-in-Chief of the military(established parliament known as the Diet)

• Economic Reforms pushing for industrialization

• Education Reforms

• Military Reforms

What did Diet consist of?

1. House of Representatives elected by those with suffrage

2. House of Peers, who were appointed

How did Japanese Nationalism impact education

• The curriculum emphasized loyalty and to value the Emperor, his divinity, and Japan’s uniqueness in the world and history

• Helped the growth of ultranationalism AKA radical nationalism. The curriculum only included all things Japanese and emphasized its superiority

• Military-type training was introduced in 1920s, strengthening the appeal of the military throughout Japan.

• Children were indoctrinated to kill and die for thier country in order to achieve its special mission

Impact of Japanese Militarism: What led to the First Sino-Japanese War 1894-5

• Japan’s interference in Korea

  • Japan-Korea Treaty(1876) made Korea no longer a tributary of China, Korea asked China for help and Japan saw this as a violation to the treaty so Japan occupied Korea

• Japan’s use of assassinations in Korea

• China’s banning of Japanese imported goods

Impact of Meiji Restoration on Foreign Policy

• Gave military most of the power to control the government. Military is seen as face of Japanese nationalism and people were funding it

• Vetoed anything that went against japanese interests. If u didn’t support the military, u don’t support Japan

Result of 1st Sino Japanese war(1894-95)

• Japan’s MORE modern military pushed Chinese troops out of Korea

• Port Arthur and port Weihaiwei seized by Japan

• islands near Taiwan were captured

Treaty of Shimonoseki

• Agreed to in April 1895

• Treaty between China and Japan

• Favoured Japan by giving it:

  • Taiwan and Liaodong Peninsula

  • Permission to operate ships on Yangtze River

  • the right to have factories and import goods at Chinese ports

  • A large indemnity paid by China

Tripartite Intervention

• Organized by Russia, Germany, and France as they denounced the treaty of Shimonoseki and demanded its alteration

• Resulted in:

  • Russia took control of Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur

  • Germany took control of Shantung Peninsula and port of Waihaiwei

  • Japan ruling Taiwan

What was the Anglo-Japanese Alliance

• Britain and Japan became allies in 1902

• It reassured Japan that a war with Russia would not expand into a wider war with other countries

• Japan could now provoke Russia with greater confidence of victory

What led to Russo-Japanese War

• Occurred between 1904-5

• Japan was provoked because Russia:

  • Leased Port Arthur and parts of Liaodong Peninsula from China

  • Stationed warships in Port Arthur and fortified defences

  • Began construction of railway linking Port Arthur to Russia through Manchuria

  • Pressured Korea for mining and forestry rights

  • Stationed a large army in Manchuria as protection from the Boxer Rebellion

What was the Boxer Rebellion

• Anti-foreign, anti-Christian revolt in China that was eventually joined by government soldiers with support from the Qing Dynasty

Russo-Japanese War

• Occurred from 1904-1905

Treaty of Portsmouth

• Signed by Japan and Russia in September 1905

• Required all troops to leave Manchuria and return it to Chinese control

• Permitted Japan to lease the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur from China

• Granted Japan the right to lease the Southern Manchurian Railway, built by Russia

• Gave Japan southern half of Sakhalin Island

• Recognized Japan’s claim on Korea

Impact of Japanese Militarism: Treaty of Portsmouth

• Japan gained international respect

• Gained control of Korea in return for allowing USA to control Philippines

• British Recognition of Japan’s right to control Korea

• Extension of Anglo-Japanese alliance

Foreign policy goals of Japan’s military

Foreign policy goals of Japan’s military and civilian government did not align

• Maintain its strength and expand its size

• protect Japan’s territorial interest from foreign powers

• Amass more territory under Japanese control

Foreign policy goals of Japan’s civilian government

• Economic pressures could result from enlargening the military

• maintaining good economic relations with USA and European powers and not provoke them

Shidehara Diplomacy

It allowed the military to expand and reassured foreign powers

Economic Issues: Impact of Zaibatsu

• Zaibatsu were huge corporations/monopolies owned by wealthy families

• Great Depression allowed them to get larger while smaller businesses failed

• Gained political power in the Diet, allowing them to shape economic policies

• Also became allies of Japanese military

Economic Issues: Social stress

• By 1920, Japan’s economy suffered causing widespread unemployment

• Prosperity was short-lived as bank failures collapsed the economy in 1927, leading to massive unemployment

Economic Issues: Great Depression

• Began in 1929

• Trade barriers on foreign imports devastated Japan’s economy as it relied on export to USA

• Japan’s Gross National Product (GNP fell by 20%)

• Tokyo stock market lost value

• Exports decreased

• Small and medium sized businesses closed

• Unemployment rose

Political Issues

• Military has direct access to the Emperor

• The cabinet was solely responsible to the Emperor

• Policies required unanimous approval by ministers to be enacted

• House of Rep. controlled taxes, budgets, and funding

• House of Peers contained former ministers who acted independently

Therefore, increased number of political parties added even more demands making compromise even harder

Showa Restoration

• Conservative movement called for full power to be given to Showa Emperor (Hirohito)

• Believed that it would eliminate problems of government

Political Instability in China: Warlord Era

• Between 1918 and 1928, regional warlord controlled China and fought each for for more power/territory

• Zhang Zuolin, warlord in Manchuria, became the most powerful. He gained support from Japan’s Kwantung Army because he permitted Japan to develop economic interest in Manchuria

• They assassinated him because his autonomy and army became a threat

Attraction of Manchuria for Japan

• Possessed many resources Japan lacked

• Provided access to China’s huge market

• Was sparsely populated

• Seen as a place where Japan’s poor, landless farmers could settle

• It could be a buffer against rising communist threat since Manchuria shared borders with Soviet Union

• Act as deterrent to Soviet intervention in the region

• Remove future conflict between Japan and Soviet Union far from home islands of Japan

Events: Mukden Incident

• Occurred September 18, 1931

• Bomb damaged South Manchurian Railway close to Japanese military garrison

• Japan blamed Chinese troops

• Historians believed it was the Kwantung Army who planted the bomb

• Kwantung Army now had an excuse to invade Manchuria

Events: Manchurian Crisis

• Occurred 1931

• Caused by Mukden Incident

• Japan claimed it acted to help Manchuria gain its independence from China

• Establishment of new State called Manchukuo, “Land of the Manchurians” in Japanese

• It was seen as Japan’s puppet state so Manchukuo’s independence wasn’t recognized globally

• Last Emperor of China, Puyi, was proclaimed the new emperor of Manchukuo

Responses to Manchurian Crisis: League of Nation(L.O.N.)

• China appealed Japan’s occupation of Manchuria to L.O.N.

• So Lytton Committee was formed and they acknowledged that Japan had major investments in Manchuria

• So in Feb. 1933, L.O.N. voted to condemn Japan as an aggressor nation

• Thus, Japan withdrew from L.O.N. without consequences

Responses to Manchurian Crisis: China

• Manchurian Crisis caused political change in China

• May 31, 1933: China and Japan sign Tanggu Truce that resulted in:

  • Recognition that Japan controlled ALL of Manchuria

  • China promising not to try to remove Japan from Manchuria

  • Establishment of neutral zone between Japanese and Chinese territory

• Chiang did not resist Japan because

  • Japanese army was stronger

  • He was more worried about threats to his rule in China by CCP

Responses to Manchurian Crisis: USA

• After WW1, USA entered period of semi-isolation

• Maintained its interest in Open Door Policy towards China

• Formulated the Stimson Doctrine and refused to recognize new borders created by Japan’s victory in Manchuria

Responses to Manchurian Crisis: Soviet Union

• Couldn’t oppose Japan’s action in Manchuria due to economic and social upheaval and famine caused by collectivization

• Soviet Union sold its Chinese Eastern Railway (CER) to Manchukuo in a deal negotiated by Japan

Political Developments in China: Second United Front

• in Dec. 1936, former Manchurian warlord, Zhang Xueliang arrested Chiang and pressured him to negotiate with CCP to create a united anti-Japan front

• Negotiation resulted in new alliance between KMT and CCP known as 2nd United Front

Events: Marco Polo Bridge Incident

• Chinese and Japanese fought brief battle at Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing in July 1937

• Japan occupied Beijing, forcing Chiang’s troops south

• Chiang retaliated by bombing a Japanese area of Shanghai

• Both countries were now at war

Events: 2nd Sino-Japanese War

• Caused by Marco Polo Bridge Incident

• Japan prioritized capturing Shanghai. Their better trained and equipped troops along with superior air and naval forces forced the Chinese to evacuate Shanghai in Oct. 1937

• Japan also overpowered Chinese forces in Nanjing and captured it. So, Chiang had to relocate China’s government to Wuhan

• Nanjing Massacre:

  • Prince Asaka, head of Central China Army, AKA Hirohito’s nephew, and an ultranationalist ordered execution of all Chinese prisoners

  • Japanese troops killed prisoners, looted property, raped women and Children

Impact of 2nd Sino-Japanese War on Japan

• Japan was not prepared for it and thought it would be over in 3 months

• Military disagreement on its mission priority: Soviet Union’s threat to industrial Manchukuo or subjugation of China

• Needs of Japanese troops in China impacted Japan’s economic and politics

• Japan’s military influenced economic policy, controlled the government, and banned all political parties

Responses to 2nd Sino-Japanese War: L.O.N.

• L.O.N. and its members were more concerned with tensions in European affairs and anti-communist beliefs (except Soviet Union ofc)

• The league referred the matter to the Nine-Power Treaty, whose declarations were ignored

• L.O.N. remained uninterested and uninvolved in China

Responses to 2nd Sino-Japanese War: Soviet Union

• Mostly pleased with affairs in Manchuria and China

• Chiang Kai-Shek ended battle with CCP

• Spending military and economic resources in fighting China reduced likelihood of Japan attacking Soviet Union

• Soviets twice provoked military conflicts against Japan and defeated the Japanese.

• Japan ceded the territory to Soviet Union along Soviet-Manchukuo border.

Responses to 2nd Sino-Japanese War: USA

• Just wanted to preserve Open Door Policy

• Did not want to antagonize Japan into preventing American trade in Asia or moving against the Philippines (US colony)

• USA prohibited shipping war supplies to China and Japan, which Japan did not need but China did

• USA continued to export metals and oil to Japan

• USA lent $25 million to China

Responses to 2nd Sino-Japanese War: Germany

• Supported Chiang’s anti-communist government

• Allied with Japan in the Anti-Comintern Pact, an agreement signed 1936 to fight efforts to spread communism by the Communist International.

• However, Germany signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact, which violated the Anti Comintern Pact causing Japan’s government to fall. New government of Japan worked to improve relations though.

• Tripartite Pact created a formal alliance between Germany, Japan, and Italy

Responses to 2nd Sino-Japanese War: China

• Chiang developed strategy to force the Japanese to commit more and more resources until they were too exhausted to defeat Chinese forces

• Chiang still prioritized consolidating his power over China instead of fighting Japan and corruption dominated his government

• June 1938, to stop Japanese advance, Chiang ordered destruction of dykes on Yangtze River causing a flood that killed almost 1 million Chinese people

Political Developments in China: Collapse of Second United Front

• CCP used Chaing’s failures and corruption to portray him as concerned only with his own power and wealth not the security of China and its people

• in 1941, KMT destroyed CCP’s New 4th Army leading to official end of the 2nd United Front

Increasing Tensions between US and Japan: French Indochina

• After France was defeated by Germany, Vichy Government gave Japan permission to occupy northern region of French colonies

• So USA prohibited sale of scrap iron and steel to Japan, which hurt Japan

• USA also

  • Froze all Japanese assets in USA and its territories

  • Placed embargo on the sale of oil to Japan

  • Granted China $240 million for military purchases

• Oil embargo caused Japan to stop its war with China and instead seize Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) for more supply of oil

Why did Japan want to attack Pearl Harbour

• The goal was to destroy the US Pacific Fleet at the US naval base at Pearl Harbour

• The elimination of the fleet would hopefully cause US government not to fight Japan

• If US did not fight, it would take time to recover, allowing Japan to establish control of oil reserved in Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)

• USA supported Soviet Union in its war against Germany. Japan also wanted Soviet Union to be defeated, ending it as a threat to Japan’s position in Asia.

Increasing Tensions between US and Japan: Hull Note

• On Nov. 26, 1941, US Secretary of State: Cordell Hull, in the Hull Note, demanded that Japan:

• - Remove all troops from French Indochina and China

• End participation in Tripartite Pact

• Renounce the Republic of China, its puppet government

• 2 weeks later, Japan attacked US and British forces throughout Pacific Ocean region

Consequence of the Tripartite Pact of 1940

• Pact between Japan, Germany, and Italy

• United States slowly moved away from being a neutral country to a country preparing for war.

• The United States embargoed scrap metal shipments to Japan and closed the Panama Canal to Japanese shipping.

• In early 1941, Japan moved into southern Indochina threatening British interests there.

• Japan and the US took part in negotiations throughout 1941 and Japan considered withdrawal from most of China and Indochina and modifying the Three Power Pact.

• However, these proposals were rejected by War Minister Tojo.

• Responding to continuing Japanese aggression in China, the US froze Japanese assets in the US in July 1941, and on 1 August placed an embargo on oil and gasoline exports to Japan.

• Japan desperately needed raw materials of oil, rubber and tin and was not receiving sufficient supplies from the Dutch East Indies. In August 1941 Konoe proposed a summit with President Roosevelt to discuss the situation.

• However, Japanese military leaders such as Tojo again maintained that time had run out and that additional negotiations would be pointless.

• They urged swift military action against all American and European territories in Southeast Asia and Hawaii.

• In November, Japan offered to withdraw their forces from southern Indochina and not to launch any attacks in Southeast Asia if aid to China were to stop and if US sanctions against Japan were lifted.

• The Hull Note proposed instead that Japan should leave China and sign non-aggression pacts with Pacific powers.

• Japan had already prepared war plans to attack Pearl Harbor and, as a consequence of the failure of negotiations, attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

Events: Attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941

• Occurred Dec. 7, 1941

• Ultranationalists in Japan’s army and government wanted expansion of Japan’s empire in the Pacific

• This provoked USA and led to start of WW2

• Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) launched large aerial assault and US navy suffered damage:

  • -4 battleships sunk, 4 others were damaged

  • sinking or damaging of 8 other ships, including 3 cruisers

  • 188 aircraft were destroyed,

  • more than 2400 killed and 1200 injured

  • Japan attacked Philippines, island of Guam, US airbase at Wake Island

• USA declared war on Japan the next day

Events: Attack on British Territories by Japan

• Japan invaded Malaya (Malaysia) on 8 Dec. as well as British air and naval forces

• Hong Kong, Britain’s colony

• British territory of Burma (Myanmar)

• Japan and Thailand allied after invasion of Burma