CHAP 5: OUTBREAK OF WWII IN ASIA-PACIFIC

• Developments in the 1930s moved Asia-Pacific closer to WWII, devastating the region.
• Developments in the 1930s decisively weakened the League of Nations and drew Asia-Pacific into war.
• Understanding Japan's relationships with China, Western Europe, and the U.S. from 1900-1930 is key to understanding how things went wrong.

Asia and the Western Powers

• From about 1700, Western European powers, including Britain, France, and the Netherlands, began colonizing Asia.
• By the mid-1800s, Britain controlled India.
• The Netherlands and France had trading posts, military bases, and colonies in Asia.
• Colonial powers and the U.S. had their eyes on China around the same period, recognizing its untapped economic potential.
• A French political cartoon from 1898 titled "China - The Cake of Kings and of Emperors" depicts figures representing Britain, Germany, Russia, France, and Japan in the foreground, with China in the background.

Growing Interest of the West in China in the 19th century

• Chinese states were often economically and technologically advanced, but by the 1800s, they were in decline due to divisions, weak rulers, and failure to modernize.
• China was defeated by Britain in the First Opium War (1839-1842) and by an Anglo-French alliance in the Second Opium War (1856-1860).
• China had to grant trading privileges and cede control over Hong Kong and the Kowloon Peninsula to Western powers.
• Western powers established trade treaties that were generally unfavorable to China, leading to rebellions, weakening the government, and making it easier for foreign powers to intervene and exploit China.

Emergence of Japan as a Rising Power

• Japan's rulers watched China's inability to defend itself and began to learn from and strengthen itself.
• Japan began a program of modernization known as the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to avoid China's fate.
• A new Meiji Constitution was introduced, providing for a limited form of democracy with the Emperor still dominant.
• Japan's industries rapidly expanded, transforming it into an important power in Asia by the early 1900s.
• Japan fought and won wars against China (1894-1895) and Russia (1904-1905) with its newly acquired military might.
• It annexed Korea and controlled areas of Manchuria.
• Japan developed a close alliance guarding British territories during WWI.
• In the 1920s Japan was well respected, as a full member of the League of Nations and part of the disarmament process after WWI.
• In 1921, Japan signed the Washington Naval Treaty with Britain, France, and the U.S., promising to reduce warship building, but was required to reduce its naval strength more which was seen as unfair.
• Japan signed trade deals with the US and Britain and expanded trade with Asia.

Japan's Ambitions

• Japan wanted to be seen as equal with the Western powers that had empires.
• A fierce and aggressive form of nationalism (ultranationalism) was promoted within Japan.
• Japan was ruled by powerful ideas like the Emperor being a god and a sacred duty to obey him.
• These ideas were promoted by the Meiji Constitution and the state system of education.
• Public opinion supported the conquest of Korea in 1910 and the idea of Japan expanding its empire.
• These beliefs were driven by the natural limitations that Japan faced.
• Most of Japan is mountainous, with little farmland to feed its growing population.
• Japan depended on importing raw materials from China and food for its growing population in the 1920s.
• Many ultranationalists argued Japan had to expand to get access to raw materials.
• The majority of Japanese approved of an imperialist policy toward China, but disagreed on implementation.
• Moderates favored peaceful means of enlarging Japanese interests: investment, opening markets, and cooperation.
• Expansionists/militarists were prepared to go to war to suppress Chinese nationalism, resistance, and drive out Western powers.

Divide between Civilian Politicians and Military Leaders

• Civilian politicians preferred advancing interests peacefully and were in control in the early to mid 1920's using trade rather than conquest.
• Civilian politicians cut the military's budget.
• Some argued that other countries could not be trusted and a war with the West was inevitable - Japan needed the resources of a big empire to fight this war.

Japan's Expansionist Foreign Policy

• Developments in politics, economy, and relations with the West gave Japan greater impetus to expand overseas.

Rise of Japanese Militarism

• Tensions between civilian politicians and military leaders worsened as ultranationalist military commanders gained prominence.
• This was due to Japan's military victories in the early 1900s.
• Military service was considered an honor, and it was Japan's destiny to expand its rule over Asia.
• These beliefs became popular, especially after the annexation of Manchuria.
• Civilian politicians lost trust, and by 1936 the military was running Japan.

Japan and the Western Powers

• Japan used its education system and media to encourage nationalist pride.
• Ultranationalism involved wariness towards foreigners, especially colonial powers.
• Britain, Russia, and the U.S. were seen as rivals and obstacles.
• The United States had abandoned Japan with economic policies in the 1930s.

The USSR

• The USSR was seen as a big threat because Communism teaches that societies should not be run by emperors and kings, but by the people.
• The USSR's border with Japan's empire in Manchuria was a major cause for concern.
• In 1936, Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact to oppose communism and control territories in Asia.

Relations between Japan and Britain

• They cooperated for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-1923) to prevent the USSR from advancing.
• The relationship was deteriorated by the 1930's during Britain criticized Japan over the invasion of Manchuria.
• Since Britain had colonies throughout Asia. Japan viewed it as a rival power.

The Great Depression and Japan's Search for Self-Sufficiency

• In 1929 the Wall Street Crash happened and led to the Great Depression.
• This damaged Japan's economy which had major political implications.
• The Depression increased pressure on civilian politicians and convinced ultranationalist politicians and military commanders that democracy was failing.
• In 1936 showed Japan's dependence on imports from other countries: iron ore (89%), oil (82%), iron/steel (72%), machinery (46%).
• The US introduced a range of tariffs in the 1930s to protect its economy.
• These taxes made Japanese goods more expensive in the US.
• Actions by US to impose tariffs on Japanese goods convinced the ultranationalists that other countries could not be relied upon.
• Japan needed to be self-sufficient.

The Manchurian Crisis and the Response of the League of Nations

• Japan began to see building an empire as a means to protect its economy due to domestic politics, relations with the West, and economic problems.
• China's territory in Manchuria was the obvious place
• By 1931, the idea that influence and control should be extended over Manchuria had influence even Japan's then Foreign Minister.
• Manchuria was rich in raw materials.
• Ishiwara Kanji, a colonel in the Kwantung Army, believed Japan should rule Manchuria.
• At that point in time, China was ruled by the Chinese Nationalist Party which was locked in with the Chinese Communist Part

Instability in China

• Instability in Chine seemed to provide opportunity for Japan to expand and annex.
• This could be used an an excuse to claim Japan was trying to stabilize the region.

Conquest of Manchuria

• Ishiwara's forces blew up part of a railway track at Mukden in September 1931 and blamed it on the Chinese government.
• Japan used this as an excuse to take over Manchuria.
• By December they controlled most of the region.
• In February 1932, they set up a puppet government in Manchuria or Manchukuo.
• Japan bombed Shanghai later in 1932.
• Civilian government ordered army to withdraw but was ignored signalling that the army, not the government, was assuming control of Japanese foreign policy.
• In October 1931, the League's Council passed a resolution calling on Japan to withdraw its troops.
• The Japanese claimed they were not invading China, but acting in self-defense to keep peace.

Response of the League of Nations

• The League's economic sanctions were powerless without the support of the U.S.
• Britain did not sanction Japan as it seemed more interested in maintaining a good relationship.
• The League could not ban arms sales to Japan because they were worried Japan would retaliate.
• Britain and France would not risk their navies or armies, only the U.S. and the USSR would have had the resources.

Consequences of the Manchurian Crisis

• the Manchurian Crisis tarnished the prestige of the League and undermined the confidence of League officials to tackle future crises.
• the Manchurian Crisis encouraged Japan to further expand into Asia because Manchuria's location placed it in a strong position for expansion.
• Japan had access to raw materials and resources available in Manchuria to its growing industries.
• The Manchurian Crisis revelation a major change in Japan's policy, in the relationship between Japan and the Western powers, and in the international structure.
• The annexation was popular causing increasing prominence/influence of ultranationalists/military which resulted in the weakening of democratic politics.

Japanese Aggression Towards China

• Death of GMD founder Sun Yat-sen escalated the conflict between the GMD and the CCP causing great instability.
• In 1933 Japanese troops took control of Jehol province, from China's treaty known as the Tanggu Truce
• In 1936 the Japanese moved into Chahar province establishing control by 1937.
• July 1937 The Marco Polo Bridge Incident at Wanping near Beijing exploded into open war regarded by the Second Sino-Japanese War 1937-1945.
• Japan took Nanjing in December 1937 at a terrible cost in civilian lives then in October 1938
• the Japanese captured Wuhan and the coastal region of Guangdong province
• The war turned bloody and the Chinese were unable to completely defeat the Chinese forces.

The Impact of World War II in Europe on Asia-Pacific

• War broke out in Europe in September 1939.
• USSR became less of a threat which allowed Japan to take over the colonies in Asia.
• By 1941 Japan had had the colonies of the Western powers including control of French Indochina (Vietnam Laos Cambodia).

US Economic War on Japan

• In 1937 Invasion of China prompted US to the Japanese growing ambitions and keep its expansion in check.
• Then sanctions deemed ineffective Japan occupied French Indochina.
• Then embargo was placed on raw materials/Oil cutting of almost 90 per cent of Japan's oil supplies to Modern army Airforce and Navy rendering ships planes and tanks useless without fuel.
• Japan withdraw troops from China, promise not to threaten any territories belonging to the US or allies.

Japan's Dilemma over the United States

• US demands were unacceptable allowing Japan to be bullied/The alternative was a conflict With Resources which were estimated to be six times greater than Japan's.

Japan's Response

• The first stage was to develop Japan's empire in the hope of rivalling their economic strength
• Aimed primarily at the people in the various Asian territories that Japan controlled.
• The emphasis was on the goal of ridding Asia of the influence of the United States and other Western powers.
• Which would lead this campaign which campaign to drive foreigners out of Asia protect rule fairly.
• The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was a programme for massive resources to to prepare was Japanese territory include the production coal iron aluminium cotton liquid fuel.

The Attack on Pearl Harbor

• With the increased output of Manchuria, Korea and all its other territories, Japan could not challenge the power of the United States outright.
• The Tripartite Pact: an ally signing of agreement between Germany, Italy and Japan
• Yamamoto Isoroku devised a preemptive strike against the United States
• On 7 December 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on triggering World War 2 in Asia Pacific.

Conclusion

President Roosevelt called attack: December 7, 1941 "a date which (would) live in infamy." Severely crippled strength which continued expansion rest By 1942 include. Indonesia, Malaya, Singapore and the Philippines after after Congress war recovered rallied war defeat. Historians often think about the factors and turning points and of their significance of the events that led to WW2 and the Pacific

• The Great Depression
• US Protectionism
• Increasing influence of ultranationalist politicians military leaders. Annexation of Inner Mongolia
• The Outbreak of war in US sanctions against Japan
• The attack on Pearl Harbor.

Explore factors driving Japanese militarism: perceived communist threats, economic depression, and expansionist ideologies. Analyze the significance of the Anti-Comintern Pact and territorial ambitions in shaping Japan's foreign policy during the early 20th century.