Authoritarian States: Japanese Expansion

1. Authoritarian States: Japanese Expansion JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC

2. JAPAN AND THE LONG TERM CAUSES OF WWII IN THE PACIFIC

3. Need for strategic security Desire for equality with the West Growth of Japanese nationalism in the 19th century Popular enthusiasm for militarism and expansionism Belief in a destiny as the leader of Asia Need for raw materials and markets

4. RELATIONS WITH THE WEST-19th C. • From 1600's Self-imposed isolation – Shogun policy • Feudal state until arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853 • American determined to negotiate with Japanese for trade and refueling stops • Japanese impressed with Perry's gun boats • Acquiesced after one year. Opened Japan to the world

5. Meiji Restoration • The ruling shoguns handed power to Japanese Emperor Meiji in 1867 • The emperor set about modernizing Japan • Limited democracy • Stripped away feudal system and rights of the ancient samurai classes

6. Meiji Restoration • Japan rapidly industrialized/expanded military • Modernized army developed/introduced conscription • Adopted German military principles and methods • Construction of a navy with British influence

7. Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) • 1894-95 defeated China • Demonstrated modernized military • Treaty of Shimonoseki • Annexed Chinese coastal territory; access to ports • Required large indemnity • Recognize Korean independence

8. Effects of War • Japan = first non-European nation considered a world power • Now considered an empire; dominated Korea • Triple Intervention • Germany, France, Russia • Took Liaodong Peninsula; later given to Russia • Foreign-policy dominated by strong military general leadership

9. Russo-Japanese War • Japanese government influenced heavily by military by the 20th century • Russo-Japanese War • Over Korean expansionism and Manchuria • 1905 Russia defeated • 1910 – Japan formally annexes Korea

10. Effects of the Russo-Japanese War • Treaty of Portsmouth • Much of S. Manchuria • Southern ½ of Sakhalin Island • Disappointed with terms • Earned respect from West • Admiration from other Asian countries • Affirmed destiny as Asia’s leader

11. JAPAN And WWI

12. JAPAN AND WWI • Opportunity for Japanese expansion • Japan saw a benefit in joining World War I on the side of the entente • Japan demanded German colonies in China – Germany refused • Japan declared war on Germany

13. Japan and WWI • Further gains in China while other powers distracted • 21 Demands issued; modified after European/U.S. criticism; soured Japan-U.S. relations • Lansing-Ishii Agreement (1917)- U.S. recognizes Japanese expansion in 1917; no further expansion • China feels betrayed by U.S.

14. Japan and WWI • Supplied goods to Allies; also supplied orders from other Asian countries • Increased exports led to short-lived prosperity • Became more self-sufficient; developed new industries ‘Nirikin’ caricature

15. Japan and Versailles • Japan attempted to increase gains during Versailles • Demanded annexation of German Pacific territories and racial equality clause • Racial clause denied • Shandong peninsula stays with Japan

16. JAPAN In the 1920s

17. Japanese Internationalism • Spearheaded by Shidehara Kijuro (foreign minister) • Development of economy: • Good relations with U.S. • Key trading partner • Economic advancement in China (following international agreement) • Became signatory for several treaties

18. Taisho Democracy • More liberal and democratic Japan • Series of reforms of Emperor Taisho • Prime minister = leader of one of the political parties that controlled the Diet • 1924- all adult males can vote • Society more open and mass media more influential • Japan part of LoN

19. Problems in the 1920s What lead Japan to a military dictatorship? • Fragile Democracy • Opposition to Internationalism/Influence of Military • Growing Economic Crisis

20. A Fragile Democracy • Financial and voting scandals eroded interest in political parties • Too many links to zaibatsu (big businesses) or landlords in countryside • Fear of left-wing radicalism • Peace Preservation Law- suppressed dissent against government • Aimed especially at Communist Party • How much freedom is allowed? • Extended franchise • Limited public right to engage in open discussion

21. Opposition to Internationalism • Conservatives in gov’t and army question internationalism • Advocated for aggressive policy in China • Immigration Act (U.S.;1924) • No set quota for Asian immigrants • Offensive to Japanese • Seen by military and conservatives as provocation by the West

22. Growing Economic Crisis • Europe reclaimed lost markets by middle of 1921 • Unemployment and strikes paralyzed docks • Divide between cities and rural areas • Farmers suppressed by police after trying to organize

23. Growing Economic Crisis • Dissatisfaction with political system • Too close to zaibatsu and landlords • Crushed left’s attempts to protest • Real crisis came with the Great Depression (1929)

24. POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN CHINA

25. Situation in China • Forcibly opened to Europe by Great Britain (Opium Wars) • Economic, military, and legal privileges • Flooding of Christian missionaries • Japan desires to “stake claim” on mainland • Solidified claim to Korea after 1st Sino-Japanese War

26. Political Instability • Chinese Revolution (1911) • Toppled Qing Dynasty; replaced with pseudo-democratic government • Country still weak and divided • Dominated by warlords; prevented national unity

27. Political Rivalry • Further instability caused by two political parties: Guomindang Nationalist Party (GMD) Communist Party of China (CCP)-1921

28. Political Rivalry • Campaign led by Nationalist Party (GMD) • Anti-Foreigner • End to unequal treaties (including Japan) • Initially supported by new Communist Party (1921) • Combined, they formed the United Front

29. Political Rivalry • Launched “Northern Expedition” • Consolidate central gov’t • Take power from warlords • Ultimately leads to civil war between political parties

30. JAPANESE EXPANSION IN SE ASIA, 1931-1941

31. JAPANESE NATIONALISM • As the military gained power, Japan became aggressive • Acquisition of Manchuria inspired nationalism among citizens • Government forced to accept conquests rather than demonstrate inability to control the military • Foreign condemnation only increased Japanese nationalism

32. Japanese Domestic Issues after 1931

33. Effects of Manchurian Crisis (China) • Manchuria = “Manchukuo” • Pu Yi (Last emperor of China) now a puppet leader of the new state • Jan. 1932- Japanese bomb city of Shanghai • Thousands of civilian casualties and refugees • Helped to turn world opinion against Japan • Chinese forces forced to withdraw after six weeks

34. Effects of Manchurian Crisis (China) • Relationship between the west and Japan deteriorated in the 1930s for the following reasons: • The west was alarmed by the bombing of Shanghai in 1932 • 1933 – Japan leaves LON • 1934 – unhappy with inferior navy compared to the United States (due to the Washington Naval Treaty)

35. Division in the military • Growing momentum behind militarist groups in government • Two key factions: • Koda-ha (Imperial Way) • Tosei-ha (Control Way) • Both factions were imperialist and wanted Japanese expansion

36. Division in the military Koda-ha Tosei-ha • Military dictatorship would deliver state socialism • USSR = main enemy • War is inevitable; Manchurian conquest first step • National “spirit” over material force • Against terrorism and use of force to remove government • Legal means to foster military power and gov’t influence • Maintain good relations with USSR • Objective: conquest in China • Requires modernization of army and industry (and nation)

37. May 15th Incident • One of three assassination plots to destabilize gov’t between 1932-1936 • Army and navy officers attacked banks, party officers and the police headquarters in Tokyo • Prime Minister Inukai shot and killed

38. May 15th Incident • Trial showed massive public support for conspirators • Disillusionment with ruling political parties • Enhanced influence of the army; further undermined the democratic gov’t • Subsequent governments = temp governments • Power struggle plays out between Koda-ha and Tosei-ha

39. Saito and Okada • Admiral Saito favored Kodo-ha faction • Took firm stance against their radical factions • Promoted member of Tosei-ha to minister of war (following an assassination plot)

40. Saito and Okada • Admiral Odaka took over (July 1934) • Kodo-ha officer assassinated Tosei-ha leader General Nagata • Sympathy for the assassin • Found guilty/executed • Young Kodo-ha officers attempt a coup (Feb 1936) • 1500 solders took over parliament and other government buildings

41. Saito and Okada • Several conspirators tried and executed (secretly) • Kodo-ha discredited • Members of Tosei-ha most important in army planning • Army would take firmer control of the country • Okada resigns after attempted coup

42. Concessions to the military • Hirota Koki = new prime minister • Immediately weak; agreed to strong foreign policy • Policies under Hirota • Ministers for military had to be serving officers • Seven-point program • Essentially handed control gov’t to military • Expanded arms production • Support army in Manchuria • Signed Anti-Comintern Pact with Hitler (1936)

43. Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1941

44. Strengthened Militarism in Government • Government controlled by General Hayashi • Diet only instrument of power left that limited power of military • Prince Konoye becomes prime minister in June 1937 • Tosei-ha faction dominant in government • Tojo Hideki became Chief of Staff of Kwantung Army • Konoye unable to stop invasion of China

45. 2ND SINO-JAPANESEWAR • May 1933 – Japan signs truce with Chinese nationalists. Peace until 1937 • Clash between Japanese and Chinese forces at the Marco Polo bridge in Beijing • Trigger for war between Japan and China in 1937 • Forces redirected from Korea (no gov’t consultation) • More troops deployed on mainland despite protests by Konoye

46. 2ND SINO-JAPANESEWAR • Beijing taken by end of July • Spread to Shanghai • Japan fighting two-front war (north and in Shanghai) • Japanese attack was brutal (more devastating air raids) • Drove inland along Yangtze • Chinese refugees flee to interior; considered by some to be the largest human exodus in history

47. Rape of Nanjing There followed in Nanjing a period of terror and destruction that must rank among the worst in the history of modern warfare. For almost seven weeks the Japanese troops, who first entered the city on December 14, unleashed on the defeated Chinese troops and on the helpless Chinese civilian population a storm of violence and cruelty that has few parallels. The female rape victims, many of whom died after repeated assaults, were estimated by foreign observers at 30,000; the fugitive soldiers killed were estimated at 30,000; murdered civilians at 12,000. Robbery, wanton destruction and arson left much of the city in ruins. -Spence, J. 1990. The Search for Modern China • Capital of China; abandoned as Japanese advanced • Japan takes the city on December 13, 1937 • Soldiers and civilians subjected to appalling atrocities

48. Results of War for Japan • Campaign called for “annihilation” of China’s nationalist regime • Underestimated Chinese nationalism and outrage • China refuses to agree terms of peace • Japan’s supply lines overstretched • Under threat of guerilla attacks • Two centers for resistance • Chongqing (Jiang Jieshi) • NW China (Mao Zedong)

49. Results of War for Japan • Nov. 1938- Japanese government declares a New Order in East Asia • Political, cultural, and economic union between Manchukuo, Japan, and China • Rejected by Jiang, who continued the war • This would eventually become the Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

50. An extract from Max Hastings. 2007. Retribution: The battle for Japan 1944-45, pages 5-6. Published by Alfred A Knopf. New York, USA Inaugurating its “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere,” Japan perceived itself merely as a latecomer to the contest for empire in which other great nations had engaged for centuries. It saw only hypocrisy and racism in the objections of Western imperial powers to its bid to match their own generous interpretations of what constituted legitimate overseas interests. Such a view was not completely baseless. Japan’s pre-war economic difficulties and pretensions to a policy of “Asia for Asians” inspired some sympathy among subject peoples of the European empires. This vanished, however, in the face of the occupiers’ behavior in China and elsewhere. Japanese pogroms of Chinese in SE Asia were designed partly to win favor with indigenous peoples, but these in turn soo found themselves suffering appallingly. The new rulers were inhibited from treating their conquests humanely, even had they wished to do so, by the fact that the purpose of seizure was to strip them of food and raw materials for the benefit of Japan’s people.