The Clash : U.S.-Japanese Relations throughout History

1. The Clash :U.S.-Japanese Relations throughout History Author :Walter Lafeber

2. scope • Main theme of the book • Supporting evidence • In the beginning • 2 Imperialism • 1900s- WWII • WWII to1990s • Comments

3. main theme • Central Thesis: • Americans and Japanese have generally seen each other as partners in most East Asian affairs, but • The Americans and Japanese have endured a series of clashes throughout their 150-year relationship • 3 Themes: • The structure of these clashes is one of the three main themes of this book. • Rivalry due to the differing forms of capitalism have been at the root of these clashes, and • Clashes have focused on which form was to lead in developing especially Chinese markets

4. in the beginning • Beating Great Britain and others, 1853 U.S Commodore Matthew Perry used a cannon to open a highly reluctant Japan during decaying Tokugawa rule for new Asia markets • Japanese view harmony or ‘wa’ over acquisition- for- ascent. ‘Wa’ held back disorder, anarchy and destruction. ‘Wa’ could be best maintained by closing Japan to the West. • Americans, believed they were born in a land free of feudal institution believe in expansionism, individualistic, acquisition-for-ascent • Western’s intrusion undermined Japanese order- pay reparation for murders of the foreigners , inflation. Otherwise threatened war. 1968 topple Shogun by his enemy and the western powers (1858 treaty for 5 ports to trade)

5. 2 imperialism • US-Japan relation never been better than 1868-1900 • Lack of contact and turned inwards to rebuild society - US Civil war & Meji restoration • Drivers : • American - driven 1) by overproduction & domestic riots caused by overproduction and deflation 2) racism and missionary impulses – opening and subjection of others • Japan- 1) fear of westerners creeping to home land to dominate Japanese trade and to 2) divert home unrest (Satsuma rebellion, new Constitution) • By 1880s both sailed towards same direction- Korea, China (esp northeast China/Manchuria), Hawaii and strategic western Pacific islands • First Clash - Clash over Hawaii –US annexation (formally in 1898) with Japanese interest and immigrants

6. 1900s - WWII ‘American believed that their ‘exceptionalism’ could be exported, Japanese saw themselves too unique to be such proselytizers thus prefer colonialism that strategy fixed markets, solved security problem and allow coloniser to adjust other cultures quietly’ • Blatant racism and subtle difference in imperialism • Japan, expansionism resembled European imperialism. By 1912, Japan sealed of Korea and much of South Manchuria through minerals and railway concessions. • US wanted to pry open these closed doors.- expansionism which disallowed colonialism on Asian mainland and pledged itself to Chinese territorial integrity ie- ‘open door policy’.

7. 1900s - WWII • Manchu collapsed in 1912, after WW1, Twenty-one demands - Japan acquire all German rights in Shantong, concession in Manchuria and Inner Mongolia, 99 lease on South Manchurian railway , Fukien province • Washington Conference 1921/22– Japan received defacto naval superiority in western pacific in return for agreeing to work with New York bankers in developing parts of China • 1930 - the dollar crashed. • ‘Zaibatsu Zaibatsu’- immense family based industrial-banking combinations that powered the economy- cooperated with the military to try break free of dependence of west – idea of total moblisation to create self-sufficient industrial economies

8. 1900s - WWII • Japan created tight block- Formosa, Korea, Manchuria and North China with Tokyo as central through ‘Zaibatsu’ led by Mitsubishi and Mitsui which benefited from imperialism • KMT reclaim South Manchuria railway-Military-control Jap govt- offensive attack at Qingdao & Shanghai- US imposed economic sanction - Co-prosperity sphere to exploit SEA’s raw materials • Wishing to achieve a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, the Japanese realized that U.S. Asiatic interests prevented Japanese control over Pacific resources. Therefore, Japan opted for a quick military strike against U.S. military forces. • 1930s Great Depression & WWII horror confirmed the US fear that their domestic order depends on the free trade policy

9. WWII - 1990s • Cold War Era - Containment of Soviet -denying Japan from Soviet & prevent the ‘domino effects’ • American’s anti-zaibatsu program was not successful. Japan’s reaped economic success through neo-mercantilistic policies. • ‘Keiretsu’ -corporate families that informally linked powerful banks and industries for control over capital for long term goals. • Prime minister Kishi's move toward a more bureaucratic and central government, and American military conflicts within Korea and Vietnam, which provided substantial trading opportunities for Japanese industry.

10. WWII - 1990s • A reinvigorated and economically prosperous Japan produced another clash due to rising American trade deficits and the failure of Japan to stay politically in step with U.S. policy towards Asia and the Middle East. • 1960s U.S trade deficit –pressured Japan to open its capital markets • Vietnam war – Japan’s selling to Chinese and Vietnamese (both North and South Vietnam) whom American opposed • 1970s Nixon rapprochement with China - race for China market • 1989-1991-Tiananmen incident -human rights issues over trading privileges? • 1990-91 Persian Gulf war- Japan refused to reverse anti-military policy and reluctantly sent financial aid

11. comments • Relevancy to cold war (our course) • The accounts of 150 years of U.S-Japan relations aid in understanding the role of Japan in Cold War – Root cause of some U.S/Japan policy during cold war ie. Legacy of imperialism goals, different visions of Asia, the thinking behind U.S-Japan security pact in alliance as a impt element in the ‘hub-and-spokes’ arrangement against Soviet. • Will History repeats itself? The rivalry between Japan's and the US's forms of capitalism and their separate economic and political relationships help to assess the future of the Far East as China rises • Slight bias against US. Not enough info on China, European and Japan’s relations with Soviet for a Slight more balance view • Highlighted US role’s in pressuring Japan into WWII, keen intend for Japan re-arming and dropping of 2nd atomic bomb in for selfish US’s gains. • Racism – ‘White vs Asian’ - American’s 1924 Exclusion Act, League of Nations ‘equality clause’ • A lot of information. Good book for those who wanted to a little of everything. Not for bedtime reading

12. author • Walter Lafeber - distinguished historian of United States Foreign Relations • The Clash: U.S.-Japanese Relations Throughout History (1997) received both the Bancroft Prize in American History and the Ellis Hawley Prize of the Organization of American Historians. • His The New Empire: An Interpretation of American Expansion, 1860-1898 (1963, 1998) received the Albert J. Beveridge Prize of the American Historical Association • Inevitable Revolutions: The United States in Central America (1984, 1992) received the Gustavus Meyers Prize • His America, Russia, and the Cold War has been one of the most highly regarded histories of that huge conflict for over 35 years and is now in its 10th revised edition.

13. questions • Will there will be WWII if Americans has not restricted Japanese’s assess to China’s and SEA market and raw materials? Would the role of Japan in Cold War and/ or the U.S.- Japan security pact be any difference? • Will History repeats itself as both countries rush into a opening China?