Japan Expansionism

Washington Conference (The Five Power Naval Treaty)

The 1921-22 Washington Conference naval treaties forced on Japan an unfavorable battleship ratio of 5:5:3 for the US, Britain and Japan respectively.

London Conference

The Western powers at the London Naval Conference of 1930 coerced Japan to accept the same 5:5:3 ratio for its heavy cruisers.

Why was Japan initially interested in Manchuria?

• (early 1900s) With regards to their security concerns, Japan realized early on they needed control over the Liaotung Peninsula in southern Manchuria to ensure to defense of Korea. (Japan's control over Korea was an essential element in their protection for geographical reasons. Korea bordered Russia and China.) • Japan was also very economically interested in Manchuria • When Japan and Russia clashed with regards to their interests in Korea and Manchuria, Japan went to war with a surprise attack against the Russians in 1904. (Start of the Russo-Japanese War)

First Sino-Japanese War

• 1894-1895: The Sino-Japanese War broke out on August 1st 1894 and ended with the Treaty of Shimonoseki on April 17, 1895. (between China and Japan) • Although Japan captured the Liaotung Peninsula and Formosa (Taiwan) in the Sino-Japanese War, the Triple Intervention in 1895 forced Japan to give up their position on the Liatung Peninsula. • Winning the Sino-Japanese War positioned Japan as a powerful world power with an empire • The effects of the Sino-Japanese War on Japanese militarism and nationalism included: • Triple Intervention: France, Britain and and Russia were concerned with Japan's growing power and forced them to give up Liatung. • Russia then took Liatung for itself • France and Britain took advantage of a weak China and seized port cities to expand their spheres of influence. • The military success at the Sino-Japanese War, the gaining of land and also the frustration of getting land taken away encouraged the growth of nationalism and militarism in Japan. •Industrial production soared as Japan became less dependent on imports •Huge amounts of money were spent on the army and navy. •A patriotic society, the Amur River Society, was established to promote the idea of Japanese expansion.

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

• 1902: The Anglo-Japanese Alliance (Britain and Japan) • Alliance states that if one were attacked, they would help the other • Japan thought things were changing for the better

Russo-Japanese War

• 1904-1905: The Russo-Japanese War broke out in 1904. It ended in 1905 with the Treaty of Portsmouth. • In 1905, Japan became the first Asian country to defeat a Western power. Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. • Gained pride and land • Started when Japan launched a surprise naval attack on Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China • Japan ended up winning a series of decisive victories because Russia underestimated their military power • Russian troops were defeated in Shen Yang and this was important geographically because Japan could now expand their influence throughout China • In August 1905, U.S. president Roosevelt mediated a peace treaty in Portsmouth NH. This formally ended the war, confirmed Japan's power in East-Asia and forced Russia to abandon their expansionist policies in China. • The Japanese people were upset because they knew they were at war but they didn't know how overextended they were. (they were on the verge of collapse) • Japan got Korea and most of South Manchuria

Peace Preservation Law

• 1925: A series of Peace Preservations Laws were passed to contain political opposition to the Meiji Oligarchy. • Comparable to the Sabotage and Sedition Act in America.

Triple Intervention

• April 23rd 1895 - Triple Intervention: After the Sino-Japanese War, France, Britain and and Russia were concerned with Japan's growing power and forced them to give up their position on the Liatung Peninsula. • Re-guaranteering China's sovereignty

Effects of WWI on Japan

• As a result of the Treaty of Versailles, Japan gains former German Pacific Islands and Germany's economic privileges on the Shan Dong Peninsula • Japan is established as an important economic power on the Asian mainland. However, Japan did not get the Racial Equality Clause.

What were the results for China regarding the Manchurian Crisis?

• By the beginning of 1931, Manchuria was solely under Japanese forces. • The Japanese government, in Manchuria, set up an independent government under the puppet rule of Pu Yi (the last emperor of China) and called the new state "Manchukuo." • In January, 1932, fighting had also broken out between Japanese and Chinese forces in Shanghai. • The city was bombed by the Japanese • The bombing intensified Chinese outrage and helped turn world opinions against Japan. • Four divisions of Japanese troops landed to assist the navy stationed in Shanghai. • After 6 weeks, Chinese forces were forced to withdraw.

What was China's response to the Japanese attack on Manchuria?

• China's response to the Japanese attack on Manchuria was the call upon the League of Nations. • Jiang Jieshi, the leader of the Nationalist Party, was now focused on defeating the Chinese Communists and did not want to get involved in another conflict. • He realized that he was unlikely to gain any support for China from Western Powers but nevertheless tried • He also did not directly negotiate with the Japanese government. This was unlikely to benefit the Chinese position • The Chinese people responded with rage at the Japanese actions. • There was a boycott of Japanese products • This, however, did little to stop Japan's actions Jiang Jieshi was more concerned with dealing with Communism in China than dealing with Japan. Thus, Japan continued to gain more land and power in China. • Japanese control over Manchuria was accepted in 1933 with the Treaty of Tanggu • Jiang further agreed to Japan seizing parts of inner Mongolia and in June, 1935, agreed to remove all troops from the Hebei province • Jiang believed that Japan would ultimately exhaust itself with gaining land in China because China was so massive. ("selling space to buy time")

Collective Security

• Collective Security is the idea that an alliance of countries, like the League of Nations, would prevent countries from declaring war on each other.

What actions did the League of Nations take in response to the Manchurian crisis?

• Following the Mukden Incident, China appealed to the League of Nations • The League acted cautiously • It held several meetings to discuss what actions should take place • While the Japanese government seemed to be cooperating with the League, the army continued to expand its influence throughout Manchuria. • The League then decided to send a fact-finding commission to Manchuria led by Lord Lytton. • This took a lot of time to complete • During this time, the Kwantung army continued to expand its sphere of influence • In March, 1932, Manchuria was declared that state of Manchukuo - a puppet state • One year after the Mukden incident, the Lytton Commissioner's Report was published. It stated... • Japan did in fact have special interests in Manchuria but the forcible takeover of Manchuria was unjustified • Japan should give up the territory and withdraw their troops • Manchukuo was not an independent state • Manchuria should become independent but under Chinese sovereignty

Matthew Perry

• In 1853, an American naval officer, Commodore Matthew Perry arrived on the shores of Japan with several US steamships. • Perry was determined to get Japan to open up to US demand for trade • Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854. • This treaty opened up the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade and permitted the establishment of a U.S. consulate (basically a building in which those from outside countries dealing with foreign affairs could work out of)in Japan.

Japan's attempted expansion to Russia

• In 1917 the Allies were sending men to Russia to help the Russian people fight the Bolsheviks. Japan was supposed to send 7500 men but they sent 70,000 because they thought they may be able to gain territory there. Even after the end of the Civil War in Russia, Japan left their troops even after the rest of the Allied armies moved out. In 1922, however, they had to withdraw because they were defeated by the Bolsheviks. The entire event caused mistrust of Japan from the US and the UK. On Japan's home front there were attacks on the government because of the intervention, the loss prestige and the failure to control the army.

Manchurian Crisis / Mukden Incident

• In 1931, a bomb exploded over Manchuria allowing the Guandong Army (Japanese Army) to move in. • September 18, 1931: an explosion occurred on a section of the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railway. • Immediately afterwards, officers of the Kwantung Army claimed that the incident was at Chinese fault. • However, there was evidence that those guilty were members of the Kwantung Army. • The Kwantung Army's excuse was that Japanese forced Chinese to retreat from Mukden which angered them. • The following day, the Kwantung army entered Changchun to the north. • Wakatsuki's government attempted to regain control and declared a policy of "non-expansion of hostilities," but the Kwantung Army did not respond to the orders coming from Tokyo. • They began to seize more territory • On September 24th, the Japanese government ordered the army to fall back to the railway zone but again, the Kwantung Army ignored the government's demands and pushed further into the Manchurian countryside.

World War I

• Japan enters WWI on the side of the Allies in 1914 • They provided naval support and trade • Tripled their exports during this time • Japan demanded Germany give them their colonial territory in China and when they didn't Japan declared war on Germany • During WWI Japan took advantage of the economy at the time and they supplied the Allies and the market that the Allies were unable to fill. • After WWI Japan got a majority of German territory in China • Wanted to racial equality clause to be put in the new charter for the LON. However, the US, UK and Australia were against it. • US: they had territory in the Philippines and if they agreed to it they would have to stop killing people. • UK: wanted to keep to Australia's loyalty • Australia: didn't want it because they had very strict immigration laws. • WWI allowed Japan to expand their scope of influence especially in China

Japan's 21 demands to China

• Japan issued the 21 demands to China (1915). The most important of these demands was that China had to agree that the Japanese stay in Shan Dong and that Japan be granted extra commercial privileges in Manchuria. Also, China couldn't lease any of its coastal territory to other powers and also they had to accept political, economic and military advisors from Japan. Japan eventually modified these terms because they caused a bad reaction in the US and UK and the public and members of the Japanese government thought it damaged their reputation.

Jiang Jieshi

• Jiang Jieshi was a Chinese political and military leader. He served as the leader of the Chinese Republic from 1928-1975. • After the attack on Manchuria... • Jieshi, the leader of the Nationalist party at this time, was now focused on defeating the Chinese Communists and did not want to get involved in another conflict. • China called upon the League of Nations • Jieshi realized that he was unlikely to gain any support for China from Western Powers but nevertheless tried • Jieshi neglected to directly negotiate with the Japanese government which was unlikely to benefit the Chinese position. • Japanese citizens responded with rage to the Japanese government and their actions. They began boycotting Japanese products. • Jiang Jieshi was more concerned with dealing with Communism in China than dealing with Japan. Thus, Japan continued to gain more land and power in China. • Japanese control over Manchuria was accepted in 1933 with the Treaty of Tanggu • Jiang further agreed to Japan seizing parts of inner Mongolia and in June, 1935, agreed to remove all troops from the Hebei province • Jiang believed that Japan would ultimately exhaust itself with gaining land in China because China was so massive. ("selling space to buy time")

Manchukuo

• Manchukuo was the puppet state set up by Japan in 1933 under the rule of Pu Yi. • This means that it was technically independent but not really

Mao Zedong

• Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao) was a Chinese communist revolutionary. • He was against the Kwantung Army and the GMD • Fighting for control in China against the GMD and the Kai Shek

Meiji Restoration

• Meiji Restoration: began in 1868 • included the adoption of a new policy, fukoku kyohei (rich country, strong military) • From 1868-1890, The Meiji oligarchs didn't necessarily oppose militarism and imperialism but more so focussed on modernization and economic growth in order to catch up to western powers. • Japan's first move towards militarism can be seen in 1873 when the Conscription Law was introduced. This required all males to serve active duty in the military for three years and reserve duty for an additional 4 years. • Overthrew the dynasty

Role of Emperor

• The Emperor was in charge of mobilizing the Nation. Because of this, they were able to chose the Prime Minister, chose the members of the Cabinet, chose the head of the army, and chose the representatives in the House of Peers. • In the Japanese culture they used education, media, business, religion and the idea of sacrificing themselves to the emperor by joining the army to make the emperor more powerful. • People were expected to have unquestionable obedience to the emperor. Because of this, Nationalism was a huge factor in Japan. • Japan called itself the "Land of Gods" because it had never been conquered by an outside power. • Their goal was to rid the rest of Asia of Western Powers. However, at the same time, they had a lot of respect for Western ideas and technologies.

Guomindang (GMD)

• The GMD was the Chinese Nationalist Army led my Chang Kai Shek

Kwantung Army

• The Kwantung Army was an army group of the Imperial Japanese Army in the first half of the 20th century. It became the largest and most prestigious command in the IJA. • September 18, 1931: an explosion occurred on a section of the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railway. • Immediately afterwards, officers of the Kwantung Army claimed that the incident was at Chinese fault. • However, there was evidence that those guilty were members of the Kwantung Army. The Kwantung Army's excuse was that China forced Japan to retreat from Mukden which angered them. • The following day, the Kwantung army entered Changchun to the north. • Wakatsuki's government attempted to regain control and declared a policy of "non-expansion of hostilities," but the Kwantung Army did not respond to the orders coming from Tokyo. • They began to seize more territory On September 24th, the Japanese government ordered the army to fall back to the railway zone but again, the Kwantung Army ignored the government's demands and pushed further into the Manchurian countryside. • There was a lot of public support for the Kwantung Army's actions in China

Kellogg-Briand Pact

• There were approximately 50 countries who signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact promising to never fight war again. (1928) • This is important regarding the trends of peace at the time

What were the results of the Manchurian Crisis on Japan?

• To the outside world, Japan's "peaceful intentions" had not yet been accepted by outside countries as its army continued to expand into Manchuria. • In the 1930s, there was a marked deterioration in relations between Japan, the US and Britian. • The West's response to the events going on in Manchuria would cause Japan to eventually leave the League of Nations. • The League's resolution of the Manchurian Crisis can be compared to that of the Triple Intervention of 1895. • Japan began to admire Germany in the 1930s and her actions such as leaving the League of Nations. • The Soviet Union was now an ideological and a territorial threat to Japan. They were also interested in Manchuria • By the 1930s, the Japanese viewed Russia as their key potential opponent in the region. • Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Nazi Germany in November of 1936 as they were growing increasingly more concerned about the relationship between China and the Soviet Union. • Japan benefitted economically from their gains in Manchuria • However, the cost of having a Japanese army on Chinese soil cost a tremendous amount of money and there was a lot of taxation back home. • Japan was potentially overstretching itself • Following the Manchurian Crisis, there was little hope of the government gaining the upper hand again. • There was a lot of public support for the Kwantung Army's actions in China • There was a celebration for the "heros" of Manchuria

Zaitbutsu

• Zaibatsu were the major corporations in Japan. • Corporations would hire people and they would have a life long job there. Because of this commitment to their corporations and because their success depended so much on the success of the cooperation, there were less strikes. • Zaibatsu was able to have immense control of the countries economy