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WAR IN ASIA PACIFIC REGION (Japan's Foreign Policy's contribution…
WAR IN ASIA PACIFIC REGION
Japan's Foreign Policy's contribution to the war.
Asia for Asians' slogan
Most the countries in Asia had been colonized.Japan felt that Asia should be freed fron western control.
Helped to justify war to liberate these Asians,but it was never Japan's intention to allow these countires to be free after independence from the west. Japan wanted to become their new colonial matter.
Empire
Japan wanted an Empire that matched its new status as a major industrial power in the region.
Japanese leaders believed that having an Empire would give them the respect of western nations-Japan was not interior to them.
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Japan called the Asia Pacific region 'Greater East Asia', this area was very rich in natural resources that resource scarce Japan needed for its industries. The region would also make a good market for Japanese goods.
The Japanese deliberately used the word ' Co-prosperity' to get the colonized Asians to believe that all countries would benefit economically through this arrangement. Well, of course it was not true.
Population woes
Japan's population grew 40 millions from 1870 to 1937
There were food shortage and not enough housing and jobs for people.
The army reasoned that gaining colonies would solve all these problems.
The Great Depression
Japan could not sell their goods with sufficient profits. Justified the commencement of war to secure markets and raw materials from the Asian nations under western colonial rule.
Japan had few natural resources – could not sell its goods to other countries.
The Great Depression badly affected Japan‟s economy. Its industries needed cheap supplies of natural resources and markets to sell their goods.
Japan's agression in China's contribution to the war.
Manchuria
Growing influence in Manchuria and Mainland China
Japan won control of Port Arthur in South Manchuria after Russo-Jap War 1905 and also acquired Southern Manchurian Railway.
Manchuria provided cheap manpower, raw materials: coal, timber, iron and gold.
Japan won control of Port Arthur in South Manchuria after Russo-Jap War 1905.
Japan controlled Manchuria‟s banks and there were more than 100,000 Japanese settlers in Manchuria by 1925
Mukden Incident 1931 – Passenger train carrying Japanese exploded – Japanese blamed Chinese for attacking the train – Japan seized control of Mukden, capital city.
Army had full support from Japan Zaibatsus and saw war with China a means to gain raw materials and markets.
Renamed Manchuria – Manchukuo and installed Pu Yi as the pupet ruler of China and the real power in the hands of the Japanese.
China
Easy victories in Manchuria – emboldened Japanese military.
Japanese military believed that they could defeat China easily and it was best to strike when China‟s economy was weak.
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
July 1937 – Japanese soldiers went missing during a regular patrol – Japanese army demanded that China allow it to search for him within the Chinese section. China refused. Both sides exchanged fire which led to all out invasion of China
War in China was long and costly
Had to consider invading British Malaya for rubber, tin and Dutch East Indies for oil.
Japanese resources used up – needed more raw materials to carry on the war effort.