Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Chapter 5 The outbreak of WW2 in asia-pacific, Main Turning points -…

- - - - The many Japanese victories during the first Sino war sparked much nationalism and support for the Military
      - Belief that it was Japan's destiny to remove the western powers from Asia and expand its rule over Asia became extremely popular
      - Civilian politicians became unpopular while the Military became overly dominant which in 1936 started effectively running Japan
    - - Japan saw Britain, US and USSR as rivals and obstacles to achieving their ambitions
      - The Meiji period taught many Japanese people to develop a strong sense of nationalist pride and sometimes ultranationalism
      - Opinions of the Japanese: (Less important)
        
        Britain
        
        Relations soured after Britain criticised Japan over the invasion of Manchuria and was on friendly terms with the United States
        
        Moreover, since Britain had colonies throughout Asia, including Hong Kong and Malaya, Japan viewed it as a rival power.
        
        US
        
        To Japan, the United States had already abandoned them through economic policies against Japan in the 1930s. It left thousands of Japanese workers in unemployment when it stopped importing goods from Japan.
        
        There was also a sense that fighting the United States was unavoidable if Japan was to achieve its national objectives. The following source by a general of the Imperial Japanese Army reflected this exact sentiment.
        
        USSR
        
        The USSR was seen as a big threat. Communism teaches that societies should not be run by emperors and kings, but by the people. For the Japanese who believed in loyalty to the Emperor, communism was a dangerous ideology.
        
        The USSR’s border with Japan’s empire in Manchuria was a major cause for concern. In 1936, Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Italy and Nazi Germany agreeing to oppose communism. This was another powerful reason for Japan to control territories in Asia – to hold back the USSR and to gain the resources it would need if it ever went to war against the USSR.
    - - The great depression in Japan severely damaged japan's economy due to it's heavy reliance on foreign trade
      - Ultranationalists used the terrible effects of the great depression to reason that democracy was failing as a result
      - The US also imposed trade Tariffs which hurt Japan's economy badly and this convinced ultranationalists that japan had to be more self-sufficient in order to prosper
      - Thus, the Expansionist policy grew in popularity as people searched for more ways to deal with the crisis
- - - - Because of changes in Japan's foreign policies, years of economic problems and worsening relations with the west, many believed that expanding into manchuria was the way
      - Invading Manchuria would lead to:
        
        Expands japan's sphere of influence and control
        
        Solves Japan's problem of lack of resources which could further aid in their expansionist policy
      - At that time, China was unstable in it's political way and it was the perfect opportunity for Japan to annex and expand into Manchuria while giving an excuse that it was trying to stabalise the region
    - - Ishiwara's forces blew up a part of a railway and blamed it on the Chinese government, giving Japan a "justifiable" reason to take over Manchuria
      - They set up a puppet government and later used them to carry out bombing and attacks on Shanghi. The civilian government asked the Military to withdraw but were ignored
  - - - Economically
        
        The League's economic sanctions were powerless as the US was still japan's main trading partner
        
        Britain seemed more interested in maintaining good relations with japan and did not sanction them
      - arm sales
        
        The League were hesitant to ban arm sales to japan as league members were afraid that Japan would retaliate and escalate the situation
      - Use of force
        
        Britain and France did not want to risk their forces to stop japan
        
        Only the USSR or the US could remove Japan from Manchuria by force but they were not in the League
- - - - have fun staring at this future me
- - - - Japan launched a programme in colonized Asian territories which aimed to rid Asia of influence of the US and western powers. They wanted to chase out foreigners from the Asian colonies and encourage them to side with japan
      - This was a success as japan slowly extracted resources from it's Asian territories to prepare for war
    - - Despite the war efforts, Japan knew that they still could not out compete the US and Japanese commander Yamamoto Isorokudecided that a quick knockout blow to the US navy was required.
      - Thus, in 7 December 1941, japan launched a sea and air invasion on the US naval base at pearl harbour. The US responded a day after with the declaration of war on Japan