chapter 5: outbreak of ww2 in asia-pacific Flashcards
1
Q
outbreak of ww2 in asia
A
- emergence of japan as a rising power
- japan expansionist foreign policy
- manchurian crisis
- japan aggression toward china
- japan-US relations
2
Q
emergence of japan as a rising power
A
- the modernisation of japan
- japan’s ambition
- division between civilian politicians and military leaders
3
Q
japan’s expansionist foreign policy
A
- rise of japan militarism
- japan and western powers
- great depression
4
Q
manchurian crisis
A
- japan public opinion
- instability in china
- conquest of manchuria
- response of LON
- consequences of manchurian crisis
5
Q
japan-US relations
A
- US economic war on japan
-> japan’s dilemma over US - japan’s response
-> GEACPS
-> PH
6
Q
modernisation of japan
A
- meiji 1868
- sino japan war 1894-95
- russo japan war 1904-05 : became the first asian country to defeat an european power
- in 1920s, japan was a member of LON and well-respected internationally
- washington naval treaty 1921 : br, france, US promised to reduce building of worships –> 553, japan saw as unfair
7
Q
japan’s ambitions
A
- be equal to western powers who had empires
- ultranationalism became popular: supported the conquest of korea in 1910 and the idea of japan expanding its empire
- no rich materials like iron ore, coal
- depended on importing thus, ultranationalists argued japan needed to expand
8
Q
divide between civilian politicians and military leaders
A
- CP preferred peaceful means and were in charge of govt policy in early-mid 1920s
- CP tried expanding via trade and international cooperation rather than conquest of territories
- CP cut military budget
- budget angered military as seen as disrespect
- M felt that war with US was inevitable so japan needed materials
- M felt that other countries couldn’t be trusted as could just go back to trade deals
9
Q
rise of japan militarism
A
- prominence and influence of ultranationalistic military commanders grew as japan won against china and russia
- japan officers felt it was japan destiny to remove western powers from asia and to expand rule over asia
- ppl also believed serving in army was an honour and noble calling
- CP lost trust of ppl who perceived them as weak
- military became increasingly dominant and by 1936, were effectively running japan
10
Q
japan and western powers
A
- used education and media to promote a strong sense of nationalist pride among japanese
- ultranationalism involved a wariness of foreigners, esp colonial powers
- japan saw br, US, russia as rivals in achieving goals. in japan pov, US abandoned them with economic policies in 1930s, leaving many unemployed when it stopped imports from japan
- USSR big threat bcos communism. since japan was loyal to its emperor, communism was a dangerous idea and had to be avoided
- USSR border with manchuria was concerning. in 1936, japan signed anti-comintern pact with italy and germany, agreeing to oppose communism –> reason for japan to control territories in asia: hold back USSR and gain resources
- in early 1900s, br and japan collaborated in anglo-japan alliance to prevent USSR from expanding far east
- by 1930s, br and japan relations deteriorated:
-> britain criticised japan on manchuria and was on good terms with US
-> britain had colonies throughout asia (HK, malaya) so japan saw them as a rival
11
Q
great depression
A
- 1929 GD: damaged japan economy as they relied heavily on foreign trade, leading to political implications
- unemployment increased pressure on CP. economic crisis convinced ultranationalists and military that democracy was failing as it couldnt solve problems of ppl
- tariffs in 1930s to protect US economy hurt japan trade export
- tariffs convinced ultranationalists that other countries could not be relied on and that japan needs to be self-sufficient
12
Q
japan public opinion on manchurian crisis
A
- manchuria was rich in resources and was seen as the perfect solution to japan’s lack of natural resources
- 1931, the idea of expansion into manchuria gained popularity in japan
13
Q
instability in china
A
- china was ruled by CNP under chiang kaishek
- chiang faced serious threats as people on manchuria borders didn’t fully accept his role, some were preparing to collaborate with japan for economic and military support
- CNP rival with CCP
- perfect opportunity for japan to expand further and annex china –> use instability as an excuse for this by saying that japan was trying to stabilise the region
14
Q
conquest of manchuria
A
- sept 1931, ishiwara forces blew up a railway track in mukden
- blamed it on china and used it as an excuse to take over manchuria. by dec, controlled most of the region
- since there was little opposition in japan, military continued
- feb 1932, set up a puppet govt who did exactly what the japan govt ordered them to do
- later in 1932, japan aeroplanes and gunships bombed shanghai. civilian govt ordered them to withdraw but was ignored –> shows that military assuming control over fep
- kwantung army to support manchuria’s warlord, zhang zuolin, but later assassinated him as he became less cooperative
15
Q
response of LON
A
- china appealed for international support
- oct 1931, LON passed a resolution of 13 to 1 calling on japan to withdraw its troops
- japan claimed they weren’t invading china but only acting in self-defence to keep peace in china as it was in a state of anarchy
- in sept 1932, lytton report which concluded that japan had acted unlawfully and manchuria should be returned to china
- feb 1933, japan did not listen and intended to occupy more of china which was necessary to defend territories
- 24 feb 1933, japan rejected lytton and resigned from LON on 27 march
- proved that LON economic sanctions powerless w/o US (japan no. 1 trading partner)
-> br didnt sanction japan as more focused on maintaining good relationship with them
-> LON couldnt ban arm sales to japan as members worried that japan would retaliate and escalate the situation - br and fr wouldnt risk their armies –> only US and USSR had resources to stop japan but they werent part of LON
16
Q
consequences of manchurian crisis
A
- tarnished prestige of LON
- LON helpless in face of aggressor nations
- undermined confidence of LON to tackle future crises - encouraged japan to expand further into asia as manchuria’s location was a strong position to do so
- japan had access to resources in manchuria, which is needed for its growing industry
- impacted japan politics
- annexation of manchuria popular in japan
- increased popularity of ultranationalists and military, resulting in decline and weakening of CP authority
- military continued challenging CP authority and gain more power and influence in govt by 1932
17
Q
impact of ww2 in europe on asia
A
- br, fr, netherlands had large territories in SEA that they could not defend while at war with germany
- june 1941, hitler broke pact with stalin and invaded USSR –> USSR defend itself from germany
- in japan pov: advantageous bcos USSR became less of a threat, golden opportunity to take over colonies of the west in asia
- by 1941, japan took french indochina
18
Q
japan-US relations
A
- in 1920s, relations were good. in 1930s, bcos of GD, US imposed tariffs
- in 1937, when japan invaded china, tensions rose. US disapproved of japan actions and provided financial and military support to china
- japan posed a dilemma for it:
-> japan was both a political and economic rival that challenged US interests in asia
-> japan was anti-communist which is useful in preventing spread of communism in asia
19
Q
considerations of US about japan
A
- japan keeping asia for asians and wanting western powers out of asia which threatens US interests in china (esp after manchuria)
- japan navy competed with US for naval control of pacific and regions like SEA
- japan possible ally in stopping communism in asia
- after nazi-soviet non-aggression pact, the 2 countries US considered dangerous now allies. US was wary of upsetting japan and pushing it closer to germany and USSR
- japan companies competed with US to sell goods to markets in asia
20
Q
US economic war on japan
A
- roosevelt worried about growing ambitions and wanted to keep expansion in check so he announced sanctions
- initially it was ineffective and japan occupied french indochina
- thus, embargo on raw materials in oct 1940
- after failure of negotiations between US and japan, and refusal of japan to withdraw china and indochina, an oil embargo placed on aug 1941 –> cut 90% of japan oil supplies
- roosevelt resurrected ‘trading with the enemy act’, seizing japanese assets in US, making it unable to buy essential goods
- for modern economy, damaging. for modern army, air force and navy, crippling. bcos w/o fuel, planes, ships and tanks were useless
- US demanded japan withdraw its troops from china and not to threaten any territories belonging to US or its allies
21
Q
japan dilemma over US
A
- US demands were unacceptable as it meant they could be bullied and intimidated by US
- US was an economic giant and resources were about 6x more than japan
- thus, only alternative was a conflict
22
Q
the greater east asia co-prosperity sphere in 1940
A
- aimed primarily at people of various asian territories of japan
-> goal to get rid of western influence in asia
-> message is that asia would unite behind japan who would lead them in driving foreigners out of asia and that japan protects asia and rules them fairly - in reality, GEACPS was for japan to get resources in asia for war
- japan was initially successful with its resources rising:
- coal in manchuria 12.8mil to 60mil tons
- iron 68000 to 87000 tons
- aluminium 17000 to 470000 tons
- cotton 247000 to 597000 tons
- liquid fuel 0 to 1mil tons
23
Q
attack of PH
A
- sept 1940, japan signed tripartite pact, making it an ally of germany and italy. this pact meant to be insurance against US intervention
- japan commanders decided they needed a knockout blow to US to buy time while US recovered. during then, japan could conquer new territories, build economic resources and match US power
- on 7 dec 1941, 300 planes from japan launched attack on PH
- unsuccessful
- all 3 of US aircraft carriers not present, thus escaped untouched
- US took little time to recover and declared war on japan
