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
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2
Q

emergence of japan as a rising power

A
  • the modernisation of japan
  • japan’s ambition
  • division between civilian politicians and military leaders
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3
Q

japan’s expansionist foreign policy

A
  • rise of japan militarism
  • japan and western powers
  • great depression
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4
Q

manchurian crisis

A
  • japan public opinion
  • instability in china
  • conquest of manchuria
  • response of LON
  • consequences of manchurian crisis
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5
Q

japan-US relations

A
  • US economic war on japan
    -> japan’s dilemma over US
  • japan’s response
    -> GEACPS
    -> PH
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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16
Q

consequences of manchurian crisis

A
  1. tarnished prestige of LON
    - LON helpless in face of aggressor nations
    - undermined confidence of LON to tackle future crises
  2. encouraged japan to expand further into asia as manchuria’s location was a strong position to do so
  3. japan had access to resources in manchuria, which is needed for its growing industry
  4. 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