Political Instability in China

Question 1

Why did Japan want to take control of China? (3 points)

Answer 1

1. European countries had gained economic, military, and legal privileges on Chinese soil & Japanese wanted to achieve equality with the West
2. Acquiring China would bring economic benefits (such as raw materials)
3. Japan believed its security depended on having control over Korea and China

Question 2

What was the Mukden Incident?

Answer 2

In 1931, there was an explosion in a section of the Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railway.

This gave the Kwangtung Army to expand into Manchuria, and by 1932 Manchuria was wholly under the control of Japanese forces.

Question 3

What was the role of political instability in China, allowing Japan to expand?

Answer 3

1. Due to the ongoing civil war within China, Jiang Jieshi was more concerned with getting rid of the Communists than he was to fight Japan
   
   • Jiang believed “selling space to buy time” was a viable strategy

Question 4

According to Immanuel Hsu, what is the significance of Jiang Jieshi’s response to Japanese aggression?

Answer 4

If Jieshi resisted Japan, the glamour of the aggression might have dimmed, providing the government of Japan to have more of a say in the situation, rather than the military.

This would have reduced the impact nationalism and militarism had on Japanese expansionist policies.

Question 5

What were the 3 outcomes of the invasion of Manchuria by Japan?

Answer 5

1. Kenneth Pyle sees the event as the turning point as it led to Japan’s isolation from the West (sparked nationalistic sentiments)
2. Isolation from the West led to admiration for Nazi Germany (who was against the West)
3. Further undermined the position of the Japanese government as public supported the Kwangtung Army