CHAPTER 4: SECOND WORLD WAR IN ASIA, C.

1939-1953
4.1 War in the Asia-Pacific Region

What is the Second World War?

- It was a global war
- It happened in Europe and in Asia which merged into a global one.
- The outbreak of the Second World War (1939-1945) was marked by
the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on 1 September 1939
- Japan extended the war to the Pacific region on 7 December 1941
when they attacked an American naval base in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
- Japan occupied most of the territories in the Asia-Pacific that were
colonized by the Europeans and the United States except Siam

How did the Japanese get involved in the World War II?
EXPANSIONALISM POLICY

4.2 The Rise of Militarism in Japan

Increased support for the Military
A. The Emergence of a New Form of Government in Japan after the First World War

- The rise of Militarism in Japan had started after the First World War ended in 1918.
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- A new form of government emerged where the old leaders were replaced with the younger
ones.
- This younger clans started gaining important positions in the military.
- Most of these new officers were landlords’ sons and some were the farmers’ sons from the
countryside.
- They were responsible to introduce militarism and rejected the old concept of democratic
governments.
- With this came the idea of expanding Japan’s territorial colonies. Thus, to achieve this aim,
Japan expanding their power towards China and Southeast Asia.

B. The Rise of Socialism in Japan

- Prior the rise of militarism in Japan, the Japanese government was run as a democracy.
Government leaders were chosen by the people through elections. However, in the late 19 th
century, the democratic government failed to protect the people’s well-being.
- The rise of militarism also existed due to the creation of the socialist nation, with the country’s
governance held by the military in the name of Emperor Hirohito.
- The Zaibatsu (the rich entrepreneurs) were forced to surrender their properties to the country.
Moreover, politicians were also forced to surrender their rights to govern to the emperor.
- The development of militarism began with Kita Ikki, who agitated for the reformation of Japan.
This was to be executed by the military in the name of the emperor, resulting in the rise of the
Japanese army as a strong political power in Japan.

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Military Attempts to seize power:

The League of Blood Incident The 15 May Incident 1932 The 26 February Incident
1932 1936

A plot to assassinate a large This incident related to the This incident was also related of
number of wealthy Japanese Military plan to seize power in an attempt to seize power by a
businessmen (Zaibatsu) and the government. group of young Japanese
politicians. It was the Japanese Navy and Soldiers.
This murder was carried out by several Japanese Army Cadet The soldiers assasinated the
an extremist group led by Nissho (11 Naval Officers) that keeper of the Privy Seal, the
Inoue, a Buddhist Preacher. responsible for this event. Those Interior Minister, Saito Makoto,
This extremist group members groups that were also involved in The Finance Minister, Takahashi
consisted of radical nationalists the League of Blood Incident. Korekiyo, and the Army
and several naval officers. They Killed the Prime Minister Inspector General of Military
They killed the Zaibatsu and the of Japan, Inukai Tsuyoshi. Training, Watanabe Jutaro.
politicians as they believed they They also tried to kill other The Ultranationalists also
were unreliable in governing the important officials but failed. managed to take some parts of
country as they were highly With this assasination, Tokyo.
corrupted. parliamentary rule in Japan was
The extremist wanted to return replaced with the Military law.
the power to the Emperor. This The Military effectively
shift of power was called the controlled the government.
Showa Restoration.
In this incident, they also killed
Junnosuke Innoue, a former
Finance Minister, a Rikken
Minseito (Constitutional
Democratic leader) and Takuma
Dan (the Director-General of
Mitsui Holdings).

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4.3 The Impact of Economic Problems in Japan
The Economic Issues
1. The Economic i. Internal Economic problems due to rapid population increase and
Recession shortage of arable land. Japan’s population grew from 45 million in
1900 to 64 million by 1930. Therefore, many farmers did not have
sufficient land to grow crops. Japan lacked staple foods such as
rice which led so much discontentment among the Japanese
people.
ii. World Great Depression (1929-1939) also hit Japan economy. It
started when the United States stock market plunged. Later, it
spread affecting the global economy.
2. The United i. Prior the Great Depression, the United States and British imported
States and Japanese Products, therefore, Japanese income relied heavily on
British this export productions. However, during the depression, both
Protectionism countries enforced a protectionist policy to protect the interests of
Policy their own local industries. The United States and British imposed
high taxes on good imported from other countries including Japan.

ii. Japan’s main export was textiles including raw cotton and silk
fabrics. After the depression, the demand and the price of those
export products fell drastically. In 1930, the export of Silk fabric fell
up to 46%. Worsened, the United States also stopped importing
the Silk fabric from Japan when synthetics such as rayon were
invented.

iii. This also affected Japanese exchange rate. In the 1930s, the
exchange rate fell from JPY 100 to USD 49 to only JPY 100 to
USD 20 in December 1932.
3. Fall in Japanese i. The prices of the Japanese products such as agricultural products
Products prices fell around 40% and the textile fell up to 50%. The fall was due to
(domestic the weak domestic demands from the locals, high unemployment
demand) rate, low income, and excess productions due to protectionism
policy imposed globally.
ii. Furthermore, Japanese suffered prolonged crop failure that led to a
shortage of food and famine. Some even died of starvation.
4. Economic i. When Takashi Korekiyo was appointed as the Finance Minister, he
Recovery introduced fiscal expansion policy and monetary expansion policy
policies which helped Japanese economy to recover.
ii. With these policies, Japan had to implement a territorial expansion
policy so they can obtain raw materials from the countries that they
colonized.

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 4.4 The Impact of Japan’s Expansionist Policy to the neighbouring states. (Especially
China)
4.4.1 The First Sino-Japanese War (1894)
- China was well-known as the traditional enemy for Japan.
- The First Sino-Japanese War was the conflict between Japan and China in 1894–95 that marked
the emergence of Japan as a major world power and demonstrated the weakness of the Chinese
empire. The war grew out of the conflict between the two countries began when Japan showed
interest to Chinese protectorate state that was Korea. Under the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed in
1895, China was forced not only to give up Korea but also Taiwan to Japan.
- Taiwan was the first Japan overseas colony, meaning that Taiwan came under the direct rule and
administered by Japan.

- Why did Japan interest in Korea?

 Played important part in Japan’s economic development. It was important for Korean
commercial activities. In the late 19th century, many Japanese businessmen had settled in
Korea (by 1910, estimated 170,000 Japanese people were living there). Some of the Japanese
people became involved in Korean agricultural activities too. By 1920, 39.8% of Korean
farmlands were controlled by the Japanese, rising to 52.7% in 1932.

 Western countries such as Russia also showed interest in Korea. This led the Japanese to
forced Military measure to avoid this to happened. Russia wanted to establish a permanent
military and naval base in Manchuria, but this was seen as a security threat to Japan and its
interests in Korea. Negotiation failed to achieve thus Japan involved war with Russia in Russo-
Japanese War 1904. Japan won the war resulted not only they won control Korea in 1910 but
also some part of China that were Liaodong Peninsula, the Southern Manchurian Railway, and
the Southern half of Sakhalin Island. Those places were used to be under the control of Russia
before the war.

4.4.2 The 1931 Mukden Incident and the invasion of Manchuria, Northeastern China.
- Japan always wanted to control China as not only for their raw materials but also it feared that
China could threaten its security.
- The 1931 Mukden incident was staged by the Japanese as a pretext for the 1931 Japanese
invasion of Manchuria.
- What was Mukden Incident?

 It happened when the Japanese finding out that China was about to unite under the
nationalist government. There were also rumours spreading that the nationalist
government was planning to drive the Japanese out from Manchuria.
 To avoid these, Kwantung armies (a group of Japanese soldiers that based in
Manchuria) planned an attack at Mukden without orders from the Japanese
government.

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 They placed a small amount of dynamite close to the railway lined owned by the
Japan’s South Manchuria Railway. A section of the Japanese-owned railway tracks was
destroyed in the explosion.
 The explosion became an excuse for the Japanese to attack Manchuria as well as the
full invasion of the northeastern of China.
 Manchuria was rich in raw materials such as coal and iron, which were the key to
Japan’s manufacturing industries. In addition, Manchuria was a potential region for
Japanese growing population to settle.
 Manchuko was also under Japan in September 1932 after the signing of the treaty with
Manchukuo under the symbolic leadership of the China last emperor, Puyi.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

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The League of Nations’ involvement in the Sino-Japanese Crisis

The League of Nations’ failure to resolve the Sino-Japanese Crisis (Mukden Incident 1931)
How did the League of Nations’ deal with this crisis?

investigation (sending the British of Early of Lytton to investigate and report)

Lytton Report : the Japanese action

was far beyond self-defense

League of Nations boycott of

Japanese-made Products

League of Nation called a motion to consider Japan as an aggressor and called for Manchuria to be returned to China.

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What was Japan’s reaction of the motion and the report?
- Japan considered the Lytton report and motion unacceptable.
- The Japanese government blamed the League for adopting double standards whendealing with
Japanese issue as opposed to Western colonisation and occupation of other parts of the Asian and
African territories.
- As a result, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in March 1933.

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Without the United States membership, the
League did not have the necessary economic
and military backup to enforce its aim. The members of the League had different
opinions. France, Netherlands, Portugal, and
Britain agreed that Japan’s invasion to stop.
Other members such as Germany, Hungary,
Italy and Soviet Union did not see Japan’s
actions in China as an act of invasion.

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The Marco Polo Incident.
- The relations between Japan and China worsened due to the Marco Polo Bridge Incident.
- It was believed due to this incident led to the Second Sino-Japanese war happened in 1937 until
1945.
- A crisis blew up between the Chinese and the Japanese armies near the Marco Polo Bridge
outside of the city of Beijing (present: Beijing).
- China had already stationed its troops along this railway track as it neared the border of
Manchukuo which was under Japanese influence.
- One day, the Chinese army also conducted military training in the area to prevent further
Japanese invasion. On the night of 7 July 1937, the Japanese army also conducted military
training nearby. Their training raised the Chinese army’s caution.
- On that night, a small group of soldiers from the Japanese army camp sought to enter the
township of Wanping. They wanted to search for one of their men whom they claimed had gone
missing in the Chinese-controlled area.
- The Chinese soldiers refused the request as they were waiting for more investigation and
procedures to take place.
- The Japanese soldiers devastated. Therefore, they made an attacked on Wanping with infantry
and artillery forces.
- A fight broke out between the two group of soldiers.
- On 8 July 1937, the Japanese army tried to attack the bridge and was temporarily stopped by the
Chinese soldiers from further advancement.
- To resolve the conflict, Japan and China agreed to negotiate in Beijing. The agreement was
signed on 11 July 1937. They agreed that:

 The Chinese would issue an apology for the incident.

 Soldiers from both countries involved would be punished.
 The Chinese army stationed there would be replace by the Peace Preservation
Corps.
 The Chinese nationalist would suppress communist activities in the area while
Japanese would withdraw from Wanping and the Marco Polo Bridge.

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- However, the treaty failed to solve the issue between both countries. It was because the Japanese
decide to place several divisions of their troops there (Wanping and Marco Polo Bridge). This
provoked the other group, thus China nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek also
stationed their troops there.
- Their tension escalated after the Japanese lieutenant; Isao Oyama was shot dead on 9 July 1937.
- Both groups reacted which led to a battle of Shanghai broke out on 13 August 1937 lasted until 26
November 1937.

The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)

- As Japan became superior in the East, they managed to control most of the important coastal port
cities and railway tracks in China. For example:
 July 1937: Beiping (now Beijing), Tianjin
 November 1937: Shanghai
 December 1937: Nanjing
- The New Order concept declared by Prince Konoye aimed to lower the tension between Chinese
and the Japanese. It stated that Japan, Manchukuo and China would cooperate with each other in
the political and economic spheres. However, the concept failed its purpose.

The Nanjing Massacre (1937-1938)

- During Japan’s attack on Nanjing, mass killing of Chinese soldiers and civilians were carried out
by the Japanese soldiers.
- The massacres happened from December 1937 to January 1938 victimized more than 100,000 to
300,000 Chinese people.
4.5 The Reaction of the United States towards Japanese Aggression
- When the Japanese invaded China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the United States
strongly condemned this aggression.
- What was the United States measure to stop Japanese aggression?

1. Revoking the Treaty of 1911 Commerce and Navigation in 1939.

 The 1911 Treaty aimed to strenghten relations between the United States and Japan
especially in commerce. It also enabled the citizens of both nations to freely enter, travel,
and reside within any territory controlled by either country for business proposes.
 The factor for the revoked was the United States worried for the safety of its civilians and
business activities which Japan’s aggression not only affected the Chinese but also
distrupted American businessess based in Japan or in Japanese occupied Chinese
territories.

2. Persuaded the Soviet Union to cut off diplomatic ties with Japan.
 On 13 April 1941, the Soviet Union and Japan signed the Soviet-Japanese Non-Aggression
Pact. They agreed not to interfere if the other country was attacked by a third country. This
Pact was valid for five years.

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  However, on 5 April 1945, the Soviet Union informed Japan that it was ending their pact.
Finally, in August 1945, the Soviet Union, encouraged by the United States, declared war
on Japan.

3. The United States Oil Embargo in 1940

 The United States President Franklin D.Roosevelt banned the sale of planes and engines
to Japan as they were used to attack American civilians living in China.
 Roosevelt also imposed an embargo on exporting iron and some grades of oil to Japan.
 However, in 1941, Roosevelt announced the total ban of oil export to Japan as to counter
back Japan who invaded Indo-China at that time. The oil supply was crucial for Japan to
continue their war efforts.
 Roosevelt hoped this measure would halted the Japanese as Japan relied about 80% of
the America’s oil export.

What was the Japanese reaction of all the embargos?

CRUCIAL ACTIONS:
- Declared the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere on 1 st August 1940
- Attacked Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941

The Greater Easr Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere 1940

The Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere, a concept initiated by Japan in 1940. Some historians
argue that it was Japan's attempt to portray itself as the liberator of Asia from Western Imperialism.
Others believe it was a strategic move to justify Japanese aggression in China, and later, its takeover
of French Indochina. This was all part of a grander scheme to gain control over the oil-rich territories
of Indonesia and the rubber-producing regions of Malaysia.

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With the slogan “Asia for the Asiatics,” / ‘Asia for the Asians’, Japan conquered Southeast Asia.
However, once Western Imperialism was overthrown, Japan began exploiting the resources of these
regions for its own benefit. In Vietnam, for instance, the local Japanese authorities forcefully claimed
rice and shipped it to Japan, leading to a severe starvation crisis. The conquered parts of Asia were
effectively used by Japan to meet its burgeoning need for raw materials like tin, oil, and rubber, and
as a market for its manufactured products.

Pearl Harbour Attack 1941

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Japan attack USA Naval Base in Pearl Harbour

Pearl Harbor was a crucial target because the U.S Navy’s Pacific fleet was stationed there in 1941.

Another reason the Pearl Harbor attack happened was that Japan’s relations with the U.S had been
deteriorating. In 1927, the US banned all immigration from Japan to America because of anti-
Japanese feelings and racial prejudice.

Unraveling the Reasons Behind Japan's Attack on Pearl Harbor

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor was a preemptive military strike aimed at preventing the USA's Pacific
Fleet from interfering in Japan’s planned military actions in Southeast Asia. Pearl Harbor, a U.S.
Naval Base located in Honolulu, Hawaii, was targeted by over 300 Japanese aircraft. The attack
resulted in substantial damage to the U.S. Navy and the loss of thousands of American lives,
ultimately prompting the U.S. to enter World War II.

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by: FatimahDaud/2024

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