Outbreak Of WWII In The Asia Pacific

Outbreak Of WWII In The Asia Pacific

1. Japan's ambition to establish itself in Asia and Europe

   • Conflict with Russia
     • Occupation of Manchuria by Russia percieved as threat to Japan's influence in Korea
       • Compromise offered by Japan declined by Russia as they were seen as inferior
         • Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Japanese emerged victorious in 1905
   • Alliance with Britain
     • Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed in 1902
       • Mutual recognition of interests in Asia : China deigned place of 'common interest' for defence of their colonies
   • Conflicts with China
     • First Sino-Japanese War
       • Took advantage of weak Qing government
         • Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1985
           • Gained control of both Korea and Taiwan
   • Worsening relations with USA
     • American racism against Japanese
       • Laws passed excluded Chinese, Japanese and Korean immigrants to prevent competition for jobs
         • Japanese offended by this
     • Paris Peace Conference
       • Demand for racial equality rejected and they felt that they were not given respect by Western powers
     • Washington Naval Conference 1921
       • Ratio of naval strength required Japan to reduce their strength more than USA and Britain

2. Crisis in Japan

   • Economic Crisis
     • Shortage of land
       • Farmers unable to earn enough to support themselves
       • Planted and weeded by hand > Slow method
         • Shortage of rice
           • Led to loss of faith in the government
     • Great Depression
       • Increase in restrictions and taxations on exports
         • affected Japanese economy
   • Overpopulation
     • Larger population > increase in demand or housing,goods and product
       • Japan seek more territories
   • Growth of military influence in Japanese politics
     • Martial Law declared after Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai was killed

3. Japanese expansionist foreign policy

   • Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
     • Aim to dominate East Asia & Southeast Asia
       • availability of raw materials in southeast asia

4. Weakness of League of Nations

   • Mukden incident and invasion of machuria
     • 18 september 1931,a bomb exploded near Mukden
       • Japanese government demanded for protection of their interest
   • Second Sino-Japanese War
     • War broke out 1937 after Marco Polo Bridge
     • Western Powers did not intervene after China's appeal

5. Japan's response to world developments in the 1930s

   • American Foreign Policy Changes
     • Encouraged Japanese to attack pearl harbour
     • 1940, Roosevelt imposed trade embargo on Japan
       • export of essential war materials were banned
         • USA became Japan's enemy
   • War In Europe
     • Japan took the opportunity of declining powers
       • Targeted Malaya and Singapore
   • Attack On Pearl Harbour
     • Roosevelt planned to force Japan to back down by using Japan's reliance on American oil
       • Japan did not back down
         • Planned to knock out USA to make Americans negotiate for peace settlement