Japanese Expansion in World War II

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The Japanese expansion and desire for emergence as a power equal to the Western colonial powers has its genesis 45 years before the start of World War Two. In order for the Japanese to obtain power they needed resources such as coal, steel, textiles, and oil. The Japanese islands were devoid of these essential elements of national expansion and growth. As stated earlier the Japanese expansion had its roots in the beginning of 1894-95 with its victory over the Chinese during the first Sino-Japanese war. The Japanese had colonial aspirations and they had modeled their army after Western armies during the Meiji restoration. The Meiji restoration was a time of industrialization for Japan which fueled the desire for modernization. Japan easily defeated China and China was forced to cede territory to a colonialist power (Japan). The Japanese gained a part of Manchuria, Formosa (Taiwan) and also Korea. Once the Chinese defeat became clear, other European nations began to demand concessions from China. Germany, Britain and the U.S. demanded legations and areas of influence and trade. (1)

The actions of the Western powers indicated to the Japanese that the West had no concern for Japanese interests in Asia as evidenced by this statement:

?This latter clause frightened and enraged the Russians, who believed Manchuria, Korea, and the Liaotung Peninsula to be within their sphere of influence. With the cooperation of the German and French governments, the Russians forced Japan to evacuate Port Arthur and the peninsula. This loss was made worse to Japanese officials by the blatant land grabs of those same powers in the next five years. The Germans secured the Shantung Peninsula on a long lease, and the French gained concessions near Hainan. But the Russian moves were the most damaging. They loaned the Chinese government money and in return were granted the right to extend the Siberian Railway across Manchuria to Vladivostok and to maintain infantry and cavalry units there, ostensibly to protect the line. The final insult was the long-term lease of Port Arthur granted to the Russians. It is difficult to know precisely when the Japanese began to view Europeans, and by extension Americans, as potential enemies. However, the reaction to their victory over China indicated to them that there were two sets of rules for imperial expansion in Asia -- one for the Europeans and the other for the Japanese.? (2)

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