the wwii experience in asia why hidden and forgotten? its consequences and impact. yue-him tam...
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The WWII Experience in Asia
Why Hidden and Forgotten?Its Consequences and Impact.
Yue-him TamMacalester College
Seeds of Japanese Aggression
• Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)• Annexation of Korea (1905)
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Japanese Aggression in China
• September 18, 1931 - Manchurian Incident• Establishment of Manchukuo, 1932• All-out-war 1937•WWII in Asia 1931-1945• 8 years before hostilities in Europe• 10 years+ before N. American participation• WWII in Asia lasted for 15 years O
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Republic of China
• China unprepared for a modern war• Republic of China, 1911• Nationalist Party (KMT, Kuomintang)• Dr. Sun Yat-sen president• Warlordism• Gen. Chiang Kai-shek’s Northern Expedition,
1928
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Problems of Reunification
• Powers desire a weak and divided China• Japanese interfere in Shandong, 1928
• CCP founded in 1922• Challenge KMT for control• Civil war• United Front against Japan, 1933
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Japan’s Aims, China’s Strategy
• Japanese military highly modernized• Chinese guerrillas using swords and spears
• Japan thought war would be short• Desired China’s natural resources• Wanted economic capitulation/cooperation• US and USSR real enemy
• Chinese conduct a campaign of attrition• Move capital to remote Southwest
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International Response
• 1st 15 years muted international response• League of Nations mild condemnation for
Japan
• Increasing Western Sympathy• Time and Life Magazines• US technicians, nurses, doctors, and
professionals volunteer• Small western loans
• Soviet Union provides greatest aide
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The West Enters the Asian War• After 1939• Soviet aid stops.• British, US, and other’s aid escalates
• 1941, Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and British Colonies• Pulls Western powers into Asian conflict• Changes nature of the war and foreign aid
• Direct military assistance• Flying Tigers• Canadian defense of Hong Kong
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Captain Chennault in AVG Recruiting Flying Tigers: 1940-1941 & “Blood Chit”
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Canadians Arriving in Hong Kong, 1941
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American Financial Aid
• First 9 years very limited international aid• American aid from 1942-1946• U.S. $1.54 billion• Only 3% of total Lend-Lease to all nations• Great Britain received US $31.6 billion• USSR received US $11 billion
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Chinese Contribution
• Chinese resistance denied Japan essential resources for war effort• Tied down Japanese troops• 1931-39: pinned 50% of Japanese strength• 1939-45: pinned 60% of Japanese strength
• Drove Japan to the road of no return• Chinese sacrifice• Military casualties: over 3 million• Civilian Casualty: over 26 million• Damage to Property: incalculable
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Japanese War Crimes
• Nanjing Massacre• Sexual slave system (“ comfort women”)• Biochemical warfare• Forced labor• Inhumane treatment of prisoners of war• Looting and destroying cultural properties• and many more crimes...
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Japan as War “Victim”
• Japanese education distorts WWII role• Atomic bombings make Japan a “victim”• American feelings of guilt• Nagasaki & Hiroshima remembrance ritual w/o
context• Absolve Japan of wartime responsibility
Why
Hid
den
an
d Fo
rgot
ten
?
Cold War Geopolitics
• Japan only viable ally against communism in Asia• CCP and USSR. Korea, Vietnam soon to follow
• China preoccupied with civil war• Both attempted to use Japan against the other• Some Taiwanese separatists still rely on
Japanese support
Why
Hid
den
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d Fo
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Trans-war Continuum
• Anxiety to build a demilitarized and democratic Japan• Japanese war criminals spared prosecution
• Became leaders in politics, economy, and
technology after the occupation• Class “A” war criminals in Japanese politics.• Kishi Nobusuke - prime minister 1957 to 1960
Why
Hid
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?
Emperor Hirohito
• Continuity of reign: 1926 – 1989•MacArthur exonerated him from any
responsibility •Western media presented him as a peace
loving and benevolent emperor• Told his only political deed was to shorten the
war and announce Japan’s surrender.
Why
Hid
den
an
d Fo
rgot
ten
?
Western Confusion
• “Mixed messages” •WWII Japanese Aggressor vs. Japanese
Cold War Ally • Predominance of European Holocaust and
lack of information on Asian atrocities
The
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sequ
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China and Korea
• Japan seen as an untrustworthy nation• Youth still have poor outlook towards
Japan even 65 years later• 2005 protests against permanent Security
Council seat• Popular culture acceptable but “high” culture
or more academic subjects disregarded
• Any open appreciation of Japanese aid and friendship invites puzzled looks.
The
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sequ
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Japan Refuses Responsibility
• Jeopardizes relationship with neighbors• Poses a specific threat to justice from the
perspective of individual victims• Creates atmosphere in which the laws of
war fail to be respected• Rise of Japanese conservatism• Calls to revise the pacifist Constitution• Yasukuni Shrine visits • UN Security Council Issue
The
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sequ
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s an
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Asian Economic Changes
Pre 1990s
• Japan only Asian economic power• Neighbors accepted
economic aid from Tokyo• Tacitly agreeing to avoid
bringing up the war issues
Now
• Rise of China & Korea• leaders want issues of
unresolved war responsibilities on the agenda• Responding to the
popular demand for justice at home T
he C
onse
quen
ces
and
Impa
ct
Impact on Japanese Economy
• China has surpassed the United States as Japan's top trade partner• anti-Japanese riots in China in 2005
sharply effected the Tokyo stock market• Japanese companies moving factories out
of China to less politically sensitive areas• Japanese business leaders lobbied Koizumi
to stay away from Yasukuni
The
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sequ
ence
s an
d Im
pact