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Chinese Civil War (April 1927-May 1, 1950)

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Chinese Civil War (April 1927-May 1, 1950)

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Description: At first, the Nationalist Party (GMD) and the Communist Party (CCP) joined forces in a United Front to oppose the warlords (1916-1928) that controlled China. However the GMD became increasingly divided, between the left and right, and Jiang (ruler of the GMD) began to round up the communists for elimination. In 1929, warlords rebelled and China continued to experience disunity and violent fighting. Communists who survived the initial massacre by Jiang established a Soviet Republic and Jiang saw the CCP as his most serious threat. Between 1930-34 Jiang carried out a series of Extermination Campaigns, intent on destroying the communists before turning towards the invading Japanese army.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: The continued political instability and violence in China gave Japan the perfect opportunity to further invade China. Jiang was completed focused on wiping out the communists, which let the Japanese army invade and expand while also creating further disunity in China because the CCP and the general public demanded he turn forces towards the Japanese which was ignored. Also, his own generals didn’t agree with his priorities.

International Response:

The Second United Front was created in China as a response to the Chinese Civil War. This was a unity between the GMD and the CCP to fight the Japanese, and Jiang was declared commander in chief, and the Soviet Union provided them with weapons.

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Description: There was an explosion that destroyed a section of RR track, owned by the Japanese, near the city of Mukden. The Japanese blamed the Chinese and used it as justification to retaliate and invade Manchuria.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: It is speculated that the bomb was planted by Japanese officers in the army as pretext for subsequent military action against China. The Japanese officials in Manchuria felt a growing pressure to assert control of the area and to increase their closeness with China.

International Response: It began a period of incidents and clashes between the Japanese and the Chinese (1931-37). The U.S. Secretary of State, Stimson, issued the Stimson Doctrine saying that the U.S. would not recognize any agreements between Japan and China that limited free commercial trade in the region.

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Anti-Comintern Agreement Signed (November 25, 1936)

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Anti-Comintern Agreement Signed (November 25, 1936)

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Description: Koki Hirota signed this Agreement because he wanted to focus on the Soviet Union. This was an anti-communism pact, but once other forces added to it, such as Italy, it also gave off an anti-western and anti-British identity as well.  This was not necessarily a military pact, but it served Japan to bring it closer to Nazi Germany; Italy also joined this pact in 1937.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: Since Italy joined this Pact, it made Japan align with facist powers in Europe. It allows Germany to focus on Japan''s successes, and it eased Japan's communist fears.

International Response: Stalin’s fears of Japanese invasion resurfaced with this Agreement signed. This led to the Soviet Union signing a new treaty with Nationalist China in August 1937, with the inclusion of sending military supplies to the GMD armies.

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Marco Polo Bridge Incident (July 7, 1937) 

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Marco Polo Bridge Incident (July 7, 1937) 

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Description: Japanese forces provoked a minor clash between themselves and the Chinese forces at the Marco Polo Bridge, a RR intersection near Beijing. Here they met resistance, but used the incident to attack other Chinese bases.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: The incident became the trigger for the Second Sino Japanese War. The Japanese blamed the Chinese for the attack, justifying further attacks on Chinese bases. Although negotiations between the governments were attempted, Japanese militarists wanted war. The military hardliners won out and China was publicly blamed and Japan announced the sending of more troops. Officers and militarists in the Japanese Army were determined to provoke a clash to justify a full out war.

International Response: Protests arose in China. Beijing has a significant cultural, economic, and strategic importance to the Chinese. Therefore, Japan’s attack proved to be a turning point in their international relations.

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Start of Second Sino-Japanese War (July 7, 1937-45)

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Start of Second Sino-Japanese War (July 7, 1937-45)

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Description: Japanese troops clashed with some local Chinese soldiers on the Marco Polo Bridge outside Beijing. Ishiwara feared the Soviet Union and the spread of communism and did not think it was wise to engage in conflict. The Prime Minister publicly blamed China which started the war.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This is important to Japanese expansion because it heightened the need for militarization in the country. During the Marco Polo incident, Japan proved to themselves that war with China (in order to obtain land) was necessary and justified.

International Response: The declarations led to more clashes in China despite the cease fire. Tensions between Japan and China- Japan occupied Beijing and it became a center for northern Chinese invasion. Lack of strong military response to Japan from China diminished any resistance.

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Japanese Captured Nanjing, China (December 13, 1937) 

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Japanese Captured Nanjing, China (December 13, 1937) 

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Description: Japanese soldiers carried out killing contests and severely violated human rights. The brutality of the soldiers only contributed to increasing violence throughout the war with China. “The Rape of Nanjing” Japanese commanding general did not control his troops when occupying Nanjing. 20,000 incidents of rape occurred in the first month of occupying the city. This event still causes tensions between China and Japan today because of the atrocities committed by the Japanese soldiers.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: In Japanese education, nationalism and racial superiority was prevalent and expected. Represents how Japan used their beliefs of racial superiority to justify their expansionist foreign policy and invasion of China. Also, after capturing Nanjing, Japan's forces were able to take effective control of most of Northern China by 1937. It forced nationalist leader, Jiang to retreat and Japan increasingly escalated the amount of soldiers; by 1938, there were over 1 million Japanese troops in China

International Response: The international response to this was not immediate, but an immense wave of guilt seems to be an issue in Japan. There are still grudges held by China.

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Battle of Khalkhin-Gol (May 11, 1939 - September 16, 1939)

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Battle of Khalkhin-Gol (May 11, 1939 - September 16, 1939)

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Description:  A series of conflicts relating to the border disputed  (in Manchuria) between Japan and the Soviet Union without any declaration of war. The final incident is called the Nomonhan Incident where the Japanese Red Army were defeated. The battles resulted in a Soviet victory and implemented "status quo ante bellum" (state before the war- whomever had the land before the war started would get it back).

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This was important to Japanese expansion because this conflict was a setback for their imperialistic goals because the Soviet Union took land from Japan. This did lead for a 'supercharged' Japan meaning they increased the manufacturing of wartime products significantly as an attempt to become a threat to US and USSR in the future.

International Response: The international response to this event focused mainly on the USSR. The UN was disappointed with the USSR because they attacked Japan when they were ill-prepared and had no chance against the USSR.

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Plan for Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere announced (June 29, 1940) 

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Plan for Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere announced (June 29, 1940) 

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Description:  It was a concept created during the Showa era by the government and military of Japan. The goal was to create a self-sufficient “block of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers”.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: It was where Japan was aiming to establish a well-organized sphere of unity under Japan. They used the same control they had in building their empire of 1895 and 1940 to build this sphere of unity.

International Response: This was Japan's attempt to create a 'New Order' in East Asia and went hand in hand with the expansionist/ protectionist idea of "Asia for the Asiatics', which was meant to portray a vision of Japan looking out for Asia as a leader. However, it meant more- Japan wanted to kick out the European holds and ties to the Pacific and claim it as their own. Therefore, this would clash with US and European interests. They would most likely oppose this and increase their military in order to oppose the aggressive Japanese in that region.

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Konoe becomes Prime Minister of Japan (July 22, 1940)

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Konoe becomes Prime Minister of Japan (July 22, 1940)

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Description: He was seen by some as someone who could potentially achieve a political consensus and stability within Japan. However, he did have expansionist views and was convinced Japan needed to adopt a policy for its own “autonomous bloc”, and supported the idea of an Asiatic Monroe Doctrine.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: One month after Konoe became PM, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred and the conflict escalated between China and Japan. He gave the orders for a full out invasion/war against China.

International Response: Initially, he was viewed politically as moderate, so the likelihood of a strong international response from the other powers is low. However, later in his career, he signed the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Germany who Britain and the US were already having trouble with. At that point, the US and GB would see him as a threat and focus more attention onto his government as well as the alliance with Germany and Italy.

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Japanese occupy northern French-Indochina (September 22, 1940 - September 26, 1940) 

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Japanese occupy northern French-Indochina (September 22, 1940 - September 26, 1940) 

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Description: Occupied in order to prevent the Republic of China from importing arms and fuel through French Indochina along the Sino-Vietnamese Railway.

Importance to Japanese Expansion:  Japan lost access to three-fourths of its overseas trade and 88 percent of its imported oil.

International Response: in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt seized all Japanese assets in the United States in retaliation for the Japanese occupation of French-Indochina. Britain and the Dutch East Indies followed suit.

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Signing Tripartite Pact (September 27, 1940)

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Signing Tripartite Pact (September 27, 1940)

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Description: The pact provided for mutual assistance should any of the countries suffer an attack from a nation not already involved in the war. It was a pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan, and if one of them were attacked by a Power not involved in the European War or in the Sino-Japanese Conflict (the US or USSR), then they would assist each other.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: Japan was now backed by powerful allies therefore was free to expand. It confirmed the three countries' desire to expand and create a new international order in their regions. It was also intended as a warning to the US regarding military involvement in the on-going conflicts in Asia and Europe. It also outlined that Germany/Italy would respect Asia being at Japan's hand and Japan recognizing Europe would be Italy's and Germany's. This ensured that Japan would have one less enemy on the playing field for Asia as well as allies to assist against a potential US threat. Therefore, they would be more confident making imperial moves into Asia and the Pacific.

International Response: It is significant internationally because it was seen as being used after Japan's attack on Peal Harbor. The US declared war on Japan and soon after Germany and Italy which involved the US into WW2. Japanese troops to focus on the war with China as well as prepare for war in the Pacific. This was an important step to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and them pursuing their goal of a wider Pacific war to take over.

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Japanese- Soviet Neutrality Pact Concluded (April 1941)

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Japanese- Soviet Neutrality Pact Concluded (April 1941)

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Description: It was designed to prevent the USSR from having a war against Japan and Nazi Germany at the same time. This was preceded by the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, therefore this Pact was a way for USSR to deflect the possible two-front war between Japan and Nazi Germany, by allowing China to keep fighting.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This formally ended the Soviet- Japanese Border War (1938-39) as well as began to resolve the differences in the factions of the Japanese military and government. This freed up Japanese troops to focus on the war with China as well as prepare for war in the Pacific. This was an important step to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and them pursuing their goal of a wider Pacific war to take over.

International Response: The Soviet Union withdrew their troops from East Asia, especially when Japan attacking Pearl Harbor led to war between Germany and the US and the USSR needed help to protect them against a German invasion. Japan's pursuit of a takeover in the Pacific where GB, France, the Netherlands ad US interests would be at risk, would lead to these powers to join the ranks along with being a USSR ad increase military production for the war.

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Attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)

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Attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)

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Description: It was a surprise attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy Air upon the United States

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This was important to Japanese expansion because it was an act done by Japan to prevent the US from interfering in Southeast Asia military actions.  This allowed Japan to expand their troops into China, such as occupying the southeast. This also created problems for Japan’s armed forces in China, easing the pressure on Jiang’s forces.

International Response: Americans were shocked and outraged. U.S. President FDR delivered his "Day of Infamy" speech and immediately the U.S declared war on Japan (Dec 8). In response to U.S declaring war on Japan, Italy and Germany declared war on the United States. It led to the US’ involvement in WWII. The U.S. began to send supplies to China and airfield were build to disrupt Japanese trade and imports.