Japanese Foreign Policy and Economic Aggressions

A major part of lacquers history from the late Nineteenth vitamin C up to 1914 was military aggression. During this period there were many frugal, neighborly and political rams that facilitated military expansion. Nipp unitaryse militarism manifested on the Asian mainland in contends, aggression and military presence on alien soil. Japans foreign policy was influenced by its government, education, religion and social structure. Economic pressures facilitating military expansion up to 1914. Japan was a new consumer economy that had changed from feudal economy in a very short quantify period of forty years.This caused many problems and in the 1890s Japan was in a severe economic depression and Japan was importing far to a greater extent than they were exporting. Japan found it difficult to break into realised overseas markets where countries had been trading for much longer than Japan. And so Japan was under pressure to expand its borders for raw materials and new overseas m arkets to sell to. Japan also wanted cognizance from the western powers as a valuable market. During this fourth dimension period there was also social pressures for Japan to expand.The traditional Bushido, the chip spirit of Japan enabled the military to expand, as opposed to if Japan were a more peaceful, pacifist country. A change in social structure meant that anyone could become part of the army from the old class of the Samurai warriors. In 1873 swig was introduced mainly from peasants to serve three years, with the motto, Enrich the country, strengthence the army. A nonher social pressure to expand was increased urbanisation. By 1907, Tokyo and Osaka had waterworks and otherwise public facilities, but before this and in many other cities they had no amenities like modern sewerage musical arrangements.There was also pollution, a problem encountered by every country during industrialisation especially prominent due to the cramped conditions of Japanese cities. Political pressures also helped Japan to expand up to 1914. There were many changes to the political system that go it towards a more centralised and democratic system. This meant that there was national power, which led to nationalism within the large number of Japan. Despite this nationalism there was widespread discontent within Japan with new land taxation on the peasants and low wages for workers in the cities.The government saw expansion as a room to distract them from their problems and focus on wars abroad. Again Japan wanted international recognition as a power, the government saw examples of other strong countries expanding like Britain in India and France in Indo-mainland China. Japan needed this recognition for bargaining power with the Western Powers. Japanese Militarism manifested on the Asian mainland in the Sino-Japanese War(1894-95). This war was over Chinas and Japans interest in Korea, where some(prenominal) countries wanted to influence the government and embarrass W estern influence.China had claimed control over Korea for many years, but as it was in such obstruct proximity and was rich in the raw materials of coal and iron, Japan was interested. Japan forced Korea to trade and advance itself independent of China, while China continued to financially assist conservative officials in connection with the majestic family. After troubles in Korea both countries sent in troops, but war was avoided by the signing of the Li-Ito Convention(1885). still in 1894 both China and Japan sent forces into Korea on the request of the King due to a rebellion.After this Japan refused to remove troops from Korea and so war was declared on 1st of imperious 1894. Western countries were amazed at how easily Japan defeated China. China had a large and sensibly modern navy, but its army lacked trained men and so they lost badly. China did not acquit the modern warfare methods of Japan which soon had total control over Korea. China concur to pay a large indemni ty to Japan and to give all the trading privileges to Japan. Japanese achievement marked the emergence of Japan as a major world power and demonstrated the impuissance of the Chinese Empire.Later though the victory was dampened by the Triple Intervention of France, Russia and Germany, which forced Japan to comeback the Liaotung Peninsula to China. In the Russo-Japanese War(1904-05) Japanese forces also manifested on the Asian mainland. War began on the 8th of February 1904 when Japanese navy blue launched a surprise attack on a Russian naval base in style Aurthur. Russia had huge numbers of manpower but the war 8000km from Moscow, linked by only one line and lacked support of the Russian people.Meanwhile Japan was within easy distance of the battle and although they had few soldiers in comparison they were well led and supported. After a long battle at sea where both parties had suffered high casualties the war was ended by the American President, Roosevelt. Russia was forced t o recognise Japans pictorial interests in Korea, transfer the lease of the Liaotung Peninsula to Japan and give Japan power over the railway amongst Port Arthur to Mukden. Japan was refused their request of indemnity from Russia but was not willing to fight another war for it.The Russo-Japanese War forced Russia to abandon its expansionist policy in the Far East and it was the first time that an Asian power had defeated a European power. In 1910, Japan formally established a protectorate over Korea. The Japanese government assisted foreign policy and was influenced by it. The government was sanction by the army, which was important as no government could continue without it. In return the government introduced conscription and provided monetary support. With a successful foreign policy, the government grew more confident in dealings with other countries.The Anglo-Japanese Alliance(1902) was a definite confidence booster for the government. By it, Japan and Britain agreed that if two powers attacked either then the other must help. Education also assisted in and influenced by the success of Japans foreign policy. In Japan education became compulsory in 1872, and was centrally run. The Japanese education system glorified the Emperor, and the idea that the interests of the nation is more important than ones own. Uniformity and nationalism were compound into the education system along with obedience to authority, all attributes associated with the armed forces.In turn the education system grew more militaristic and praised Japans successes in foreign policy. Religion also helped foster a successful foreign policy. Shintoististic co-existed peacefully with other religions in Japan until the late 1870s when the modernizing government suppressed other religions and adapted Shinto teachings for government propaganda in support of the military. The government stressed that Shinto was the best religion as it wasnt a foreign religion, like Buddhism and Christianity and so was better for the Japanese. Shinto taught loyalty, respect and obedience to the Emperor.And so the Emperors decisions in relation to foreign policy was not questioned. Religion was successfully influenced by Japans foreign policy as it became even more obedient to the Emperor and in the land that Japan acquired through their foreign policy, Shinto was spread. Japans social structure also assisted foreign policy. Japans social structure was organised in such a way that they were not to question authority, and so the armed forces did not have to look for approval of their foreign policy. In Japan it was considered a privilege, not a duty, to fight for ones country.The social structure was influenced in the way it looked up to the military and as Japan became a world power with annexes in Korea and Taiwan, it boosted confidence and nationalism within all classes of society. Japan was pressured in economic, social and political areas to expand its borders. Japans military mani fested on the Asian mainland during the Sino-Japanese War(1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). patriotism and Militarism filtrated into every aspect of Japanese life, including government, education, religion and social structure.