Japanese Army In Manchuria example essay topic

Manchuria, in northeast China, was rich in natural resources and suitable for agriculture. Japan had been eyeing this territory for a long time and wanted its resources. The Japanese saw its take-over at the first step to a probable occupation of China. In 1905, Japan had defeated Russia and had taken over Russia's economic and railway rights in Manchuria in agreement with the peace treaty. The Japanese army, stationed in Manchuria to defend Japan's interest, had long harboured the thought of conquering the entire Manchuria for Japan. Japan was experiencing problems as its land and natural resources were inadequate.

As a result, there were social and economic problems such as scarcity of food, housing and jobs. The army believed that the capture of Manchuria would eradicate these problems for Japan. The army saw 1931 as an ideal time to conquer Manchuria, as Chiang was busy with getting rid of the Communists. With the Great Depression at its peak, the Western powers were preoccupied with solving domestic problems. Japan anticipated that they would not do much to prevent Japanese aggression in Manchuria.

Japan was similarly affected by the Great Depression as its trade with other countries had been greatly reduced. The military, the extreme Nationalists and the zaibatsu (industrialists) all felt that more than ever, the conquest of Manchuria was vital. In September 1931, a bomb blew up on the Southern Manchuria railway track. Although the Japanese themselves planted the bomb, the Japanese army in Manchuria blamed the Chinese Army for the explosion. The Japanese demanded the right to protect themselves and their welfare. By the next day, the Japanese had conquered Mukden, the capital city of Manchuria.

Many other cities were subsequently conquered. Even though the Japanese army in Manchuria had acted of its own accord, the Japanese government in Tokyo took no steps to bring it to a halt. Chiang was preoccupied with fighting the Communists. He was aware that he could not afford to fight both the Communists and the Japanese at the same time. His main concern was to eliminate the Communists and so ordered Chinese troops in Manchuria not to resist the Japanese. The only action he took against the Japanese was in appealing to the League of Nations for help.

The League of Nations sent an investigative mission in December 1932 under the headship of Lord Lytton of Britain. As there was no resistance from China or the international community, the Japanese subjugated the whole of Manchuria within 5 months. The Japanese then renamed Manchuria 'Manchukuo'. The last emperor of the Manchu Dynasty in China, Pu Yi, was installed as the Emperor of Manchukuo.

He was nothing more than a puppet in the hands of the Japanese. In his report to the League of Nations, Lord Lytton denounced Japan as the aggressor and ordered that Japan withdrew from Manchuria. The League accepted this report and refused to recognise Manchukuo. Apart from this, it took no further action. Japan responded by resigning from the League of Nations.