The WWII Experience
in Asia
Why Hidden and Forgotten?
Its Consequences and Impact.
Yue-him Tam
Macalester College
• Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)
• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
• Annexation of Korea (1905)
Overview of WWII in Asia
Seeds of Japanese Aggression
• 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
Overview of WWII in Asia
Japanese Aggression in 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
Overview of WWII in Asia
Republic of China
Problems of Reunification
• Japanese interfere in Shandong, 1928
• CCP founded in 1922
• Challenge KMT for control
• Civil war
• United Front against Japan, 1933
Overview of WWII in Asia
• Powers desire a weak and divided China
Overview of WWII in Asia
Japan’s Aims, China’s Strategy
• 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
Overview of WWII in Asia
• Japanese military highly modernized
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
Overview of WWII in Asia
• 1st 15 years muted international response
The West Enters the Asian War
• 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
Overview of WWII in Asia
• After 1939
Overview of WWII in Asia
Captain Chennault in AVG Recruiting Flying Tigers: 1940-1941 & “Blood Chit”
Overview of WWII in Asia
Canadians Arriving in Hong Kong, 1941
• 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
Overview of WWII in Asia
American Financial Aid
• 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
Overview of WWII in Asia
Chinese Contribution
• 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...
Overview of WWII in Asia
Japanese War Crimes
• 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 Hidden and Forgotten?
Japan as War “Victim”
• 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 Hidden and Forgotten?
Cold War Geopolitics
• 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 Hidden and Forgotten?
Trans-war Continuum
• 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 Hidden and Forgotten?
Emperor Hirohito
• “Mixed messages”
• WWII Japanese Aggressor vs. Japanese
Cold War Ally
• Predominance of European Holocaust and
lack of information on Asian atrocities
The Consequences and Impact
Western Confusion
• 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 Consequences and Impact
China and Korea
• 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 Consequences and Impact
Japan Refuses Responsibility
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
The Consequences and Impact
Asian Economic Changes
• 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 Consequences and Impact
Impact on Japanese Economy