The History of China and Japan between 1900 - 1991 - Essay Example

Explain the major events/ movements/ historic moments that occurred in the history of China and Japan between 1900 - 1991 and their effects on world history China and Japan have already been in the forefront of the global stage long before it was predicted by great thinkers that the 21st century would be the period of Asian hegemony. At one point in history, China surpassed the European powers during the Dark Ages and according to historians, the country and, to a lesser extent, Japan are comparable to the ancient civilizations with their enduring legacies to mankind. However, the period of 1900 to 1991 in both China and Japan’s historical timelines are significant for it would follow a different path than their glorious pasts and eventually help shape the history of the world in a different perspective with the transformation and development of their respective contemporary histories. China Around 1900s, the imperial China is on the decline. The country was being torn by pressures from foreign predators and internal strife. One might as well say that this period was ripe for a transition of power, where a vacuum was waiting to be filled. Indeed, Japan seeing the opportunity, launched a campaign to draw China into war. The Sino-Japanese War, as it was called was extremely disastrous for China as it suffered a humiliating defeat. The weakened country was forced to accede to severe Japanese war terms and finally fell to the exploitation of Western powers. The Western colonialists – Britain, France, Russia, Germany the United States – and Japan divided the country into the so-called “spheres of influence.” For instance, the French got the provinces of Kwangsi, Kwantung and Yunnan; the Germans, the Shantung Province; the Russians, Manchuria, and so on. It was Zaide who explained that China was carved up like melons by the colonialists. The West euphemistically called this “Open Door Policy” which just meant that the Western Powers could finally enrich themselves with China’s abundant resources. The Western presence could be felt in its cities most especially Shanghai, where foreigners established an all-but-independent city- state to run their China trade.” (Fishman, pp. 19) The foreign influence and China’s state in general gave birth to several uprisings and the rise of new leaders.1 The most important of the rebellions were the Boxer Rebellion against the foreigners and the Nationalist Rebellion against the imperial government. These series of events have achieved for China a Republican form of government and the leadership of the Chinese idol, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It was argued by some scholars that the Chinese are used to authoritarian rule that is why there was severe disunity under Sun Yat-sen’s government. This disunity would pave the way for the rise of the more disciplined and repressive Communist power. After the Second World War, the Communists have successfully deposed the Nationalist government and have ruled the country since. Impact China’s impact on world affairs within the period of 1900-1991 could be identified into two fronts – political and economic. As a Communist state, it aided the then USSR in exporting and supporting the Communist ideology in other countries. But the world also watched and reeled with the repercussions of the rivalry between the two giant Communist states. Indeed, by 1960 the Sino-Soviet split happened, dragging with them their respective Communist satellites. Today, China remained the only Communist superpower with the fall of the USSR – the leading Communist state of relevance. On the economic front, it would not take too much imagination to calculate the magnitude of China’s impact in the world trade and economy within this period. Wars have been waged and policies were altered on a global scale because all have coveted access to China’s resources and burgeoning market. When the Communist came to power, they followed an isolationist economic and foreign policies to the detriment of world trade. But its lifting by Mao Zedong was seen as one of the major breakthroughs in the world trade. Japan Perhaps, from 1900-1991, Japan will be marked mostly in three things: One, during the early years of this period, the country has an ambition of becoming a world superpower. It constantly colonized its neighbors and provoked China in going into war that it had successively won. Indeed, the country has the distinction of rising to a world power in the span of 50 years – a period unprecedented in modern history. 2 The Japanese determination was deadly, it was willing to die to conquer land and move westward. Back then during the wars it participated in, Japan seemed unstoppable. Second was Japan’s participation in the Second World War. This era was one of the darkest periods of the Japanese history. While early in the war, the country has achieved victories in its campaign in Asia and against the United States, the tide eventually turned and Japan was defeated with the country laid to waste. Its cities were reduced to ashes by the American atomic bombs. And today, history books in China, Korea, Philippines and in most of Asia will forever document Japanese atrocities during the war. Up to the present, Japan is haunted by issues of war reparations and strained foreign relations with countries such as China and Korea. Finally, the third, which is maybe one of greatest upheaval within this period, was the Japanese “economic miracle.” This catapulted the country to the ranks of highly industrialized nations. Steven Vogel stated that would be reformers from around the world looked to Japan for lessons since the country have apparently discovered how to balance competition and coordination in modern economy. “The Japanese model delivered tangible signs of success: rapid economic growth, a rising standard of living, booming exports, technological leadership, and financial power.” (Vogel, pp. 1) The industrialization of Japan was so swift and, again, unprecedented that “even the modest Japanese had developed a certain confidence and pride in their economic system.” (Vogel, pp. 1) The accident of geography has caused the histories of China and Japan to be intertwined. Although one has been an influence over the other culturally, they have watched its other suspiciously for years because the animosity has taken root for generations. But certainly, as what a cliché puts it, there is nothing permanent in this world but change. Leaders come and go and so do policies and national sentiments. Currently, there is a peaceful co-existence with the two countries not because of whims but because of necessity. The landscape of world trade has increased hundredfold and this take precedence in the relationship among nations, China and Japan included. At present, the state of China and Japan figures prominently in the world stage - whatever economic and political activity is watched with keen interest for they have become two of the most significant countries this world has ever known. Bibliography Fishman, Ted C. China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World. Reprint ed. Scribner. 2006. pp. 19 “History of the Republic of China.” Wikipedia. 24 June 2006 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Republic_of_China> Vogel, Steven K. Japan Remodeled: How Government and Industry are Reforming Japanese Capitalism (Cornell Studies in Political Economy). Cornell University Press, 2006. pp. 1 Zaide, Sonia. History of Asian Nations. 4th ed. Quezon City: All Nations Publishing Co., Inc. 29-34 Read More