Japan's 21 Demands of the Chinese Government in 1914 - Essay Example

Japans "21 Demands" of the Chinese Government in 1914 Introduction: The beginning of the twentieth saw the emergence of Japan as an international power to reckon with in the Far East. This emergence was confirmed, when it became the first Asian power to defeat a European nation in the Russo-Japanese War, which came to an end through the American brokered Portsmouth Treaty in 1905. This Treaty recognized the growing strength of Japan through the international acceptance of Japanese presence in Korea and a foothold in mainland China. With a weak government in place in China, it had for long been the playing ground for many of the European powers. Japanese ambitions in China were impeded by the presence of these European powers, but an internationally recognized foothold had been secured by 1905. The start of the First World War in 1914 provided Japan with an opportunity to extend its influence over more areas of mainland China. The “21 Demands” of Japan were a manifestation of its ambitions in mainland China and a reflection of its growing strength as an international power. Background History: Korea had for long had been a bone of contention between China and Japan. For Japan, Korea was both a threat and a challenge. Positioned as it was, Korea in the hands of China was a dagger poised at the heart of Japan and that was the strategic threat. Korea was also a challenge in that it paved the way to any ambitions on mainland China. In the Sino-Japanese War between 1894 and 1895, Japan emerged the victor. China was not only forced to concede the neutrality of Korea, but also give Taiwan and the Liaodong peninsula (Port Arthur) to the Japanese. The intervention of three European powers in the form of France, Germany and Russia forced Japan to return the Liaodong peninsula to China. In 1898 Russia leased the Liaodong peninsula from China and building a railroad began to expand its influence into Korea, and by the beginning of the twentieth century the growing Russian influence in the area was a matter of concern to Japan and eventuality war broke out between the two in 1904. Japan emerged victorious and the Portsmouth Treaty of 1905 an American effort at bringing about peace in the area established the withdrawal of Russia from Korea and the internationally recognized presence of Japan in Korea. In addition the Liaodong peninsula returned to the Japanese sphere of control, giving Japan a foothold on mainland China (1). In 1898 Germany had managed to secure several concessions from China in the Shandong province including the port of Tsingtao and the railway rights in the province. To Britain these moves were welcome, as it acted as a counter to Russian ambitions in China, and at the same time allowed it to increase its influence in other areas in China. First World War broke out in 1914, where Britain and Russia were allies and Germany the common enemy. Japan attacked the German interests in China in 1914 and took control of these interests. In keeping with its ambitions in China, it issued the “21 Demands” on the weak Chinese Government. (2). Analysis of the “21 Demands”: The “21 Demands” of Japan made on the weak Chinese Government was nothing but a clear expression an assertive Japan of its ambitions for the domination of China. Acceptance of the “21 Demands” would make making China a semi-vassal state of Japan, while the attention of the European powers and America were turned towards the First World War that was occurring in Europe. The “21 Demands” of Japan made on China were divided into five groups. A close look at these show the ascending severity of the demands made on China in keeping with Japanese territorial and economical ambitions in China, virtually making China surrender its sovereignty to Japan. Under the guise of strengthening the peace in the region and strengthening of relations between the two nations the four articles in Group I of the “21 Demands” call for China to accept the Japanese take over of the German territory of Shantung province, which the Japanese had overrun by defeating the Germans. To secure Japanese control over this territory, the Chinese were barred from ceding any part of the province of the Shantung or its coastline to any other foreign power. Japanese access to the territory was to be made easier by the extension of the necessary railroad infrastructure. Cities and towns in the Shantung province were to be opened to foreigners for residence and commerce. Though the term foreigners was used, it is clear that the in a Japanese controlled Shantung province the only foreigners that would be allowed to reside and set up commercial activities would be Japanese or foreigners suited to Japanese interests. In short the first group of four articles of the “21 Demands” was to establish complete dominance of Japan over the newly gained territory of Shantung and shutting the door on any possible interference by foreign powers, which was a lesson learnt from the Liaodong peninsula experience. The second group of seven articles demonstrates the creeping ambition for more territorial gains in China, when the other international powers were distracted by the events of the First World War in Europe. These ambitions were trained on South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia. Calling for the acceptance by China of its dominant position in these additional territories, the articles contained in the second Group of the “21 Demands” required China to extend the term of lease of Port Arthur and Darien, including the connecting South Manchurian Railway and the Antung-Mukden Railway for a further 99 years. Addition control of transportation in the territory was to be secured through the transfer of control of the Kirin-Changchun Railway to the Japanese. Presence of Japanese nationals and freedom for economic activity was planned through the demand for free entry, movement and residence of Japanese subjects, with the right to conduct business activities of different kinds including mining in South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia. China was to lose its sovereignty over this territory with the demand for mutual consent before granting railway construction rights or obtaining funds from any other foreign nationals in the territory and the use of the taxes collected in the South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia as security for any loans taken by the Chinese government from any other international power. To prevent the possibility of the presence of any other foreign power in the region, China was to consult Japan before employing any financial, political of military advisers in the region, should the need arise. These demands thus attempted to make South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia an extension of the Japanese imperial power for economic exploitation, with China receiving any fringe benefits that Japan chose to give. Economic subjugation of China continues into the third group of articles in the “21 Demands”, by the requirement that when the opportunity provides itself the large Chinese mining company of Han-yeh-ping company should become a joint venture of the two nations, and without Japanese consent no right or property of the company could be disposed of. In the guise of preventing competition and thereby potential risk to Japanese business interests the demand that no other mining activities in the neighborhood of the Han-yeh-ping company were to be permitted. Through these demands Japan makes clear its intent to exploit the mineral wealth of China to its own economic benefit. There is only a single article in Group V of the “21 Demands”, which is targeted at ensuring that no other international power gains access to China through its vast seacoast and pose a potential threat to the dominance of China by Japan, and hence the demand that China does not cede or lease any harbor, bay, or any island to any of the international powers. There are seven articles in the sixth group of the “21 Demands”, which in essence virtually ensure the ceding of Chinese political, military and executive control of its territories coveted by Japan. These demands make it necessary for China use Japanese political, financial, and military advisers in these territories and also provides for joint policing of these territories. No curbs on the activities of Japanese nationals or on their rights to own properties in interior China are to be introduced by the Chinese authorities. While removing the curbs on Japanese activities, this group of demands increases the curbs on the freedom of the Chinese government to act on its own. Thus extending from the first group to the last group of demands, a gradual ascendancy from territorial to economic to political ambitions are demonstrated in the “21 Demands” made by Japan, the acceptance of which virtually makes China a semi-vassal state of Japan. (3). Impact: The impact of the “21 Demands” was diluted initially by the negotiations conducted by the Chinese. The Chinese in spite of the severe pressure from Japan managed to negotiate an acceptance of a majority of the demands, but not all of them. China gave into the territorial and economic demands, but held back on the political demands. (2). Towards the end of the First World War the Chinese situation became more of concern to the European powers and America. There was a realization that the “21 Demands” of Japan were a manifestation of its ambitions in mainland China and a reflection of its growing strength as an international power. In the Treaty of Versailles 1918, Japan was accepted by the Big Five European powers and America, as a major power. Yet, Japan was forced to give up virtually all of the “21 Demands” made on China. However Japan was allowed to retain control over Shantung. In short the final outcome of the “21 Demands”, was that Japan succeeded in only gaining international recognition of most of the articles in Group 1 of the “21 Demands” and not the rest of these demands. Japanese ambitions on China were temporarily thwarted, but would raise its head again in just over a decade. (1). Conclusion: The events in Europe during the First World War provided Japan with a window of opportunity to progress in its ambitious designs on China. Using this window of opportunity Japan seized German territories in China, and then proceeded to attempt to subjugate the Chinese with its military might and the “21 Demands” made on China by it. It may not have succeeded fully in getting Chinese and international acceptance of the “21 Demands”, but it did gain territories and acceptance as an international power. Thus the “21 Demands” of Japan were a manifestation of its ambitions in mainland China and a reflection of its growing strength as an international power. Works Cited 1. “Japanese Imperialism, 1868-1945”. 10 Nov. 2007. . 2. “Versailles Treaty and the May 4th Movement”. 1989. SACU. 10 Nov. 2007. . 3. “THE ORIGINAL TWENTY-ONE DEMANDS MADE BY JAPAN OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 3, 1914”. Read More