Meiji Japan, Colonialism and Beyond

The most authoritative aspects that would come out of lacquers struggle with China, (the send-off Sino-japanese struggle 1894-1895) and the struggle with Russia (Russo-japanese struggle 1904 1905) did not occur during the wars themselves, but rather in the years following the conflicts. These wars were, essentially, the precursors to the gallant japan of human being fight devil infamy.The First Sino-Japanese war showed Japan that the reforms and modernizations of the Mieji Restoration were working as contrasted to Chinas Self Strengthening Movement that had been a national failure. War wasdecl bed on 1st August 1894, and although foreign observers had predicted an elementary victory for the much massive Chinese forces, the Japanese had done a more successful job of modernizing, and they were better equipped and prepared.Japanese array scored quick and overwhelming victories on both land and sea.1 This war also established a relationship with western nations that re sulted in terrific improvements in Japans military. So profound were this improvements that Japan would after wage a successful war of for the rights to imperial interests against Russia that had a cold superior military.In a way, Japans involvement in these wars did show the nation had developed similarities with Western nations beyond simply modernizing domestically in social and industrial terms. The foreign policy of Japan began to mime the least desirable aspect of all of Western Europes foreign policy. This area of foreign policy was an emphasis on imperialism and village.The untainted tradition of imperialism and colonization involved superiorpowered military incursions into early(a) countries in order to conquer the nation,subjugate the people and strip the native natural resources from the conquered nations. Winning the wars with China and Russia help set the stage for the coming of an Imperial Japan that would wage a massive war in the Pacific Seas during World War Two.By 1895 Japan was beginning to touch the fruits of their labor as the defeat of China in several wars and the annexation of Taiwan brought Japan political recognition from many European countries. identification from the European countries meant an escape from many of the treaties that had been forced upon Japan in the 1870s, and an fusion with England in 1902. Japan had finally won the respect of the developed realism as a military power however, they were still viewed as an substandard culture and were not afforded the same courtesies as predominantly Anglo-Saxon nations.2With the war with China, Japan established a foothold as a colonizing empire as it would claim Korea as the prize for its enlargement. With Russia, the victory was even more complex. In the part of the world where Japan resides, the bulk of the colonial incursions and wars were bought between eastern nations and western nations as well as eastern nations vs. different eastern nations.Japans victory aga inst Russia marked the first epoch an eastern power defeated a western power in a war, the shockwaves of which reverberated throughout the world. Japans standing had greatly increase while Russias standing was greatly diminished. For Russia, the qualifying was yet some other link in the chain of events that would lead to the Bolshevik Revolution and for Japan, the guerilla link in the chain (a second victorious war) that would lead to Japans brutal World War Two imperialist fantasies was solidified.Imperial powers are amoral, but they are not suicidal. That is, it is rare that imperial expansions are undertaken against strong or powerful nations. Japans wins in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Japanese-Russian War were important in the sense that, for lack of a better explanation, saw Japan gain valuable experience in the art of waging war. Furthermore, they established to the world that they were a viable, major power. More importantly, internally, the wins provided feedback to the rulers that Japans military strategies worked and that their army and navy was indeed formidable. The seeds were planted with these victories that primed(p) the foundation for even further expansions that would result in the World War Twos War in the Pacific.Imperialist nations to not put wars that they feel they are going to lose. In terms of colonizing, a loss would be self-defeating and a drain of the nation. A successful colonization incursion eventually pays for itself by way of the colonized nation providing wealth in terms of losing the rewards of its natural resources. The victories in the wars with China and Russia emboldened Japan to have faith enough in itself to join the Axis powers.The expansion of the military from its victories against China and Russia lead to an immorality that would yield biological war in China and forced starvation in the Philippines. The mere item that Japan attacked a superpower the size of the United States speaks volumes for the con fidence Japan had in its military prowess.On the surface, these two wars Japan was involved with were plainly successful and expanded Japans colonial interests and ambitions, but ultimately, the wars turn up disastrous as they were step towards Japans downfall World War Two only brought Japan defeat, humiliation and devastation via the nuclear Bomb.Works CitedAnon., Imperial Japan, functional , Internet, accessed 05 November 2006.Russo-Japanese War Research Society, Forerunners, The Sino-Japanese War, available from http//www.russojapanesewar.com/phila-2.html, Internet, accessed 05 November 2006.National Clearinghouse for U.S.-Japan Studies, Japans Imperial Family, available from http//www.indiana.edu/japan/iguides/imperial.html, Internet, accessed 05 November 2006.1 Russo-Japanese War Research Society, Forerunners, The Sino-Japanese War, available from http//www.russojapanesewar.com/phila-2.html, Internet, accessed 05 November 2006. 2 Anon., Imperial Japan, available from http// filebox.vt.edu/users/jearnol2/ MeijiRestoration/imperial_japan.htm, Internet, accessed 05 November 2006.