LJP Essay

2. Japan started World War 2 in the Asia-Pacific was more about ambition than survival. How far would you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

  I agree to a large extend that Japan started World War 2 in the Asia-Pacific was more about ambition than survival. This is because Japan chose to wage war when it could have chosen peace, Japan also had an expansionist policy all this while and Japan was also led by a military government bent on dominating Asia.

  Japan started World War 2 in the Asia-Pacific as they were ambitious. Japan practised an expansionist policy and continued the policy from 1895 all through to the eve of Dec 1941 when it waged World War II in the Asia Pacific. The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was one example of their expansionist policy. The Japanese promised an Asia dominated by Asians with Japanese as the dominant race while the other Asian nations would be loyal to the Japanese. This is clear evidence of a planned intention to enter war eventually with the Western powers by instigating rebellion among the local population against their Western colonial masters. By the Japanese promise to liberate the local Asians in the South-East Asia from their colonial masters , it is obvious that the Japanese were not forced to enter the war in World War 2 in Asia but rather it was designed to be way. creating a situation whereby it could extend its empire and conduct an expansionist policy. Korea and Taiwan were already Japanese territories by 1895 but Japan still invaded Manchuria in 1931 and later, China in 1937. Hence, Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour and invasion of South-East Asia on 7 Dec 1941 was simply a continuation of this policy of aggression and expansion and thus Japan started World War 2 as they were ambitious and not because it needed to survive.[Link back to question!]

  In addition, Japan could have chosen to de-escalate tension with USA and avoided starting World War II in the Asia Pacific. When US cancelled the 1911 commercial treaty reducing Japanese trade upon Japan’s  invasion of China, Japan could have withdrawn from China to reduce tension and try to normalise ties with the US. Not only did they not do so, they expanded further and invaded Vietnam. This caused the US to enforce trade embargo on Japan. Japan felt cornered but it all started with their own wrong doing. Japan could have still reduced tensions but they chose to attack Pearl Harbour instead. Hence, Japan could have chosen to de-escalate tension with USA but because they did not, we are clear that Japan was doing so because it wished to fulfil its expansionist ambitions and NOT because it had to survive. [Link back to question!]

  Finally, Japanese military influence of the government was considerable great and the Japanese military was pro-expansionist. An example was the assassination of the Prime Minister then, Konoe Inukia in 1932, who opposed the Manchurian invasion. The murder of Prime Minister, Konoe Inukia shows extensive influence of pro-expansionist military in Japan. The Japanese also did not believe in backing down when threatened with war, due to the Samurai spirit placed loyal, duty and country before self. Hence the way the Japanese conducted its relations  with the other nations was very aggressive particularly in the 1930s because of the growing military influence. Hence, we can say that Japan started World War 2 in the Asia-Pacific was more about ambition than survival as it was led by an ambitious military government that believed in practising expansionism and had a society that supported it. .

  However, Japan did not start the war fully due to ambition.

  Japan started World War 2 in the Asia-Pacific for survival. Japan was inherently, economically vulnerable and lack of farming land causing insufficient food for the Japanese. There was also lack of land for housing due to mountainous nature of geography in Japan.[SO???] The Great Depression in 1929 also taught the Japanese an important lesson – free trade was no a dependable way to ensure economic prosperity. During the Great depression, US blocked Japanese goods due to protectionism and did not lift the import tax. Japanese companies could not sell their goods cheaply or at all in the US market as a result. Japanese companies were badly affected as large US export market was not accessible. Japan could not earn the foreign currency to import goods they needed, and so, unemployment increased and poverty rose. Japan had to search for new markets like China, Manchuria, Korea and Taiwan which all seemed like good markets to buy Japanese goods. The Great Depression was a reminder of how vulnerable the Japanese were in terms of depending on trade with Europe and America. Hence, the Japanese learnt that they could not depend on free trade alone to survive and needed markets that would always be open to buy Japanese goods when the American and European markets were hit by recession and became protectionist. They realised the need to expand their empire to secure permanently open markets and therefore conquering territories, such as conquering South-East Asia in December which was something they had to do for their survival in long term. Hence, Japan started the war due to survival not ambition.

  In conclusion, Japan started World War 2 in the Asia-Pacific due to ambition rather than survival as there was not a need to conquer territories for survival. trade. They  Japan still could have traded with other counties without having to conquer them. Furthermore, by 1941, Japan was already in possession with Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria and large areas of China. Hence, while Japan is not fully economically sufficient, they already had considerable resources at their disposal. It was not necessary to invade other countries. By escalating the tension with USA and instigating rebellion, Japan was clearly planning to expand its empire and was just using permanent trade as an excuse.(Last paragraph was decent)

Comments

1. Start each paragraph correctly – State first, second, third or next or furthermore, in addition, also……use such connectors to show continuation of a line of argument.

2. Always link the start and end of each paragraph back to the question!