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Info: Japan since 1949
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A history of Modern China
Update: Japan from 1949 to 2004
A history of Modern China
Update: Japan from 1949 to 2004
The Empire of Japan was once, in a different time, the greatest enemy of most of the superpowers that dot the Earth. However, after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, things changed. Japan's relationship with the world, and particularly China, has evolved significantly since the end of World War II. Whereas under the Mao Tse-tung government, Japan and China remained enemies, as Mao opposed all forms of American suzeranity over Asian states, and sought to force Japan to reorient to Beijing at all costs-- however, after the North Korean coup d'etat in 1950, and the resultant demobilization of the 38th parallel, Mao's government fell, and a new perspective on Sino-Japanese relations took shape.
JAPAN IN THE ZHU ERA (1953-1956)
From 1953 to 1956, China was governed by Mao's military-oriented successor, Zhu De. Zhu, while an orthodox Maoist in many ways, was also open towards Asian community and peace. However, his rapid swelling of the People's Liberation Army's ranks, and the expansion and solidification of the largely "smoke and mirror" People's Liberation Navy and Air Force triggered a response in Tokyo. Under American leadership, the Japanese created the Japanese Self-Defence Force, which was intended to serve as a domestic guard against Chinese and Soviet aggression, however it may take shape. Zhu, noticing this, lead a masterful stroke of diplomacy.
In 1955, the Accord of Peace was signed in Osaka between the Japanese government and Zhu De's China. It was a commitment to a non-aggression pact, and a resolution to discuss the potentiality of settling the more murky details of Chinese and Japanese relations that had been so damaged by warfare.
This accord went over well in China and Japan alike, and Japan drew down her rapid military expansion in 1956, and began to focus on domestic innovation and technologies, which marked the start of her ascendance once more, into one of the Tiger Economies of East Asia.
JAPAN DURING THE 'LAST MAOIST ERA' (1956-65)
Japan was ecstatic upon the appointment of Deng Xiaoping as Chairman of the People's Republic of China in 1956. Deng's ascendance seemed to promise moderation of China's communist government, and the potential establishment of a great relationship between Tokyo and Beijing. However, this was not meant to last. In 1958, the PLA Coup d'etat against Deng lead to the end of Sino-Japanese reconciliation, and the start of a frosty period of Japanese-Chinese relations. Under the rule of Lin Biao and Jiang Qing, Chinese navy and air force sorties often conducted provocations against both South Korean and Japanese territorial boundaries, often to prod their defenses. Between 1956 and 1965, Japan rapidly expanded their armed forces, and saw an increase in communist militancy, as the Communist Party of Japan demonstrated against what they saw as the 'excesses of democracy'.
After a war-scare near Kyushu in 1963, Japan's government voted to repeal Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, and instituted a heavy reform of the newly revived Imperial Japanese Armed Forces to ensure it could fight in a potential war in East Asia again. This new feeling of anxiety that was spreading across Asia, as well as the Taiwan Crisis of 1960 (of which Japan backed the Taiwanese), and the Sino-Soviet Conflict of 1964, contributed to the downfall of Madame Mao in 1965.
Upon her resignation, Japan breathed a collective sigh of relief, but was soon shocked with horror at her successor.
JAPAN AND THEIR FORMER PUPPET: SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS DURING THE AISIN-GIORO ERA (1965-1972)
The Red Emperor. The many whom, at one time during a war that engulfed the world, was nothing more than a lapdog of Tokyo, was now once again, the leader of one of the three most powerful nations on Earth. It should come to no surprise that China was no more friendly to Japan during the period of 1965 to 1972 than it was before, under Madame Mao. Chairman Puyi resented Japan for numerous reasons-- for the untold horrors they unleashed on Manchukuo, for denying him the right to rule, and for treating him like an inferior despite his attempts to be their friend in arms against the Kuomintang and Communists.
At the surface, high-level talks between China and Japan were cordial, but everyone could sense the underlying resentment between the two parties. In 1967, Chairman Puyi snubbed Emperor Hirohito at a Japanese state dinner, and this caused a rift in Sino-Japanese diplomacy. In 1970, Aisin-Gioro, at the urging of his wife, had a change of heart, and worked to improve Sino-Japanese relations in his final years. Before his death in 1972, the Chairman managed to secure a trade agreement between Japan and China, allowing for the flow of goods between both realms.
JAPAN DURING THE SECOND DENG ERA (1972-1985)
During the second Deng era, the Japanese economy soared into new heights, piggy-backing off what was basically the start of the computer revolution, and the high-tech industries that started cropping up everywhere. As a result, Japan's influence was not missed in Asia. South Korea, whom had grown close to Japan despite their historical animosity, heavily benefitted from Japanese loans and investment, leading to South Korea's economy to skyrocket in the early 1970s, surpassing North Korea by 1975. Japan also, similarly, invested, along with China, into North Korea, leading to economic parity by 1979, and the resultant "equal unification" in 1980.
As well, the 1971 Sino-Japanese Trade Agreement allowed for Japan to start investing in China as well, leading to the cultivation of early high-tech industries. In 1974, Japan arbitrated high-level talks between Beijing and Taipei. Japan was also involved in the diplomatic negotiations for Korean and Vietnamese reunification during this period, with Prime Minister Tomomi Narita serving as the 'impartial statesman', leading to him winning the 1974 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts at Asian peace and unity.
By the time Deng resigned in 1985, Japan's economy had exponentially grown, and had joined Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar and Philippines as the Tiger Economies of Asia; and were seeing unprecedented growth.
JAPAN DURING THE POST-COMMUNIST ERA (1985-2004)
During the late 1980s, Japan expanded her influence as an ascendant power, establishing a "free trade league" with Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Khmer. While Japan was still a member of the American political bloc, she had deepening ties with the Beijing Pact and their leader. After the ratification of the new Chinese constitution in 1990, Japan applauded China's step into democracy and regulated capitalism, and vowed to 'show the world over that Japan and China will be friends once more'.
In 1990, Masashi Ishibashi was re-elected again, continuing the socialist rule over Japan that had started in 1983, after a brief period of Liberal Democratic rule during the late '70s. Japan utilized the opportunity of China's renewal to openly work towards reconciliation. Zhao Ziyang was largely interested in this, and during the early 90s, summit meetings were not uncommon between Tokyo and Beijing, hashing out compromises on reparations, apologies and things like that.
In 1995, Japan issued a full apology for war crimes committed in World War II, and, began to pay out a certain amount of reparations to both America and China. Korea, which had gotten reparations in the form of loans and heavy investment, received only an apology, aggravating President Park, whom felt entitled to monetary reparations from the Japanese. However, after some American and Chinese diplomatic work, Korea remained quiet on the issue.
Whilst Japan was at peace, and the nation continued to basically lead the computer revolution within itself, the 1999 Kargil War triggered Japanese attentions and response. Imposing stiff South Asian immigration quotas out of fear of radicals and irradiated people, Japan suffered some diplomatic setbacks in doing so, but, they were soon vindicated, as more nations followed suit, leading up to the 2002 terrorist attacks. In 2000, Japan dispatched 290 volunteer workers to East India to help with rebuilding the war-damaged country.
In 2002, Japan suffered minimal, if any, terrorist activity during Bloody April, but still affirmed themselves to helping the Allies in defeating the tyrannical Islamic Caliphate. This lead to the 2003 Sino-Japanese Treaty of Alliance, formally bringing Japan into a strange situation of being a midway between American and Chinese military interests, and furthering the cause of a pan-Pacific alliance, which has been considered numerous times over the last 50 years.
By 2004, Japan is prosperous, peaceful and working towards Pacific cooperation-- in all, it is a very happy place to be.
JAPAN IN THE ZHU ERA (1953-1956)
From 1953 to 1956, China was governed by Mao's military-oriented successor, Zhu De. Zhu, while an orthodox Maoist in many ways, was also open towards Asian community and peace. However, his rapid swelling of the People's Liberation Army's ranks, and the expansion and solidification of the largely "smoke and mirror" People's Liberation Navy and Air Force triggered a response in Tokyo. Under American leadership, the Japanese created the Japanese Self-Defence Force, which was intended to serve as a domestic guard against Chinese and Soviet aggression, however it may take shape. Zhu, noticing this, lead a masterful stroke of diplomacy.
In 1955, the Accord of Peace was signed in Osaka between the Japanese government and Zhu De's China. It was a commitment to a non-aggression pact, and a resolution to discuss the potentiality of settling the more murky details of Chinese and Japanese relations that had been so damaged by warfare.
This accord went over well in China and Japan alike, and Japan drew down her rapid military expansion in 1956, and began to focus on domestic innovation and technologies, which marked the start of her ascendance once more, into one of the Tiger Economies of East Asia.
JAPAN DURING THE 'LAST MAOIST ERA' (1956-65)
Japan was ecstatic upon the appointment of Deng Xiaoping as Chairman of the People's Republic of China in 1956. Deng's ascendance seemed to promise moderation of China's communist government, and the potential establishment of a great relationship between Tokyo and Beijing. However, this was not meant to last. In 1958, the PLA Coup d'etat against Deng lead to the end of Sino-Japanese reconciliation, and the start of a frosty period of Japanese-Chinese relations. Under the rule of Lin Biao and Jiang Qing, Chinese navy and air force sorties often conducted provocations against both South Korean and Japanese territorial boundaries, often to prod their defenses. Between 1956 and 1965, Japan rapidly expanded their armed forces, and saw an increase in communist militancy, as the Communist Party of Japan demonstrated against what they saw as the 'excesses of democracy'.
After a war-scare near Kyushu in 1963, Japan's government voted to repeal Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, and instituted a heavy reform of the newly revived Imperial Japanese Armed Forces to ensure it could fight in a potential war in East Asia again. This new feeling of anxiety that was spreading across Asia, as well as the Taiwan Crisis of 1960 (of which Japan backed the Taiwanese), and the Sino-Soviet Conflict of 1964, contributed to the downfall of Madame Mao in 1965.
Upon her resignation, Japan breathed a collective sigh of relief, but was soon shocked with horror at her successor.
JAPAN AND THEIR FORMER PUPPET: SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS DURING THE AISIN-GIORO ERA (1965-1972)
The Red Emperor. The many whom, at one time during a war that engulfed the world, was nothing more than a lapdog of Tokyo, was now once again, the leader of one of the three most powerful nations on Earth. It should come to no surprise that China was no more friendly to Japan during the period of 1965 to 1972 than it was before, under Madame Mao. Chairman Puyi resented Japan for numerous reasons-- for the untold horrors they unleashed on Manchukuo, for denying him the right to rule, and for treating him like an inferior despite his attempts to be their friend in arms against the Kuomintang and Communists.
At the surface, high-level talks between China and Japan were cordial, but everyone could sense the underlying resentment between the two parties. In 1967, Chairman Puyi snubbed Emperor Hirohito at a Japanese state dinner, and this caused a rift in Sino-Japanese diplomacy. In 1970, Aisin-Gioro, at the urging of his wife, had a change of heart, and worked to improve Sino-Japanese relations in his final years. Before his death in 1972, the Chairman managed to secure a trade agreement between Japan and China, allowing for the flow of goods between both realms.
JAPAN DURING THE SECOND DENG ERA (1972-1985)
During the second Deng era, the Japanese economy soared into new heights, piggy-backing off what was basically the start of the computer revolution, and the high-tech industries that started cropping up everywhere. As a result, Japan's influence was not missed in Asia. South Korea, whom had grown close to Japan despite their historical animosity, heavily benefitted from Japanese loans and investment, leading to South Korea's economy to skyrocket in the early 1970s, surpassing North Korea by 1975. Japan also, similarly, invested, along with China, into North Korea, leading to economic parity by 1979, and the resultant "equal unification" in 1980.
As well, the 1971 Sino-Japanese Trade Agreement allowed for Japan to start investing in China as well, leading to the cultivation of early high-tech industries. In 1974, Japan arbitrated high-level talks between Beijing and Taipei. Japan was also involved in the diplomatic negotiations for Korean and Vietnamese reunification during this period, with Prime Minister Tomomi Narita serving as the 'impartial statesman', leading to him winning the 1974 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts at Asian peace and unity.
By the time Deng resigned in 1985, Japan's economy had exponentially grown, and had joined Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar and Philippines as the Tiger Economies of Asia; and were seeing unprecedented growth.
JAPAN DURING THE POST-COMMUNIST ERA (1985-2004)
During the late 1980s, Japan expanded her influence as an ascendant power, establishing a "free trade league" with Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Khmer. While Japan was still a member of the American political bloc, she had deepening ties with the Beijing Pact and their leader. After the ratification of the new Chinese constitution in 1990, Japan applauded China's step into democracy and regulated capitalism, and vowed to 'show the world over that Japan and China will be friends once more'.
In 1990, Masashi Ishibashi was re-elected again, continuing the socialist rule over Japan that had started in 1983, after a brief period of Liberal Democratic rule during the late '70s. Japan utilized the opportunity of China's renewal to openly work towards reconciliation. Zhao Ziyang was largely interested in this, and during the early 90s, summit meetings were not uncommon between Tokyo and Beijing, hashing out compromises on reparations, apologies and things like that.
In 1995, Japan issued a full apology for war crimes committed in World War II, and, began to pay out a certain amount of reparations to both America and China. Korea, which had gotten reparations in the form of loans and heavy investment, received only an apology, aggravating President Park, whom felt entitled to monetary reparations from the Japanese. However, after some American and Chinese diplomatic work, Korea remained quiet on the issue.
Whilst Japan was at peace, and the nation continued to basically lead the computer revolution within itself, the 1999 Kargil War triggered Japanese attentions and response. Imposing stiff South Asian immigration quotas out of fear of radicals and irradiated people, Japan suffered some diplomatic setbacks in doing so, but, they were soon vindicated, as more nations followed suit, leading up to the 2002 terrorist attacks. In 2000, Japan dispatched 290 volunteer workers to East India to help with rebuilding the war-damaged country.
In 2002, Japan suffered minimal, if any, terrorist activity during Bloody April, but still affirmed themselves to helping the Allies in defeating the tyrannical Islamic Caliphate. This lead to the 2003 Sino-Japanese Treaty of Alliance, formally bringing Japan into a strange situation of being a midway between American and Chinese military interests, and furthering the cause of a pan-Pacific alliance, which has been considered numerous times over the last 50 years.
By 2004, Japan is prosperous, peaceful and working towards Pacific cooperation-- in all, it is a very happy place to be.
- Asami
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