Japanese And British Negotiations On The Burma Road And The National Government’s Response(1937-1941)

During the Total War against the Japanese Aggression,after China’s coastal ports were successively blocked by Japan,important strategic materials such as gasoline,trucks and ammunition needed by China were mainly transported into china through Vietnam’s Haiphong port and Hong Kong and other places controlled by other countries.In order to break the blockade of the Japanese army,in October 1937,Long Yun,Chairman of the Yunnan Provincial Government,presided over the construction of the Burma Road with the support of Chiang Kai-shek.Japan payed close attention to the construction of the Burma Road.At the end of 1937,when the construction of the Burma road began,Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan collected information on the Burma road through field investigations,visits,and dispatching spies,including the construction of the Burma road,the transportation of materials,the activities of the National Government,and the attitude of the British and Burmese authorities.After the collection and analysis of intelligence,the Japanese side believed that China obtained supplies from the materials transported by the Burma road,which increased China’s ability to fight against Japan,and regarded the blockade of the Burma road as Japan’s national policy to defeat China in the Sino-Japanese War.At the end of1938,the Burma road was opened to traffic,and Japan requested the British government to prohibit the transportation of military supplies to China through Burma.The British government did not agree,and the blockade was put on hold for the time being.In June 1940,France was defeated and surrendered.Japan asked France to block the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway,and also asked the British government to block the Burma Road.After being rejected by the British side,Japan made concessions and proposed a plan to temporarily block the Burma Road.At this time,the British was facing the crisis of fighting against Germany.Therefore,under the failure of asking for help from the United States and the coercion of Japan,the British war cabinet had to make a compromise which agreed to temporarily block the Burma Road,prohibitting gasoline,weapons,ammunition,trucks and railway materials transported to China through Myanmar within three months from July 1940.At the same time,the British government signed a memorandum with Japan,requiring Japan to work hard for a fair and just peace in the Far East during the blockade period,hoping to usher in new changes in the international situation during the blockade period.Japan was not satisfied with the result.In order to maximize the effect of the blockade and worrying that the British and Myanmar governments will not strictly enforce the embargo,Japan continued to negotiate during the blockade.Because Britain didn’t want to block the Burma Road,and during the embargo period,the conflict between Britain and Japan Contradictions deteriorated sharply,the Britain’s government finally decided to reopen the Burma Road.The reopening of the Burma Road declared the failure of Japan to block the Burma Road through diplomatic means,and was an important symbol of the turning point in Japan-British Relations.Although Japan failed diplomatically with Britain,its illusion of blocking the Burma Road was not shattered.After the Burma Road was reopened,Japan increased its bombardment of the Burma Road and captured Rangoon in March 1942,cutting off the Burma Road.The National Government also made diplomatic efforts to keep the Burma Road opening.In order to break the blockade of the Japanese army,the National Government built the Burma Road,and sent officials to prepare the transportation.After nearly a year of negotiation,the Burma Road was successfully opened to traffic at the end of 1938.When learning the news that Britain might compromise with Japan to block the Burma Road,the National Government actively rushed supplies,and at the same time,protested to Britain,and actively sought the support of the United States,the Soviet Union and other big countries.Although China’s efforts have not changed the result of the blockade of the Burma Road,it has also won the support of public opinion around the world.During the blockade,the National government actively pushed the British to reopen the Burma Road.After the reopening,China actively cooperated with the British to jointly defend the Burma Road,and dispatched a military delegation headed by Shang Zhen to visit Myanmar,India and other places,laying a solid foundation for Sino-British military cooperation.The Burma Road made a huge contribution to supporting China’s Anti-Japanese War and maintaining the normal operation of the economy in the Rear Area.Japan’s negotiation with Britain on the Burma Road had a negative impact on Sino-British relations,and promoted the adjustment of the National Government’s diplomatic strategy.In order to force the National Government to surrender,Japan cut off China’s foreign supplies and regarded the blockade of the Burma Road as an important part of its strategy of aggression against China.The changes in Japan’s decision-making on the Burma Highway also reflected the changes in Japan’s policy of aggression against China during the Anti-Japanese War.