A Research On The U.S.Factors In Sino-Japanese Relations(1871-1945)

Sino-Japanese Provisions of Cordial Relations,signed in 1871,is the first treaty that modern China signed with Japan,and is the beginning of modern national diplomacy between China and Japan.This paper will study the American factors in Sino-Japanese relations during the historical stage of 1871-1945,from Sino-Japanese Provisions of Cordial Relations signed in 1871 to the end of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945.Taking into account the major historical events and the role played by America in the development of Sino-Japanese relations,the paper divides this historical period into four stages.The first stage:from the signing of Sino-Japanese Provisions of Cordial Relations to the breaking out of Jiawu Sino-Japanese War(1871-1894).In the middle of the nineteenth Century,after the Western powers opened the door to China with strong ships and heavy artillery,the American "black ship" visiting China gave a vivid lesson to Japan.In order to get rid of the colonial fate like China,Japan initiatively became an apprentice to the Western powers,and took the western powers as model to make the country rich and its military force efficient.Shortly after the Meiji Restoration,Japan embarked on the road of expansion,the first casualty was Taiwan,Ryukyu and North Korea close to Japan.But at this time the Qing Empire was getting in deeper in the semi colonial mire,its foreign diplomacy became passive everywhere and foreign affairs didn't succeed step by step.At the beginning of Japan's expansion,American politicians and diplomats showed their connivance and support.In 1870s,if the United States is said to be indulgent with Japan first and then be partial to Japan in the Ryukyu affairs,the United States was more optimistic to see Japan invade China's Taiwan.Until the 80s when Japan invaded North Korea,the U.S.government's help to Japan was no less than an ally.To a large extent,the attitude of the United States to Japan in the 70s and 80s predicted Washington's future Far East policy.The second stage:from the Sino-Japanese Jiawu War to the Russo-Japanese War(1894-1905)At this stage,Japan's aggression against China has deepened greatly.Japan launched the first large-scale aggression war against China in 1894.Japan,together with the Western powers,sent arms to China to put down the boxer movement in 1900.In 1904-1905 Japan launched the Russo-Japanese war in the territory of China.The United States was consistent with Japan's aggression against China.At this stage,the relationship between Japan and the United States is harmonious.As for China,it was only to be the object of powers to divide,so it was impossible for China to play a restricting role between the United States and Japan.In 1899,John Hay,the U.S.Secretary,issued a "open door" note to the powers,the American Far-East Policy tone is determined.The America changed its traditional long-time policy of "divide the pie" behind the UK gunboats into independent expansion policy to actively seek benefits in china.Putting forward "open door" policy and Theodore Roosevelt interfering in the Russo-Japanese conflict showed that the United States has officially boarded the arena of big powers in China.The third stage:from the Russo-Japanese War to the 918 incident(1905-1931)After the Russo-Japanese War,the development of Far East international relations was completely contrary to the original intention of the United States.The three Northeastern Provinces of China became Japan's sphere of influence,and shut the door to the United States.In order to prevent the United States forces entering into the Northeast,Japan began to unite its former rival Russia.The Russo-Japanese agreement signed in 1907,marked the American policy's failure of helping Japan and restricting Russia,the conflict between Japan and America replaced the Russo Japanese conflict,and became the main contradiction of the imperialist powers in the Far East.After the Russo Japanese War,considering about the European war was breaking out soon,Britain,France and other powers adopted policy to temporarily maintain the status quo in Asia,Japan used the favorable opportunity that the powers were forced to "allow",to expanding its Chinese interests.After the outbreak of the 1911 Revolution,Chinese political situation began highly unstable,Japan took the chance to expand its sphere of influence to the Northeast regions and Inner Mongolia.Until the outbreak of the First World War,the Japanese used declaring war on Germany as an excuse to invade Shandong province and put forward the "Twenty-one Demands" to conquer China.In the face of Japan's aggressive tendency,the late Qing government,the Yuan Shikai administration and the Duan Qirui administration are all trying to introduce the United States to counterbalance Japan's aggression against china.Unfortunately,the United States government from all walks of life didn't want to cause the US Japan conflict.The Japanese compromise was 1908 "Luotuo-Gaoping Agreement" and 1917 "Shijing Agreement".But America's biggest betrayal to China was that Wilson agreed to transfer the Germany's privileges in Shandong to Japan at the Paris Peace Conference.American concession to Japan continued until the Washington Conference in 1922.At the Washington Conference,China took back Shandong's sovereignty,and Japan's expansion in the Far East was limited.At the same time,the Washington System established a new balance in the Far East brought China return to the situation of being controlled by the powers.The fourth stage:from the "918" Incident to the unconditional surrender of Japan(1931-1945)After establishment,the Nanjing Government established the diplomatic line of Uniting the US to restrain Japan,so the United States got more opportunities in Chinese.Japan is determined to launch a war of aggression to achieve the purpose of dominating China.After Japan launched the "918" Incident in 1931,the United States had no new progress and changes in the Far East policy.Only after Roosevelt came to power,there was a consideration of resisting Japan to a certain extent on China's Cotton Wheat Loans in 1933 and the Sino-US Silver Agreement in 1936.After the Lugou Bridge Incident in 1937,Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China,but the United States continued to pursue a policy of appeasement in the form of neutrality.Until 1938 when Japanese Prime Minister Konoe issued a "new East Asian Order" statement and then Japan announced its withdrawal from the "Nine Power Treaty",the attitude of the United States began to change and implement the aid policy towards china.For example,American loan of Tung oil to China was signed in February 1939.But the United States didn't really realize China's importance in defending U.S.interests around the world until Japan had begun to go to the South and established axis of the three countries,and then the United States began to openly aid China and punish Japan.Japan attacked on Pearl Harbor at December 7,1941,which brought an end to America's long-term adherence and compromising policy to Japan.The outbreak of the Pacific War fundamentally ended the battle situation that the Chinese fought alone.America's policy toward China has entered a new stage,and its role changed from the positive support of China's war of resistance against Japan to the fight against Japan together with China.Based on the collection and research on the historical track and distinctive characteristics of the American factors affecting the development of Sino-Japanese relations,the last chapter of this paper comprehensively and systematically sums up China's basic experience and lessons while coping with American factors in Sino-Japanese relations,and puts forward specific suggestions on how to deal with the American factors in Sino-Japanese relations.