The China-UK Relations And Hong Kong Problem In Anti-Japanese War

During the 1930s, Japan not only attempts to annex China, but also dreams of dominating entire Southeast Asia and Pacific region. In Dec 1942, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The United States, Britain and other countries declared war on Japan immediately. China united with these countries to defend Japanese. China and Britain allied, but the two countries are not in harmony. British made suggestions to China about negotiating New Treaty, because British want Chinese to help them fight against Japanese invaders in the colonies. But British authorities are still with suspicion and contempt. British thought support Chinese to defend Japanese is a heavy burden. What’s more, Britain insisted on refusing to give Kowloon Leasing Territory back to China which made relationship between China and Britain be at a deadlock once. This essay mainly studies the Hong Kong issue between China and Britain from 1937 to 1945.This paper is composed of introduction, body and conclusion.Introduction includes the origin and meaning of this question, concludes the current studies from both national and foreign, and introduces the quotes in this essay. At last, this part points out the importance and innovation in this essay.The body is formed by three parts. The first part mainly represents the relationship between China and Britain before the Sino-British New Treaty signed and after the anti-Japanese war broke out. This part studies the transformation of the British policy towards China and Hong Kong to the mainland of resistance. After July 7 Incident of 1937, Japanese imperialism began all-out attack on China and captured vast stretches of fertile land of China. Britain uses appeasement to face Japan in order to have more energy to cope with the situation in Europe. As the war continued, the interests belong to Britain were plundered by Japan. British and Japanese contradictions gradually upgrade. Britain made use of limited support to China to resist the Japanese side pressure. What’s more, Britain insisted on Hong Kong’s open position and made Hong Kong a positive effect on China.The second part mainly talks about the British new policy towards China after the outbreak of World War Ⅱ and Sino-British New Treaty negotiation and signing. At last, the author wrote simple comments for the Sino-British New Treaty. December 1941, the Pacific War broke out.China and Britain allied to resist Japanese. In order to strengthen the Chinese in Asia to Japan’s morale, America and Britain raised to abolish extraterritoriality in China. What’s more, the China’s diplomatic endeavor is also necessary. October 1942, Sino-British negotiation begins. In this negotiation, Britain and China talked mainly about abolishing unequal treaty, especially consular jurisdiction and lease. The negotiation about Kowloon Lease is the controversy between China and Britain. After two-month negotiation, Britain refused to talk about Kowloon Lease firmly and China’s concession. There was no article about Kowloon Lease in the Sino-British New Treaty. Kowloon Lease issue was waiting for later talk.The last part mainly talks about the ownership of Hong Kong in the later Anti-Japanese war. After signing the new treaty, some British top officials like Churchill and Eden insisted not to talk about Kowloon Lease and said Hong Kong belongs to Britain. At the same time, British government made careful plans to recapture Hong Kong. On surrender issue, Britain also anticipated to military occupies Hong Kong and force Japanese in Hong Kong to surrender to Britain. Hong Kong issue is over. Mainly because Britain recaptured Hong Kong, America changed attitude and Jiang Jie Shek was involved in’Communist Suppression’Conclusion concludes the relations between China and Britain in Anti-Japanese war and negotiation between China and Britain about Hong Kong issue. Britain and China had irreconcilable conflict, although they are allies during the World War Ⅱ. Jiang Jie Shek Government pursued pro-American diplomacy. However, America did not support Jiang at urgent time. That means weak state has no right to do diplomacy.