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        • [GRAPHIC] Germ Warfare Attacks
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        • [OLD] Cover Ups After the War
      • Philippines' Resistance - Guide >
        • Philippines World War II Timeline
        • The Japanese Invasion & Conquest of the Philippines
        • Bataan Death March
        • Formation of Underground Philippines Resistance
        • Supplies of the Guerrilla Fighters
        • The Hukbalahap
        • Hunter's ROTC
        • Marking's Guerrillas
        • United States Army Forces in the Philippines of Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL)
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        • Chinese and Filipino-Chinese Nationalist Guerrilla Units
        • The Female Faces of the Philippine Guerrillas
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        • History of the Rising Sun Flag
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        • Rising Sun Flag in Pop Culture
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        • Japanese Occupation of the Philippine Islands: Pinays Answering the Call to Arms
        • The Fierce Heneralas and Kumanders of the Hukbalahap Guerrillas
        • Amazons of the Pacific Theater
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        • The Legacy of the Asian Women Soldier
      • Fall of Singapore - Guide >
        • Singapore World War II Timeline
        • History of World War II in the Pacific
        • History of Singapore
        • Japan's Conquest in Asia
        • Japan's Invasion of the Malay Peninsula
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        • Double Tenth Incident
        • Social Changes and Challenges in Singapore
        • Voices from Syonan
        • Return to British Rule
      • Three Years and Eight Months - Guide >
        • Hong Kong before WW2
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      • The Khabarovsk War Crimes Trial - Guide >
        • Defendants of Khabarovsk War Crime
        • The Japanese Empire and USSR in WW2
        • The Employment of the Bacteriological Weapon in the War
        • Planning of Japan invasion to USSR
      • Unit 731 Cover-up : The Operation Paperclip of the East - Guide >
        • Establishing Manchukuo
        • The Development of Unit 731
        • Plan Kantokuen and Bacteriological Warfare
        • The Downfall of the Japanese WW2 Era
        • Three Stages of Interrogations
        • Lasting Impacts
      • Marutas of Unit 731 - Guide >
        • How did Ishii Shiro start unit 731?
        • A Beta Testing Site
        • Establishing Pingfan
        • Experiences at the Human Experimentation Complex
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        • Anta Testing Grounds
        • Overall Advance from the Laboratory Creations
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Japanese Imperialism Through the Lens of French Indochina

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History of Indochina


Throughout this publication, we will be using the term Indochina (originally Indo-China) to refer to the French and the eventual Japanese colony. The name was first used by Danish-French geographer Conrad Malte-Brun and the Scottish linguist John Leyden and referred to the lands within the cultural influence of India and China, which included the present-day areas of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and peninsular Malaysia.[The term was later adopted by the French, comprising present-day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
Vietnam has a long history of fighting for independence from China. As early as AD 40, there were attempts to liberate Vietnam from the Han Chinese. In 1802, the final Vietnamese dynasty, the Nguyen, unified the country through French support. However, from the 1850s, France looked to extend its sphere of influence to compete against other imperial powers such as Great Britain. The opportunity arrived when tensions surrounding the Roman Catholic community culminated in the execution of numerous Vietnamese Christians and European missionaries. In 1858, the French used Christian persecution as a pretext to invade, and by 1884, they had seized the whole nation. They split the territory into three areas, renaming them Tonkin (north), Annam (central), and Cochinchina (south). Witnessing the situation in Vietnam, the king of Cambodia, wanting to leave Siamese control, requested the French to become a protectorate (accepted in 1867). Soon after, the king of Luang Prabang (the Laos capital) followed suit.

The
Soldiers of the 5th division, Imperial Japanese Army, are invading French-Indochina at Đồng Đăng, 1940. Source Wikipedia

Tensions with Siam grew as the French expanded, culminating in the Franco-Siamese War (1893). Siam was forced to recognize French control over the eastern side of the Mekong River, and France officially established the protectorate of Laos. Thus, France established the colony of French Indochina. The resource-rich territory, namely rice, coal, and rubber, made it very valuable for the French. Thus, when the Japanese became desperate for raw materials during the prolonged war in China, they also looked to Indochina.

Japanese Invasion

France’s surrender to the Nazis created the opportunity for the Japanese to advance into French Indochina. The war in China was lasting much longer than Japan had anticipated. Chiang’s army was aggressively resisting Japanese forces, due in large part to Western aid. Japan’s reserves were rapidly diminishing, and they became heavily reliant on trade, especially with the U.S. Despite the U.S.’s non-interventionist stance, the atrocities committed by the Japanese in China led to the government enacting “moral embargoes” on war resources entering Japan, such as aircraft material. This severely damaged Japan’s economy and the military became desperate for raw materials. Thus, Indochina was the perfect target for a Japanese invasion. The land was rich in oil, rubber, and rice, which were essential for warfare. Northern Indochina, in addition, was used as a supply route for nearly 50 percent of the Chinese Nationalist Army’s resources. If Japan managed to block and seize it, the Imperial Army would gain a significant advantage. Thus, the fall of France created the “golden opportunity” for a nanshin execution. An invasion would improve Japan’s economic circumstance, possibly end the war with China, and increase their sphere of influence. Only the U.S. and Britain stood in the way of these ambitions.

Picture
Japan Troops in French-Indochina. Source Wikipedia

In June 1940, Japan opened negotiations with the new Vichy government. Japan demanded the cessation of all war materials through Indochina and an embargo on imports into China. Vichy France agreed to the Japanese requests in return for the territorial integrity of Indochina. The Japanese were hesitant to accept such a proposal. The French grew suspicious of Japanese motivations sparking dissonance in future negotiations. Notably, the Vichy government rejected Japan’s demand to station forces in Indochina. They feared the possibility of Japanese occupation and the harm to relations with the U.S. and Britain. Despite this setback, Japan maintained a diplomatic attitude. However, members of the Army pushed for an invasion.
After further negotiations, Japan accepted France’s request to respect the territorial integrity of Indochina in exchange for the passage and stationing of Japanese troops in Indochina. The deadline for negotiating specifics, such as the number of units and locations, was September 22, and the Army was ordered to cross the border if negotiations expired. Japan and France concluded talks several hours before the deadline, and sources confirm that the Army received new commands an hour beforehand. It stated Japan would only station troops arriving by sea. Yet the Army, acting on their own accord, crossed the border, sparking a battle between Japanese and French forces. After a few days, the Japanese Army eventually obeyed the commands of the government and withdrew their troops. The government dismissed Army officers responsible for the incident, but the damage was done. Americans were shocked by the incident, fearing a Japanese invasion of the Philippines. The U.S. government added iron and steel scrap to the Export Control Act, deepening Japan’s economic problems. Additionally, the incident led to great animosity between the Japanese Southern China Army and the Japanese China Fleet (Navy). Despite the feeling of betrayal of the French, negotiations resumed smoothly and concluded after three months.


Related Book

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A Clash of Empires at
Pearl Harbor
How Nanshin-ron, Japanese Nationalism, and
​Militarism Exacerbated the Imperialization of Asia

Despite the Pearl Harbor Attack being a well-known incident, its build-up is still unfamiliar to many. In hindsight, the attack was a complete blunder, as it led to Japan's downfall. Hence, many people avoid seriously asking the question, "why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?" In this publication, this question is investigated through the lens of nanshin-ron, the Southern Advance Doctrine.

Along with the rapid economic growth during the Meiji era came the rise of imperialism. Japan began to expand its territory to protect itself from European and American threats. Following their victory in the Sino-Japanese War, the question arose whether to advance toward the north or south. Thus emerged nanshin-ron as many political writers began pushing for economic expansion into Southeast Asia. Colonial ambitions formed during WWI when Japan conquered several German territories in the Pacific. However, Japan's efforts did not last long. Following the Treaty of Versailles, the Allied powers enforced disarmament agreements to prevent another global war. It was only in WWII did nanshin-ron regain its former popularity.

The Second Sino-Japanese War was draining Japanese resources. Following the American economic sanctions, Japan became desperate for raw materials. So they turned to the resource-rich islands in Southeast Asia. We examine the political and economic consequences of the Japanese expansion. How did it change Southeast Asian tradition and culture? What did it mean to "liberate the South" to form the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"? These questions are the gateway to understanding the Pearl Harbor Attack from Japan's perspective.

Previous Section

Japan’s Competition against the West: Nanshin-ron and Hokushin-ron

Next Section

The U.S.-Japan Relations and the Pearl Harbor Attack

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  • Home
    • About >
      • FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions
    • Support Us >
      • Projects you can support! >
        • Distributing Books
        • Presenting at 112th Annual Meeting of Pacific Coast Branch
        • Summer Research Relocation Fund
    • Contact
  • Stories
    • Videos >
      • Black Hearts (2021)
    • Blog
    • Podcast: Forgotten History
  • Internship
    • Summer 2023 Internship
    • Fall 2022 Internship
    • Summer 2022 Internship
    • Summer 2021 Internship
    • Fall 2020- Spring 2021 Internship
    • Summer 2020 Internship
    • Fall 2019 Internship
    • Summer 2019 Internship >
      • Public History Night
    • School Year 2018-2019 Internship
    • Summer 2018 Internship >
      • 2018 Summer Showcase + Fundraiser
    • Fall 2017 Internship
    • Summer 2017 Internship >
      • 2017 Summer Showcase & Fundraiser
  • Books
  • Archives
  • Resource Page
    • Supplementary Research Guides >
      • Unit 731 - Guide >
        • Background of Biochemical Warfare Development
        • Imperial Japan's Chemical Warfare Development Program
        • Map of Unit 731
        • Personnel of Unit 731
        • Duties of Unit 731
        • Human Experimentation
        • [GRAPHIC] Germ Warfare Attacks
        • Cover Ups After the War
        • [OLD] Cover Ups After the War
      • Philippines' Resistance - Guide >
        • Philippines World War II Timeline
        • The Japanese Invasion & Conquest of the Philippines
        • Bataan Death March
        • Formation of Underground Philippines Resistance
        • Supplies of the Guerrilla Fighters
        • The Hukbalahap
        • Hunter's ROTC
        • Marking's Guerrillas
        • United States Army Forces in the Philippines of Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL)
        • The Aetas
        • Chinese and Filipino-Chinese Nationalist Guerrilla Units
        • The Female Faces of the Philippine Guerrillas
      • Rising Sun Flag - Guide >
        • History of the Rising Sun Flag
        • Atrocities Committed Under the Flag
        • Rising Sun Flag in Pop Culture
      • Pinay Guerrilleras - Guide >
        • Japanese Occupation of the Philippine Islands: Pinays Answering the Call to Arms
        • The Fierce Heneralas and Kumanders of the Hukbalahap Guerrillas
        • Amazons of the Pacific Theater
        • Filipina American Veterans: Recovering the Extraordinary Feats of the Ordinary Pinays
        • The Legacy of the Asian Women Soldier
      • Fall of Singapore - Guide >
        • Singapore World War II Timeline
        • History of World War II in the Pacific
        • History of Singapore
        • Japan's Conquest in Asia
        • Japan's Invasion of the Malay Peninsula
        • Sook Ching Massacre
        • Double Tenth Incident
        • Social Changes and Challenges in Singapore
        • Voices from Syonan
        • Return to British Rule
      • Three Years and Eight Months - Guide >
        • Hong Kong before WW2
        • Buildup to World War 2
        • The Battle of Hong Kong
        • Life during 3 Years and 8 Months
        • East River Column Guerrilla Fighters
        • Prisoners of War Camps
        • End of Japanese Occupation
        • War Crimes Trials
      • Siamese Sovereignty - Guide >
        • The Land of Smiles
        • The Thai-Japanese Relationship
        • Phibun’s Domestic and International Policies
        • The Free Thai Resistance Movement
        • Post WW2 Aftermath of Thailand
      • The Khabarovsk War Crimes Trial - Guide >
        • Defendants of Khabarovsk War Crime
        • The Japanese Empire and USSR in WW2
        • The Employment of the Bacteriological Weapon in the War
        • Planning of Japan invasion to USSR
      • Unit 731 Cover-up : The Operation Paperclip of the East - Guide >
        • Establishing Manchukuo
        • The Development of Unit 731
        • Plan Kantokuen and Bacteriological Warfare
        • The Downfall of the Japanese WW2 Era
        • Three Stages of Interrogations
        • Lasting Impacts
      • Marutas of Unit 731 - Guide >
        • How did Ishii Shiro start unit 731?
        • A Beta Testing Site
        • Establishing Pingfan
        • Experiences at the Human Experimentation Complex
        • Vivisection at the Unit 731
        • Anta Testing Grounds
        • Overall Advance from the Laboratory Creations
        • The End of the War
      • Prince Konoe Memoir - Guide >
        • Who is Prince Konoe?
        • Preparation to Tripartite Pact
        • Emperor Hirohito and Prince Konoe
        • The End of Prince Konoe
      • Competing Empires in Burma - Guide >
        • What was the China-Burma-India Theater?
        • When did the China-Burma-India Theater Happen?
        • Who Fought in the China-Burma-India Theater?
        • The Second Sino Japanese War
        • Japan in the South
        • Operation U-Go
      • Battle of Shanghai - Guide >
        • The Battle of Shanghai. Background
        • Shanghai Before War
        • The First Battle of Shanghai 1932
        • Battle of Shanghai 1937
        • Aftermath of Battle for Shanghai
      • Ishi Shiro - Guide >
        • History of Biological Weapons and The Young Ishii Shiro
        • Establishment in Manchuria
        • Pingfang District - Harbin
        • Failures and Corruption
        • Post War
      • Taiwan The Israel of the East - Guide >
        • Background of Formosa
        • Industrialization of Japan
        • China During WWII
        • Taiwan under Kuomintang
        • New Taiwanese National Identity
      • Seeking Justice for Biological Warfare Victims of Unit 731 - Guide >
        • Introduction of Wang Xuan
        • Colonel Memorandum
        • The Beginning of Biological Warfare
        • The Bacteriological Warfare on China
        • Victims in Zhejiang’s Testimonies
        • After the War
      • Rice and Revolution - Guide >
        • The French Colonial Period
        • Anti-Colonial Resistance
        • The Rise of the Communist Movement
        • Imperial Japan’s Entry into Indochina
        • The Portents of Famine
        • The Famine (1944-45)
        • Legacy of the 1944-45 Vietnam Famine
      • Clash of Empires - Guide >
        • Japan’s Imperialist Origins
        • Japan’s Competition against the West: Nanshin-ron and Hokushin-ron
        • Japanese Imperialism Through the Lens of French Indochina
        • The U.S.-Japan Relations and the Pearl Harbor Attack
    • Lesson Plans >
      • Reparations
      • Ethics in Science
      • Writing the Narrative of a Pinay Fighter
      • Privilege Journal
      • Environmental Injustices
      • Female Guerrillas
      • Hunter's ROTC
      • Scientific Advancements
      • Seeking Justice: A Humanities Lesson Plan
      • The Hukbalahap
      • Trading Immunity
      • Bataan Death March
      • Biochemical Warfare Development
Contribute