The Invasion of Manchuria (1931) and Its Consequences
- The Manchurian Incident (1931) marked Japan’s first major act of aggression against China and the first open defiance of the international system established after World War I.
- Officers of the Kwantung Army blew up a section of the South Manchurian Railway near Mukden and blamed Chinese forces, using it as a pretext for invasion.
- Within months, the army occupied the entire region and created the puppet state of Manchukuo (1932) under the nominal rule of Puyi, the last Qing emperor.
- The civilian government in Tokyo could not control the military, signaling the collapse of democratic oversight.
- Western powers, particularly the United States, condemned Japan’s actions, while the League of Nations’ Lytton Report (1932) found Japan guilty of aggression, prompting Japan’s withdrawal from the League (1933).
Definition
Manchukuo
- Puppet state established by Japan in Manchuria in 1932, claiming to promote “Asian independence” from Western imperialism.
Definition
Lytton Report
- League of Nations investigation that concluded Japan had acted aggressively and should withdraw from Manchuria.
The Manchurian Invasion and the League of Nations’ Response
Causes and Execution
- Japan’s economy suffered from the Great Depression, leading to calls for resource-rich colonies to ensure self-sufficiency.
- Manchuria offered coal, iron, and farmland, seen as vital to Japan’s industrial expansion.
- The Kwantung Army acted without Tokyo’s authorization but gained national hero status after the swift victory.
- The civilian government’s failure to punish the army revealed Japan’s shift toward militarized decision-making.
- The League of Nations’ slow response showed the weakness of collective security, especially with Britain and France focused on Europe.
Consequences for Japan and the West
- Japan’s withdrawal from the League in 1933 signaled a turn toward isolation and defiance of international norms.
- Western condemnation deepened Japan’s distrust of Western powers, reinforcing the narrative that Japan must rely on its own strength.
- The event encouraged ultranationalist ideology, claiming Japan had a divine mission to liberate Asia from Western imperialism.
- Japan’s success inspired further expansionism, setting the stage for the invasion of China in 1937.
- For the West, Manchuria confirmed Japan’s growing aggressiveness, prompting future economic and diplomatic containment policies.
The War in China (1937–1941) and Deterioration of Relations with the West
- The Marco Polo Bridge Incident (July 1937) triggered full-scale war between Japan and China.
