History (Fifteen Year War) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History (Fifteen Year War) - Essay Example In the context of the Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific World War, collectively known as the Fifteen Years War, the reasons for its successes in not spawning staunch resistance from East Asia proved to be the same reasons in the demise of the promise of liberation and ultimately, the Japanese occupation. The annexing of Korea and Manchuria provided momentum for Japan to strengthen its military and industrialize its economy. In the 1940s, Second World War in the Pacific broke out, initially won by the Japanese, and the commissioning of its message of liberation. The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (GEACPS) was proposed to consolidate the socio-economic interests of the Japanese empire and newly-conquered Asian states (including Australia Pacific islands) in order to achieve its promulgated objective of liberating Greater East Asia from Western imperialismii. The Japanese invasion was fast and deadly, taking only a few months from the Pearl Harbor incident. It would not be as rapid, however, if the Asian states have bitterly fought the Japanese. In 1937, Japanese forces were intercepted by Chinese forces on their way to Nanking. The delay angered the Japanese, so when they finally reached the Kuomintang capital, the Japanese mercilessly destroyed the city, killing, torturing and beheading some 30,000 citizensiii. Through the stories of the unharmed European and American nationals, the Rape of Nanking was known, reminding Asians of the severe consequences of mounting a resistance to Japanese occupation. Likewise, surrendering to the Japanese would propel the economic development of the region. Such was the case after the capture of Manchuria, despite the underhanded bombing of Mukdeniv, incited by the Japanese themselves. Over a short span of time, the utilization of Chinese resources for Japanese superior knowledge and technical ability, transformed Manchuria to become an urbanized industrial complex. Such