Grace Tan
Senior Division
Individual Website
Student-Composed Words: 1199
Process Paper Word Count: 480
Senior Division
Individual Website
Student-Composed Words: 1199
Process Paper Word Count: 480
Japanese imperialism in China was the force that galvanized Chinese sentiment into supporting the Chinese Communist Party, which ultimately led to the formation of the People’s Republic of China.
It may be argued that Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Army was the primary force in the resistance against the Japanese. I disagree because although the Nationalist troops took the forefront of the resistance, it was Mao Tse-tung’s foresight in 1935 when he reported On Tactics Against Japanese Imperialism for China to unite against the Japanese invasion. Mao wrote, “What is the basic tactical task of the Party? [against Japanese imperialism] It is none other than to form a broad revolutionary national front” (On Tactics Against Japanese Imperialism). Had it not been for Mao’s leadership at this time, the resistance would not have been successful.
Theme
This topic relates to the theme Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History because Japan explored imperialism to gain natural resources, trading partners, and national pride. In China, Japan encountered a country in disarray resulting from European imperialism, weak government, and a civilization clinging to its past. Traditionally, Japan borrowed its concepts of culture from China. After the First Sino-Japanese War, the roles reversed as China sent 30,000 students to be mentored in Japan (Mitter, Ng).