The following sources relate to the Sino-Japanese War 1937-41

Source I
Extract from the Fundamentals of National Policy issued by the Japanese Government on 7 August 1936
The basis of national policy is the need to consolidate national development internally and increase our
prestige internationally through fairness and justice. Japan as the force for stability in east Asia in name
and in fact must ensure the peace of the area and contribute to the well-being of men throughout the
world, thereby living up to the ideas of the founding of our nation. Considering Japan’s situation at home
and abroad, the basic polices which she must adopt are to secure her position on the east Asian continent
diplomatically and militarily.
Source J
Cartoon from the Philadelphia Inquirer (an American newspaper) Hugh Hutton, 1937. ‘The Sleeping Giant
Beings to Feel it’

Source K
An extract from the academic book, The Making of Modern Japan, Kenneth Pyle, DC Heath, 1996
It is not easy, in retrospect, to see how conflict between China and Japan could have been avoided…Chinese
nationalism could no longer tolerate the status quo with Japan, yet Japanese of all persuasions looked at
Japan’s position in China as sanctioned by economic need and by their destiny to create ‘a new world order
in Asia’ that would expel Western influence and establish a structure based upon Asian concepts of justice
and humanity. Jiang’s government was regarded as an obstruction that had to be overcome on the way to
this ‘new order’ and so in 1938 Konoe called for an all-out campaign to ‘annihilate’ the nationalist regime.
The expectation was that Chinese resistance would be short-lived: a ‘fundamental resolution of Sino-
Japanese relations’ could be achieved by compelling the nationalists to accept Japanese leadership in
creating an Asian community of nations, free of Anglo-American capitalism and Soviet communism.
Source L
Extract From K.K Kawakami, a Japanese journalist and author, in ‘Japan in China: Her motive and Aims’
published in 1938
No one can doubt that Japan has a justifiable case against China..During the last ten years the country
reverberated with war songs, veritable hymns of hate, exhorting the troops to destroy Japanese interests
in China..
Most Chinese cities were no longer safe for Japanese residents, No longer could the Japanese go out of
their homes with a sense of security. Chinese merchants would not handle Japanese goods for fear of
reprisal on the art of the anti-Japanese organisations. Chinese who were friendly to Japan or who had
business or social relations with Japanese were intimidated, blackmailed, assaulted, even murdered. This
whole country was aflame with hatred of Japan – not spontaneous combustion, but a conflagration ignited
by the Nationalist Government itself.
Questions
1a. What, according to Source I, are Japan’s international aims in 1936?
Japan sought to increase its prestige on the international stage through fairness and justice. This implies a
desire to enhance its reputation and influence in global affairs. Next, Japan’s aim was to consolidate its
national development internally. This indicates a focus on strengthening the country's economic and
political foundations. Japan saw itself as a force for stability in East Asia and aimed to ensure the peace of
the region. This suggests a commitment to regional stability and security.

Marks 3

1b. What does Source J suggest about the nature of Japan’s actions towards China?
The depiction of Japan as a soldier cutting a small portion of China's tail suggests an aggressive and
expansionist approach. Japan is portrayed as taking a piece of China's territory or resources, symbolized by
the tail, and storing it in a basket called "northern province.", suggesting territorial expansionism in
northern provinces of China. Furthermore, the fact that China is portrayed as a large dinosaur reacting to
Japan's actions implies that China is taken aback or provoked by Japan's actions. This suggests that Japan's
actions towards China, as depicted in the cartoon, are not perceived as friendly or cooperative but rather
as hostile, as the China begins to feel its effects.
Marks 2
2. With reference to its origin, purpose, and content, analyse the value and limitations of Source L for
historians studying the reasons for Japan’s actions in China after 1937
Source L is an extract from a book by K.K. Kawakami, a Japanese journalist and author, published in 1938.
The origin of this source is valuable for historians studying Japan's actions in China after 1937 because
Kawakami, being a Japanese journalist, would likely have had access to firsthand information and insights
about Japan's perspective on the events. However, the limitation of the origin is that Kawakami is a
Japanese source, and as such, his perspective is likely to be biased in favour of Japan. He may have been
influenced by the prevailing political climate and government narratives of the time.
The purpose of Source L appears to be to justify Japan's actions in China by portraying China as hostile and
dangerous to Japanese interests. Kawakami aims to argue that Japan's actions were justifiable due to the
perceived threats posed by the Chinese government and anti-Japanese sentiments within China. This
purpose is valuable for historians as it provides insight into the propaganda and rhetoric used by the
Japanese government and media to legitimize their actions. However, the limitation of the purpose is that
it may be a piece of wartime propaganda designed to shape public opinion in favour of Japan's military
aggression.
The content of Source L describes the deteriorating conditions for Japanese residents in China, emphasizing
the hostility and violence directed towards them by Chinese nationalists. The content is valuable because
it offers insights into the perception of the Chinese situation from a Japanese perspective during that time.
However, the limitation of the content is that it presents a one-sided view of the events. It does not address
the broader context of Japan's expansionist ambitions in Asia, the political and economic factors behind
the conflict, or the impact of Japan's military actions on the Chinese population, as such it cannot be
contextualized what the reasons behind their actions were.
Marks 4
3. Compare and contrast what Source I and Source K reveal about Japan’s foreign policy motives in Asia
Both Source I and Source K reveal Japan's ambition to establish itself as a dominant power in Asia. Source
I mentions Japan's aim to secure its position on the East Asian continent diplomatically and militarily,
suggesting a desire for regional influence. Source K also indicates Japan's aspiration to create a "new world
order in Asia" that would expel Western influence, emphasizing their shared goal of regional dominance.
Next, both sources mention Japan's interest in promoting Asian concepts of justice and humanity. Source
I emphasizes the need for Japan to contribute to the well-being of people throughout the world, aligning
with the idea of justice. Source K discusses Japan's vision of creating an Asian community of nations based
on Asian concepts of justice and humanity, indicating a common theme of emphasizing these values in
their foreign policy. Both sources acknowledge the presence of conflict between Japan and China. Source
I talks about Japan securing its position on the East Asian continent, which implies a potential conflict with
China. Source K explicitly mentions the conflict between Chinese nationalism and Japan's ambitions,
highlighting the contentious relationship between the two nations.
Source I is a document issued by the Japanese government in 1936, while Source K is from an academic
book published in 1996. The time difference is significant, with Source I reflecting Japan's foreign policy
motives in the 1930s, while Source K provides a retrospective analysis from a later period. Source I focuses
on the need for Japan to consolidate national development and increase international prestige through
fairness and justice. It suggests that Japan's expansion in Asia is driven by a desire for stability and peace
in the region. In contrast, Source K portrays Japan's expansion in Asia as motivated by economic interests
and a vision of expelling Western influence. It suggests that Japan sees itself as a force for a "new world
order" in Asia, which differs from the emphasis on stability in Source I. Source I does not explicitly mention
Japan's attitude towards China, while Source K portrays Japan as viewing Jiang's government (in China) as
an obstruction that needs to be overcome. This contrast shows that Source K provides a more adversarial
perspective on Japan's relationship with China, whereas Source I is more focused on Japan's broader
regional aspirations.
Marks 6
4. Using the sources and your own knowledge discuss the reasons for Japan’s attack on China in July 1937
The second Sino-Japanese war was an event for the Japanese’s Kuomintang invaded the Manchurian region
of China, resulting in a conflict that would last till 1939. The following essay seeks to investigate the
motivations for Japan’s attack on China in July 1937, through an analysis of the four prescribed sources in
harmony with external knowledge of the event.
Source I suggests that Japan aimed to consolidate its national development internally and increase its
international prestige through fairness and justice. This source aligns with Japan's broader geopolitical
goals, including the desire to secure its position on the East Asian continent diplomatically and militarily.
Externally, Japan's ambitions in East Asia were influenced by its expansionist policies, which sought to
secure access to critical resources and establish a regional hegemony. These expansionist ambitions were
driven by the country's growing industrialization and need for raw materials, which it aimed to secure
through territorial acquisition.
Source J visually illustrates Japan's aggressive stance towards China in 1937. The cartoon, titled 'The
Sleeping Giant Begins to Feel It,' implies that Japan was actively engaging in territorial expansion within
China. This is consistent with Japan's desire to gain control over territories in northern China, which were
rich in resources like coal and iron ore. Externally, Japan's military actions were motivated by territorial
ambitions and the need to secure resources for its industrial growth.
Source K highlights the complex web of motivations behind the conflict between China and Japan. Chinese
nationalism, fueled by resentment over past foreign encroachments, played a significant role in driving
conflict. However, Japan's actions were not solely driven by economic need but also by its vision of creating
a new world order in Asia. Externally, this vision, rooted in Asian concepts of justice and humanity, sought
to diminish Western influence, and establish Japan as a dominant regional power. Japanese leaders
believed that overcoming the Chinese nationalist government was necessary to achieve this vision, setting
the stage for the conflict.
Source L presents a Japanese perspective on the conflict, emphasizing Japan's grievances against China.
While it portrays Japan as a victim of Chinese aggression, it also reveals the deep-seated hostilities that
had developed between the two nations. These hostilities were fueled by acts of violence and intimidation
against Japanese interests and residents in China. Externally, many Japanese citizens were taught to view
their country as a beacon of progress and civilization in Asia, thus nationalistic fervor and perceived
victimization played a significant role in justifying Japan's aggressive actions against China in 1937.
In conclusion, Japan's attack on China in July 1937 can be attributed to various motivations. Within Japan,
the government sought to consolidate its national development and secure access to vital resources, driven
by its growing industrialization. Internationally, territorial expansion and the desire for regional hegemony
were key factors in addition to a desire for a new world order.

Good

Marks 8