Imperialism and Colonialism in South-East-Asia: An Analysis of the Driving Force for the Sino-Japanese Wars

Abstract:

This paper seeks to highlight the two Sino- Japanese wars, the concept of imperialism in Japan and their implications on the two belligerent states. Using the secondary method of data collection, findings show that the Japanese success during the war was the result of the modernisation and industrialisation embarked upon two decades earlier. The war demonstrated the superiority of Japanese tactics and training from the adoption of a Western-style military and The China- Japanese relations has led to a division into two parties mimicking the cold war; China on the side of the Soviets and Japan on the side of America. The paper concludes that it is a fact of World Politics that some states view themselves as being higher in the hierarchy of power than others. This is exactly what the Japanese did to China and her neighbours. Imperialism stiffens democracy and does not allow for freedom of people and free rights to expression, suffrage of the citizen; this is because it oppresses the people and upholds the government or the imperial power or Empire. It creates a hegemonic State as the ruler over other States. It is important that imperialism should not be repeated in this modern age of development and globalization.