Well, the Americans, together with the other countries, eventually defeated the Boxers after America’s legation was besieged.
American had always supported an “Open Door Policy” in support of China’s sovereignty, that respected Chinese territorial and administrative integrity and allowed equal trading privileges for all nations.
Even after the defeat of the Boxers, the USA still supported the China “Open Door” Policy.
Japan came into the picture later. Japan invaded China in 1937 and declaration of its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in 1940 ( that was also the start of the infamous Rape of Nanjing ).
As a result of this, the USA placed embargoes on U.S. exports to Japan of essential commodities such as oil and scrap metal. The embargoes are blamed for eventually causing Japan to declare war against the United States on December 7, 1941.
“Japan, having built up a stable political and economic system with a small but well-trained army and navy, surprised the world with its easy victory over China in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_China%E2%80%93Japan_relations#Conflict_after_1870
That’s not accurate that Japan was not there until 1937. At the Siege of the Legations, the Japanese Army was the largest contributor with 8000 men. The Russians sent 4300, 3000 Brits (mostly from India) 2500 US Marines and Soldiers, and about 800 French.
The Japanese were heavy players in those events.
Indeed. I know the history of it quite well.
Thank you though, for laying it out; there’s many folks who do not know the history.
“...Japan invaded China in 1937 and declaration of its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in 1940 ( that was also the start of the infamous Rape of Nanjing0...”[SeekAndFind, post 6]
Wrong.
Imperial Japan invaded Manchuria - then as now part of mainland China - in September 1931. The Japanese had already badgered the Chinese into many concessions, but wanted to expand control and claim larger shares of Chinese resources. They set up a puppet state, occupied the region and extended their takeover of territory in other areas until surrendering in 1945; many historians date the start of World War Two to the 1931 invasion, though academics seem to have retreated from this interpretation in recent years.
The Rape of Nanking or Nanjing Massacre began in December 1937 and went of for six weeks. This depredation was characteristic behavior of the Imperial Japanese Army after taking a city, and stands out only in terms of extent.
The entire notion that the United States provoked Japan to start warring is absurd. As a quick-maturing industrial nation cursed with a booming population Japan had been searching ever more desperately for additional resources, and subject populations. Its critique of European and US colonial actions can be argued both ways, but its treatment of natives in Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, and other spots gives the lie to any claim that the Japanese were really interested in justice for locals, or in removing the oppressive imperial yoke. In every instance, their mastery and exploitation was far more cruel, oppressive, and unjust. And their historical attitudes are the stuff of actual history and legend, dating back centuries: well before America existed to be blamed.
Much like Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan’s assertions that it was being cornered and felt threatened were a joke. And an excuse.
Americans of 1940 didn’t possess the guile nor the patience to scheme in the manner some conspiracy theorists believe. We still don’t.