INTERVIEW/ Chung Jae Jeong: For better and for worse, Japan shaped Asia
11/02/2007
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
The following are excerpts from an interview with Chung Jae Jeong, professor of history at the University of Seoul, about the 10 biggest incidents in modern and contemporary history in East Asia. This is part of a series to complement the "Impact of History--150 years in East Asia."
* * *
The 10 biggest incidents I chose are:
1. The Asia-Pacific War and the collapse of imperial Japan in 1945
2. The victory of imperial Japan in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the fall of the Chinese Empire
3. The victory of imperial Japan in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and the colonization of the Korean Empire
4. The establishment of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Korean War (1950-1953)
5. Meiji Restoration in 1868 and the establishment of a modern state under the emperor system in Japan and its impact on neighboring countries
6. Japan's economic recovery after its defeat in World War II and economic development of South Korea and Taiwan
7. The establishment of the People's Republic of China (China) and the Republic of China's move to Taiwan in 1949
8. Reforms and opening of China and economic development
9. Economic failure and nuclear development of North Korea
10. The establishment of one-man rule in North Korea and the Cultural Revolution in China
I chose the 10 biggest incidents taking into consideration the impact they had not only on a single country but the East Asian region as a whole. I attached import!ance to events that affected the international order and social structure of the region and changed the awareness of the people. At the same time, I also took into account the impact such events had on the world.
The most import!ant is the Asia-Pacific War. In this context, it refers to the period between 1937, when the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, and Japan's defeat in 1945.
Japan, which colonized Taiwan and Korea and established a puppet state in northeastern China, was an empire that had hegemony over East Asia. It invaded China and fought against the United States in a conflict that developed into an all-out war. As a result of Japan's defeat, the order in East Asia fell apart. The fate of the region was left to the United States or China, and South Korea was liberated.
Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War caused China, theretofore the central power in East Asia, to fall and provided a catalyst for the collapse of the pre-modern order. With the foundation of the Korean Empire on the Korean Peninsula, as a matter of form, the trilateral relationship of Japan, China and Korea was established. But hostilities between Russia and Japan over the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China intensified.
The victory of imperial Japan in the Russo-Japanese War led to the downfall of the Korean Empire and colonization by Japan. This is an import!ant development that allowed Japan to use Korea as its foothold to advance in the Asian continent. Japan also used its victories in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War to stir up nationalism and created an atmosphere where Japanese people felt justified in waging war in Asia.
The Korean War that started under the new order of U.S.-Soviet confrontation made the Cold War a fixture in East Asia and intensified international tensions. China came to loggerheads with the United States.
The Meiji Restoration is extremely significant in thinking about the modernization of East Asia. Unlike Japan, South Korea and China failed to modernize by themselves. The Meiji Restoration and the establishment of a modern state under the emperor system served as an incentive to other countries. However, at the same time, the situation gave rise to a basic relationship of resistance by neighboring countries against Japanese aggression.
Japan's economic restoration also led to the economic development of Taiwan and South Korea. Now, East Asia has become so powerful that it is in a position to lead the world economy. Economic development also built the foundation for cultural advancement and democracy in East Asia.
After Japan's defeat in World War II, the Communist Party of China defeated the Kuomintang in a civil war and drove it out to Taiwan. As a result, the international order in East Asia once again changed.
Since the 1980s, China has adopted a policy of modernization under a socialist system and grew into a world factory and market. With its links to South Korea and Japan, China contributed to the division of labor in the East Asian economy. China's economic reform may change the East Asian order in the future.
In striking contrast to China, North Korea's economy failed and is now in a fix. North Korea resorted to the development of nuclear weapons in order to get itself out of the predicament and became a target of international criticism. The nuclear threat will affect international relations in East Asia in the future.
It was during the 1950s to 1970s that the dictatorship of Kim Il Sung and the Juche ideology were established in North Korea and the Cultural Revolution advanced in China. These two states had a major impact on the world as they intensified the Cold War and accelerated competition among political systems.
* * *
Chung Jae Jeong is a professor specializing in the history of modern Japan-South Korea relations at the University of Seoul. He plays a central role in the Japan-South Korea joint history research project and private-sector exchanges. He is the author of "Japanese imperialism and Korean railroads."(IHT/Asahi: November 2,2007)
11/02/2007
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
The following are excerpts from an interview with Chung Jae Jeong, professor of history at the University of Seoul, about the 10 biggest incidents in modern and contemporary history in East Asia. This is part of a series to complement the "Impact of History--150 years in East Asia."
* * *
The 10 biggest incidents I chose are:
1. The Asia-Pacific War and the collapse of imperial Japan in 1945
2. The victory of imperial Japan in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the fall of the Chinese Empire
3. The victory of imperial Japan in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and the colonization of the Korean Empire
4. The establishment of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Korean War (1950-1953)
5. Meiji Restoration in 1868 and the establishment of a modern state under the emperor system in Japan and its impact on neighboring countries
6. Japan's economic recovery after its defeat in World War II and economic development of South Korea and Taiwan
7. The establishment of the People's Republic of China (China) and the Republic of China's move to Taiwan in 1949
8. Reforms and opening of China and economic development
9. Economic failure and nuclear development of North Korea
10. The establishment of one-man rule in North Korea and the Cultural Revolution in China
I chose the 10 biggest incidents taking into consideration the impact they had not only on a single country but the East Asian region as a whole. I attached import!ance to events that affected the international order and social structure of the region and changed the awareness of the people. At the same time, I also took into account the impact such events had on the world.
The most import!ant is the Asia-Pacific War. In this context, it refers to the period between 1937, when the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, and Japan's defeat in 1945.
Japan, which colonized Taiwan and Korea and established a puppet state in northeastern China, was an empire that had hegemony over East Asia. It invaded China and fought against the United States in a conflict that developed into an all-out war. As a result of Japan's defeat, the order in East Asia fell apart. The fate of the region was left to the United States or China, and South Korea was liberated.
Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War caused China, theretofore the central power in East Asia, to fall and provided a catalyst for the collapse of the pre-modern order. With the foundation of the Korean Empire on the Korean Peninsula, as a matter of form, the trilateral relationship of Japan, China and Korea was established. But hostilities between Russia and Japan over the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China intensified.
The victory of imperial Japan in the Russo-Japanese War led to the downfall of the Korean Empire and colonization by Japan. This is an import!ant development that allowed Japan to use Korea as its foothold to advance in the Asian continent. Japan also used its victories in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War to stir up nationalism and created an atmosphere where Japanese people felt justified in waging war in Asia.
The Korean War that started under the new order of U.S.-Soviet confrontation made the Cold War a fixture in East Asia and intensified international tensions. China came to loggerheads with the United States.
The Meiji Restoration is extremely significant in thinking about the modernization of East Asia. Unlike Japan, South Korea and China failed to modernize by themselves. The Meiji Restoration and the establishment of a modern state under the emperor system served as an incentive to other countries. However, at the same time, the situation gave rise to a basic relationship of resistance by neighboring countries against Japanese aggression.
Japan's economic restoration also led to the economic development of Taiwan and South Korea. Now, East Asia has become so powerful that it is in a position to lead the world economy. Economic development also built the foundation for cultural advancement and democracy in East Asia.
After Japan's defeat in World War II, the Communist Party of China defeated the Kuomintang in a civil war and drove it out to Taiwan. As a result, the international order in East Asia once again changed.
Since the 1980s, China has adopted a policy of modernization under a socialist system and grew into a world factory and market. With its links to South Korea and Japan, China contributed to the division of labor in the East Asian economy. China's economic reform may change the East Asian order in the future.
In striking contrast to China, North Korea's economy failed and is now in a fix. North Korea resorted to the development of nuclear weapons in order to get itself out of the predicament and became a target of international criticism. The nuclear threat will affect international relations in East Asia in the future.
It was during the 1950s to 1970s that the dictatorship of Kim Il Sung and the Juche ideology were established in North Korea and the Cultural Revolution advanced in China. These two states had a major impact on the world as they intensified the Cold War and accelerated competition among political systems.
* * *
Chung Jae Jeong is a professor specializing in the history of modern Japan-South Korea relations at the University of Seoul. He plays a central role in the Japan-South Korea joint history research project and private-sector exchanges. He is the author of "Japanese imperialism and Korean railroads."(IHT/Asahi: November 2,2007)