Japanese Imperialism In China
The importance of having access to water ways is essential for early settlement of citizens and for military purposes. This dependant resource provides a more efficient transportation route as well as access to marine resources such as fishing. Fish also became a source of protein diet and economic trade values in both Chinese and Japanese culture. In this essay, I will be using the Pseudosciaena crocea also known as the Yellow Croaker as my example. Yellow croaker got their name from the noises that they make during spawning season. I will also be addressing the problem of overfishing and environmental consequences that rise. By analyzing the patterns of ecological transformations within fishing disputes between China and Japan, we can see
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how marine resource exploitation becomes a motivation to strengthen each perspective's nation state.
Japan has one of the longest histories of hunting-gatherer societies in East Asia. Dating back to the Jomon, their diets included a board range of plant, animal, and marine foods. The remains of the salmon bones show that this fish was exploited from as early as the Incipient phase. Fast forward to the Yayoi period, rice without doubt was the most important crop but barley, millet, and other cultivated and wild plants were also consumed in large quantities. Others such as domesticated pigs and chicken are known from Yayoi contexts, but was still unclear whether or not it was used a food resource. Deer, wild boars, and fish hunting also continued through the Yayoi and Kofun periods. Religion such as Buddhism also played a role towards food source in the late sixth century. Food source included mainly fish and shellfish as a source of animal protein. Fast forward to the mid eighteenth century, Hokkaido dominated the fishing industry although it had a very weak agricultural base. To make this up, Hokkaido fishers engaged in a long distance trade with many regions of Honshu. The most important product was herring meal fertilizer, which was used as a commercial fertilizer.
In terms of Japanese fisheries, Japan has a long history of intensive coastal fishing and whaling. Offshore fisheries began to develop only in the late nineteenth century. From 1875, after the Treaty of St.Petersburg granted fishing rights in Russia to Japanese nationals. Japanese interests quickly established substantial fishing operations in Sakhalin and along Russia's Sea of Okhotsk littoral. In Sakhalin, for example, the number of Japanese fisherman grew from about three hundred in 1875 to over seven thousand in 1904. Furthermore, new fishing technologies were also introduced in which significantly expanded the ranges and ambitions of Japanese fisherman. When the otter trawler was commissioned in 1908, many Japanese fisherman were able to fish around the seas of Japan. Later came the first motored powered tuna boat launched in 1906. Technological advances contributed to the industry’s growth. It allowed fisherman to venture out into the open sea plying the East China and Yellow Seas in 1921. Japanese imperialism soon created a more aggressive advance for the economy after 1931. There aim was to get Japan globalized in export trades with Europe and North America. It was considered very successful as exports of marine products amount annually in value to between 150 000 000 yen to 160 000 000 yen. As a matter of fact, fisheries ranked third after raw silk, cotton yarn, and piece goods. In the late 1930's, popular patriotic songs filled the atmosphere of Japan. Fuse Hajime's “Taiheiyo Koshinkyoku” also known as the Pacific March, indicates themes of interpreting Japan as an ocean empire with a nation of born fishermen.
Japanese imperialism also played a significant role in strengthening the nation state.
Early successes of Japanese imperialism such as the victory of the Sino-Japanese War, provided additional funding for the Okotsu project. Historians generally conceived Japanese expansionism as a purely terrestrial affair. For example, the Ryukyu Islands in 1871, the Bonin Islands in 1875, the Kurils in the same year, Taiwan in 1895, the southern half of Sakhalin Island and the Liaodong Peninsula in 1905, Korea in 1910, the islands of Micronesia during WW1, the absorption of Manchuria after 1931, the drive into China after 1937, and even the Aleutians after December 7th, 1941. Japanese expansionism still occurs with the continuous wrangling over the Northern Territories with Russia, the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands with China/Taiwan, and the more recent Tokto/Takeshima …show more content…
controversy.
On the other hand, China currently faces environmental issues ranging from severe water shortages and land degradation to climate pollution and decreasing biodiversity. These challenges extend to the marine environment, where pollution and overfishing have damaged China's fishery resources. During the Qing period, the major commercial species in fisheries were large yellow croaker, small yellow croaker, hairtail, and cuttlefish. Each of these species has long distance migratory patterns coinciding with seasonal changes in sea temperature. As water temperatures increase during the late spring and early summer, these fish leave their overwintering grounds in the deep offshore waters and swim into shallow coastal waters off the Zhoushan islands to spawn, moving from north to south along the coast of Zhejiang. Seasonal fluctuations in sea temperature correspond to variations in the level of discharge from the Yangzi River and circulation of the Kuroshio Current. During the spring and summer months, these hydrologic conditions create a warm-temperature perfect for the production of phytoplankton and zooplankton in which aids these marine animals to reproduce and grow. According to this method, we can track the major fishing seasons through their annual migrations.
The increase in demand that came from the Song Dynasty towards production of the market made fishermen venture off to inshore fishing grounds.
As the population and the usage of fishing boats increased, off shore fishing placed greater demands on China's environment during the Ming and Qing periods. By 1700, population was at 150 million. By the eighteenth century, the population doubled. At the beginning of the twentieth century, China's population reached 500 million and continued to increased thereafter. Most citizens used fishing as a source of income. When unrestrained competition and no regulations are placed on fisheries, it threatened the source of income. The Zhoushan coastal waters are suited to the spawning of fish species. As a result, fish grows all year long. Small, immature fish fetched a lower price on the market compared to more larger, mature fish. In order for fishermen to recoup their expenditures, they bring in bigger catches, which put heavy pressure on fish stocks. Hence, this trend contributed to the stock depletion by taking too many young fish. The unequal treaties signed between China and foreign powers during the 19th century had made Shanghai an open port for international trade, in which Japan took the
advantage.
Japan played a significant role in shaping China's modernity. The influence of modern Japanese conceptions of the sea and its resources can be traced to Meiji periods from 1868-1912, when Chinese students in Japan gained exposure to the discipline of fisheries management. Fisheries management became an important tool in building its nation's wealth and power. Linking back to the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the commonalities between these two nations is the slogan of Fisheries build up the nation. The conflict between Chinese and Japanese fishermen emerged after Japanese fleet began to focus on catching yellow croaker during the mid 1920s. This violated China's soveriengty by fishing in its terrestrial waters. Japanese boats first arrived in the waters off the Shengsi Islands in the spring of 1925 during the yellow croaker season. By the mid 1930s, the combined demands of Chinese and Japanese fishing activities had led to a clear decline in the productivity of the yellow croaker fisheries. Although, Japanese trawlers accounted most of these pressures, Chinese fishers contributed as well. Chinese fishers were not happy of stealing their fish market. As the decline of yellow croaker began, sovereignty claims of remote islands took on a whole new meaning. Researchers predict that by 2048, all marine fish and seafood species will collapse unless steps are taken to stop overfishing, control population, and protect ocean habitats.
World War Two tensions also persisted between China and Japan which undermine their pragmatic cooperation and diplomatic relationship. The Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s and 1940s, such as the Japanese wartime massacres in Nanjing and the biological warfare experiments conducted in China by the Japanese Imperial Army's Unit 751 made many Chinese angry about what they see as a failure from Japan to acknowledge and to apologize for their atrocities. On September 7th, 2010, a Chinese fishing boat collided with a Japanese Coast Guard patrol boat 12 kilometres off a small chain of islands known as Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. This sparked huge tensions between two bipolar countries in East Asia. In Bridging Troubled Waters, Manicom argues that there is optimistic values associated between China and Japan even though the two countries are fighting over for territories and natural resources. In order to support his insights, Manicom reflects the two nation's commonalities. Japan is fourth in the world in per capita fish consumption consuming some 10.8 million tons of seafood in 1998. China is also another country who consumed lots of seafood. Fishing agreements between China and Japan was signed on November 11th, 1997, which came into force on June 1st, 2000. This illustrates a perfect example of reciprocal cooperation over an area of mutual interest through joint fishing areas.
how marine resource exploitation becomes a motivation to strengthen each perspective's nation state.
Japan has one of the longest histories of hunting-gatherer societies in East Asia. Dating back to the Jomon, their diets included a board range of plant, animal, and marine foods. The remains of the salmon bones show that this fish was exploited from as early as the Incipient phase. Fast forward to the Yayoi period, rice without doubt was the most important crop but barley, millet, and other cultivated and wild plants were also consumed in large quantities. Others such as domesticated pigs and chicken are known from Yayoi contexts, but was still unclear whether or not it was used a food resource. Deer, wild boars, and fish hunting also continued through the Yayoi and Kofun periods. Religion such as Buddhism also played a role towards food source in the late sixth century. Food source included mainly fish and shellfish as a source of animal protein. Fast forward to the mid eighteenth century, Hokkaido dominated the fishing industry although it had a very weak agricultural base. To make this up, Hokkaido fishers engaged in a long distance trade with many regions of Honshu. The most important product was herring meal fertilizer, which was used as a commercial fertilizer.
In terms of Japanese fisheries, Japan has a long history of intensive coastal fishing and whaling. Offshore fisheries began to develop only in the late nineteenth century. From 1875, after the Treaty of St.Petersburg granted fishing rights in Russia to Japanese nationals. Japanese interests quickly established substantial fishing operations in Sakhalin and along Russia's Sea of Okhotsk littoral. In Sakhalin, for example, the number of Japanese fisherman grew from about three hundred in 1875 to over seven thousand in 1904. Furthermore, new fishing technologies were also introduced in which significantly expanded the ranges and ambitions of Japanese fisherman. When the otter trawler was commissioned in 1908, many Japanese fisherman were able to fish around the seas of Japan. Later came the first motored powered tuna boat launched in 1906. Technological advances contributed to the industry’s growth. It allowed fisherman to venture out into the open sea plying the East China and Yellow Seas in 1921. Japanese imperialism soon created a more aggressive advance for the economy after 1931. There aim was to get Japan globalized in export trades with Europe and North America. It was considered very successful as exports of marine products amount annually in value to between 150 000 000 yen to 160 000 000 yen. As a matter of fact, fisheries ranked third after raw silk, cotton yarn, and piece goods. In the late 1930's, popular patriotic songs filled the atmosphere of Japan. Fuse Hajime's “Taiheiyo Koshinkyoku” also known as the Pacific March, indicates themes of interpreting Japan as an ocean empire with a nation of born fishermen.
Japanese imperialism also played a significant role in strengthening the nation state.
Early successes of Japanese imperialism such as the victory of the Sino-Japanese War, provided additional funding for the Okotsu project. Historians generally conceived Japanese expansionism as a purely terrestrial affair. For example, the Ryukyu Islands in 1871, the Bonin Islands in 1875, the Kurils in the same year, Taiwan in 1895, the southern half of Sakhalin Island and the Liaodong Peninsula in 1905, Korea in 1910, the islands of Micronesia during WW1, the absorption of Manchuria after 1931, the drive into China after 1937, and even the Aleutians after December 7th, 1941. Japanese expansionism still occurs with the continuous wrangling over the Northern Territories with Russia, the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands with China/Taiwan, and the more recent Tokto/Takeshima …show more content…
controversy.
On the other hand, China currently faces environmental issues ranging from severe water shortages and land degradation to climate pollution and decreasing biodiversity. These challenges extend to the marine environment, where pollution and overfishing have damaged China's fishery resources. During the Qing period, the major commercial species in fisheries were large yellow croaker, small yellow croaker, hairtail, and cuttlefish. Each of these species has long distance migratory patterns coinciding with seasonal changes in sea temperature. As water temperatures increase during the late spring and early summer, these fish leave their overwintering grounds in the deep offshore waters and swim into shallow coastal waters off the Zhoushan islands to spawn, moving from north to south along the coast of Zhejiang. Seasonal fluctuations in sea temperature correspond to variations in the level of discharge from the Yangzi River and circulation of the Kuroshio Current. During the spring and summer months, these hydrologic conditions create a warm-temperature perfect for the production of phytoplankton and zooplankton in which aids these marine animals to reproduce and grow. According to this method, we can track the major fishing seasons through their annual migrations.
The increase in demand that came from the Song Dynasty towards production of the market made fishermen venture off to inshore fishing grounds.
As the population and the usage of fishing boats increased, off shore fishing placed greater demands on China's environment during the Ming and Qing periods. By 1700, population was at 150 million. By the eighteenth century, the population doubled. At the beginning of the twentieth century, China's population reached 500 million and continued to increased thereafter. Most citizens used fishing as a source of income. When unrestrained competition and no regulations are placed on fisheries, it threatened the source of income. The Zhoushan coastal waters are suited to the spawning of fish species. As a result, fish grows all year long. Small, immature fish fetched a lower price on the market compared to more larger, mature fish. In order for fishermen to recoup their expenditures, they bring in bigger catches, which put heavy pressure on fish stocks. Hence, this trend contributed to the stock depletion by taking too many young fish. The unequal treaties signed between China and foreign powers during the 19th century had made Shanghai an open port for international trade, in which Japan took the
advantage.
Japan played a significant role in shaping China's modernity. The influence of modern Japanese conceptions of the sea and its resources can be traced to Meiji periods from 1868-1912, when Chinese students in Japan gained exposure to the discipline of fisheries management. Fisheries management became an important tool in building its nation's wealth and power. Linking back to the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the commonalities between these two nations is the slogan of Fisheries build up the nation. The conflict between Chinese and Japanese fishermen emerged after Japanese fleet began to focus on catching yellow croaker during the mid 1920s. This violated China's soveriengty by fishing in its terrestrial waters. Japanese boats first arrived in the waters off the Shengsi Islands in the spring of 1925 during the yellow croaker season. By the mid 1930s, the combined demands of Chinese and Japanese fishing activities had led to a clear decline in the productivity of the yellow croaker fisheries. Although, Japanese trawlers accounted most of these pressures, Chinese fishers contributed as well. Chinese fishers were not happy of stealing their fish market. As the decline of yellow croaker began, sovereignty claims of remote islands took on a whole new meaning. Researchers predict that by 2048, all marine fish and seafood species will collapse unless steps are taken to stop overfishing, control population, and protect ocean habitats.
World War Two tensions also persisted between China and Japan which undermine their pragmatic cooperation and diplomatic relationship. The Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s and 1940s, such as the Japanese wartime massacres in Nanjing and the biological warfare experiments conducted in China by the Japanese Imperial Army's Unit 751 made many Chinese angry about what they see as a failure from Japan to acknowledge and to apologize for their atrocities. On September 7th, 2010, a Chinese fishing boat collided with a Japanese Coast Guard patrol boat 12 kilometres off a small chain of islands known as Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. This sparked huge tensions between two bipolar countries in East Asia. In Bridging Troubled Waters, Manicom argues that there is optimistic values associated between China and Japan even though the two countries are fighting over for territories and natural resources. In order to support his insights, Manicom reflects the two nation's commonalities. Japan is fourth in the world in per capita fish consumption consuming some 10.8 million tons of seafood in 1998. China is also another country who consumed lots of seafood. Fishing agreements between China and Japan was signed on November 11th, 1997, which came into force on June 1st, 2000. This illustrates a perfect example of reciprocal cooperation over an area of mutual interest through joint fishing areas.