How Did Imperialism Affect China And Japan

The Western nations power for industrialization and imperialism grew more and more during the 1800s and during so it took a great interest in both Japan and China. As each country responded to the changes that were happening in the West, either in different or similar ways had to take into consideration the changes they were going to experience in their own country. For instance, policies toward foreigners, Western values and technology, Chinese and Japanese traditions and values, and foreign trade, are some of the terms both China and Japan looked at as they responded to the West. However the decisions and responses they made to the West's growing power had huge and lasting effects on China and Japan. Each country experienced and received

The way Japan responded was by sending their delegates to certain locations in the West like the United States and Europe to learn more about Western technology, industry, and ideas. Contrary to China, Japan knew that modernization was necessary for their nation and doing so they abandoned their archaic past to adopt the Western ways. As they adopted these ways, Japan began building up its industry, setting up a modern banking system, and investing in the latest communication and transportation. Seeing the defeat of China by Britain, the Meiji decided to modernize and build up their army and navy based off modern principles and Great Britain's navy. With Japan being modernized they barely had any problems when it came to foreign affairs unlike China. Showing that their response to the West affected them efficiently through their domestic and foreign affairs in years that followed. For instance with Japan's modernized army and navy they were able to defeat China in the Sino-Japanese War and gain new territory, Korea and Taiwan, as well as ships from them. In the Russo-Japanese War, Russia and Japan both wanted to have control over Manchuria, so with Japan having confidence after defeating China, they thought they could beat the Russians as well. During the war the Japan could not defeat the Russians on the Manchurian plains, however they did have victory at sea causing them to win

In the beginning both countries wanted to keep their traditions and values, which lead them to resisting the changes and influences that came from the West. Doing so made both Japan's and China's government limit contact with foreigners by closing all ports but one to allow some trade with other countries. For example Japan decreed that any Japanese who tried to leave the country or converted to Christianity were sent to death. The reason why they did not want to be involved with the West nations custom because they were afraid they will lose their tradition and values as a country. Therefore both nations opposed Western's growing power of industrialization and