China, Japan, and the Pacific Rim in the 20 th Century

1. China, Japan, and the Pacific Rim in the 20th Century

2. Qing to Republic • Mid-19th century flooding and other economic issues make peasants unhappy • Increased social unrest • Social and economic systems could not cope with the changes of increased population • Taiping Rebellion • An attempt to overthrow Qing government • Attempt thwarted but secret societies working towards overthrowing continued

3. Qing to Republic (cont’d) • End of 19th century • Children of scholar-gentry and compradors (wealthy merchants) work towards overthrowing Qing Dynasty • 1905 – Civil Service exams end • Signified the end of the strong Confucian influence of society • Today, some influence remains • Sun Yat-sen • led failed attempts at toppling the empire • Successful in 1911

4. The Republic is Established • Republic of China established in 1912 • Sun Yat-Sen was the first leader (president) • Headed the Kuomintang(KMT) to govern over the Chinese Republic • Early years were quite turbulent

5. Republic of China (cont’d) • 1925 – Chiang Kai-shek controlled the KMT after Sun Yat-Sen’s death • With the support of the Soviet Union, he drove out rival warlords • Once the KMT regained control, Chiang purged the country of communists • Actually wanted to “eliminate” them • Sino-Japanese War – defeated by the Japanese but they benefited from Japan’s loss in WWII • Seen as a solid country and an ally to the West against communism

6. Post World War II China • Chinese Civil War • KMT vs Communist Party of China • Communist Party of China emerges victoriously led by Mao Zedong • People’s Republic of China • Established October 1, 1949 as a communist state • Nationalists (KMT and Chiang Kai-Shek) forced out of China and move to Taiwan

7. Mao’s Push for the Future • Work towards developing the infrastructure of the country • Strengthen industry, healthcare, and education to raise living standard • The Great Leap Forward • Collectivization

8. The “Great” Leap Forward • Communes – ppl working together to form self-sufficent economic units with light industry • Collectivization – agricultural unit requiring large amounts of peasants working together not for a wage but for a share of the farms’ output. • Result? • Initially, the economy grew drastically(1958) but by 1961, it had collapsed • Poor economic planning led to… • DISASTER!! • Statistics inflated and falsified to give impression that it was successful • Estimated that 20 million people died (many from starvation)

9. The Cultural Revolution • Mao’s attempt to purge the country of “counterrevolutionaries” and spread communist and Marxist ideology • 1968 – Mao himself was “promoted” and achieved a “god-like” status • He became the source of everything that was provided • Begins to lose control

10. Mao’s problems • Purges government of officials that give him problems and sends them to labor camps • Top officials try to stage a coup and assassinate Mao( Unsuccessful) • 1976 – Mao dies • 1978 – Deng Xiaoping takes charge • Moved more towards a Mixed economy but still communist and oppressive of “rival” groups

11. Post World War II Japan • Adopts a new constitution and a constitutional monarchy • Aggressive industrialization • Large emphasis on education • Economy stresses working together of all parties involved (workers and companies) and high job security • By 1980s, one of the top economies in the world • Elements of society in Japan are still highly traditional

12. Pacific Rim Economic Commonalties •  Team emphasis allows the ability for fast economic growth • Loyalty vs. individualism • Confucian shapes moral code • Many countries after initial success have had to move to a western model • Thailand and Indonesia to counter slow or declining economies • 4 Asian Tigers • Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong