From Balance Of Power To War

This paper reexamines the reasons why the Pacific War broke out in terms of the balance of power by locating the war in a longer period and wider space of history. The balance of power based on the Washington System ever maintained the Far East peace situation during a certain period. The framework of the balance of power, however, was destroyed in 1930's. The appeasement policy of Britain and America entered blind alley in early 1940's. The Far East area has come to a deadlock. It becomes a logical choice to break the deadlock by means of war. The outline of the paper is as follows.The first chapter analyzes The First World War deeply affected the structure of the world policy and economy. Although the war didn't reach as far as the Pacific, the growth and decline of the relative strength of Europe extremely changed the strength structure of the Pacific. Before the First World War broke out, the big powers of Europe at ally led international affairs in the Pacific and Far East. After World War I was over, the power of influence of Germany in Pacific was nearly wiped out, Tsarist Russia Empire collapsed, the rising Soviet Russia was busy with the civil war, and they automatically withdrew from the fights in Far East. America and Japan that benefit from others'conflict became the winner and became the important competitive opponent to fight for the benefit of the Pacific and Far East. The conference of Washington was convened in order to clear the armament race that the two countries caused. The Washington conference mediated the fights among Britain, France etc.; Japan and America in the Pacific and Far East. It broke up the alley between Britain and Japan and made it a rule that the navy of America became a superiority position. At last it formed the mean balance of power that America played a leading role. The second chapter analyzes in the 1930s, the structure of power of balance in the Far East and Pacific region, constructed by the Washington conference, has increasingly come under challenge. In 1931, the Japanese Imperial Army launched the "September 18" Incident, which marked the beginning of Japan's aggression against China. Although the Chinese Government appalled to the League of Nations, it did not make any sanctions against Japan for its aggression under the British control. Troubled by a severe economic crisis, the United States was busy with domestic economic and social affairs and had also taken appeasement policy on the expansion of Japan in the Far East. And the Netherlands, with the possession of rich resources of East Indies, was already out of the competition arena and was dependent on the United Kingdom in the Far East policy. The United Kingdom was unable to resist Japan's expansion individually, hoping to collaborate with the United States which was unwilling to be "cat's paw" for the British Empire and therefore the two pillars collapsed which constitute the balance of power in the Pacific Far East.The third chapter analyzes the appeasement policy adopted by Britain and the United States on Japan not only greatly encouraged Japan's aggression in China, but also stirred up its desire to expand to the Pacific. The Chinese people's arduous war of resistance not only maintained the country's independent status, but also gained access to the status of a great nation. China has become a role that can not be overlooked in the balance of power in the future construction of the Far East situation. The United States and Britain were not without principle in terms of appeasement to Japan, they could tolerate the loss of economic interests in China, but they could not tolerate Japan's involvement in the South Pacific region. Japan's "go south" strategy had no sooner been implemented than it touched the bottom line of appeasement policy. The United States, Britain and many self-governing territories under the British Empire began to launch trade embargo against Japan, which provoked Japan's sense of threat. In looking for the slightest vitality, Japan decided to attack Pearl Harbor, thus ending the Anglo-American policy of appeasement, in the mean time the balance of power in Washington system was completely destroyed.In the conclusion, The author sums up international pattern changes in the Far East Pacific region as well as several changes in the status of China are put forward. Through detailed analysis of the history, the author suggests that, the Far East regional peace and stability depend on the balance of power in the Far East, particularly China's strength. China's rise is not a threat to peace in the Far East, but the basis of peace.