Fuzhou Incident In 1919 And The Response Of All Sides

Since 1898, Japan forced Fujian into its sphere of influence, the Japanese aggression in Fujian did not stopped. After China and Japan signed "21" conspiracy, Japan intensified political and economic control in Fujian Province, which deepened the Fujian people’s Anti-Japanese sentiment and intensified Anti-Japanese movement. In November 16,1919, the shocking Fuzhou Incident broke out. In the evening of the same day, the Japanese organized death squads hit the Chinese young students for no reason, causing six students and an American teacher injured, a policeman killed and many citizens injured. The Fuzhou Incident is the first large-scale conflict between China and Japan after the May Fourth Movement. It broke the gradually restored calm situation after the May Fourth Movement, causing the Anti-Japanese patriotic movement was again aroused which has been transferred to a low ebb after the May Fourth Movement.This thesis is divided into five parts, mainly about two problems are discussed, the first problem is Chinese and Japanese government’s response after the incident occurred. Faced with the Japanese brutality in Fujian, in a passive position, the Beijing government has taken a protest, negotiation and other diplomatic measures, but because being lack of determination, repeatedly had to compromise and concessions; and Japanese government after the event had no reflection took hardline diplomatic position against the Chinese government, asked China to take measures to ban anti-Japanese movement around the country, and sent warships to land Fujian for force demonstration. The second problem is the patriotic public’s response to this incident lead by the youth students. Academics, workers, businessmen and other social groups reached a basic agreement in the negotiations with Japan on the issue and the agreement was implemented. The indignant public sentiment in China, public opinion rising, under great pressure, the Chinese government in the negotiation between China and Japan gradually occupy the initiative, argued and finally achieved relative success results, namely Japanese warships’ evacuation Fujian, Japanese apology, compensation, and the perpetrators will be punished until both parties identified in accordance with the law.From the perspective of crisis response, this thesis all-round study Chinese politics, young students and merchants social groups, the Japanese and foreign government response to Fuzhou Incident, and display position and attitude of all parties, the coping and gaming with Fuzhou Incident between China and Japan and between the government and the public.