Turning Point - Sekigahara: Toyotomi's Global Expansion and its Consequences

Phase 22 - The Peak of Imperialism

Basically, in the 19th century, the major European powers viewed Japan diplomatically as inferior, considering it to be a nation of people of color located on the periphery of the world, except when it came to issues in East Asia and the Pacific. At the present time, Japan may have overwhelming power in East Asia and the Pacific, but beyond the Indian Ocean, its influence is limited. Courting the strong and striking the weak was, in a sense, a rule of thumb in imperialist societies. If the other party was of a colored race and a heathen, it was even more so. Because Japan had the audacity to possess power, there was a strong inclination to engage with it on an equal footing.

On the other hand, in Asia and the Pacific, European nations were inclined to use Japan to compete with other European powers. First and foremost, if they didn't excel in Europe, competing in other regions was nothing more than a pipe dream.

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The country that made the most use of Japan's sphere of influence was Britain. As a major power, Britain began to pseudo-form the world's trade network and the Asian Ring by using Japan as an intermediary. However, beyond that aspect, Britain's plans were not going well. Japanese people did not borrow money from Britain, and they did not hire British technicians for more than a temporary period. These two factors are usually quick triggers to colonize another country or ethnicity, but Japan had little need for such things. Furthermore, with industrial, military, and one of the world's leading national powers comparable to the European powers, it was difficult to do anything with Japan other than mutual benefit. Moreover, the territory of the Japanese, who had a large population and had become a nation-state, was not an easily colonizable place, something the British knew better than anyone else in Europe.

In contrast, other powers, especially Russia in the 1870s and 1880s, were struggling with whether to advance or retreat from Siberia. Discussions even arose from the Japanese side about extending a railway from their side into Siberia, making them aware of their own disadvantages in Siberia. However, for the Russians, handing over even a single pebble to another was not acceptable due to their potential fear as a continental nation. Therefore, they placed Japan above their imaginary enemies and were eager to overcome the lack of funds and technology to develop the depths of Siberia.

And then, luck came knocking for Russia.

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This all began when Chancellor Bismarck of the German Empire stepped down, and Kaiser Wilhelm II himself attempted a diplomatic shift towards an expansionist policy.

Until then, France, which had been isolated due to Bismarck's genius political maneuvering, was finally freed from its chains and quickly established relations with Russia. France, right after Bismarck's departure, extended loans to Russia. With this, Russia embarked on the construction of the Siberian Railway, and the following year, the Franco-Russian Alliance was formed. France earned foreign currency through loans to Russia and used it to bolster its imperialist policies with revolving funds.

In response to this, Japan had no choice but to react, initiating the development of Northern Manchuria and laying the parallel railway along the Amur River. However, by intensifying its expansion into Southern Manchuria, Japan found itself in conflict with the Qing Dynasty, specifically infringing on the ancestral land of the Manchu people. Yet, Japan managed to secure its economic interests in Southern Manchuria by making promises to the Qing Dynasty, offering contributions to the central Qing authorities, and handling the ancestral rights of the Manchu people with care. The Qing Dynasty had limited control over issues like suppressing the influx of Han Chinese due to their large population. Therefore, they sought a compromise with Japan.

Japan's objective was not to marketize all of China but to develop and annex undeveloped areas within the Chinese region. Consequently, the major powers did not raise too many objections from an imperialistic standpoint. The Japanese were also well aware that, historically and through their past experiences, they would not be severely opposed by the Han Chinese as long as they did not cross the Great Wall.