The Hidden Historical Circumstances surrounding the Jiandao Expedition as Seen through the Yomiuri Newspaper

Abstract

This article reviews perceptions within Japanese society of the Japanese Armys Jiandao Expedition (Kantō Shuppei in Japanese, Kando Chimgong in Korean), which began in October 1920 and ended in May 1921, as reflected by reporting and commentary within the Yomiuri Newspaper (Yomiuri shinbun). What new perspectives does this study offer compared with previous research that utilized the reports and documents of the Japanese Army and Foreign Ministry? First, the image of the Jiandao Expedition painted by Ministry of the Army documents and reports is one of a joint operation by Japan and China based on a smoothly concluded agreement. However, the Yomiuri Newspaper shows that the government in Beijing strongly opposed the Japanese plan, and the Japanese government in the end was only able to receive a temporary understanding from China. In other words, this was a joint invasion only in name and was in fact a unilateral invasion. Second, on November 2, two weeks after receiving understanding for its deployment of troops, the Japanese government had to consent to Chinese demands for withdrawal. However, the position of the Army, which already had troops in China, and the Foreign Ministry, which was concerned about public order in Jiandao, was to delay the withdrawal as long as possible or request the Chinese government give prior approval to a redeployment to use as leverage in negotiations. The Chinese government strongly responded to this position by the Japanese, stating the Japanese were overstepping their authority and violating Chinas sovereignty. These strong complaints by China about Japan stepping over the line and details about the lengthy negotiations are shown for the first time through this review of the Yomiuri Newspaper. Third, Japan did not respond to Chinas démarches by quickly withdrawing all its troops, and instead plotted to either delay the withdrawal or substitute troops with police officers in Jiandao. In the midst of this scheming, the Jiandao deployment began receiving international attention and anti-Japan sentiment began to increase. Not only did Japan receive demands from the great powers of Great Britain, France, and the US for an explanation of the deployment of troops to Jiandao, but in Great Britain in particular the Jiandao issue became a subject of discussion in Parliament. Colonel Mizumachis gaffe about foreign missionaries controlling the independence movement and ideology of Koreans in the region caused an uproar so significant that it was addressed in newspaper editorials. However, Japanese criticism of Mizumachis statement only superficially focused on the words or criticized the military for overstepping its authority, and the Japanese media avoided stating the facts about the inhumane massacre of civilians in Jiandao. Instead, the newspapers characterized the killings in the Zhangyandong region as fabrications, defamation, and false reports. This displayed the limits of the perspective offered by the Yomiuri Newspaper.