Living Under Japanese Occupation

The Chinese Revolution

Japan controlled Taiwan as a colony from 1895 to 1945. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese language education and publications stopped and the Imperial Subject Movement tried to Japanize residents of Taiwan. The Baojia system was helpful in controlling the locals and confiscating grain during the war. The Taiwanese were mobilized to support the Japanese War Effort and experienced conscription, bombing and the Comfort Women system. The Cairo Declaration in 1943 announced that Taiwan, the Penghu Islands and Manchuria would be part of the Republic of China after Japan's defeat.

The Kwantung Army created the puppet state of Manchukuo, with Emperor Puyi as figurehead. Its Unit 731 did biological weapons testing and medical experiments on locals. Opium laced cigarettes were also sold to unsuspecting Chinese. Japanese farmers relocated to Manchuria. Industry and mining flourished.

Around 200,000 Chinese women were exploited as Comfort Women, with harrowing stories.

Puppet regimes were also established in North China, Inner Mongolia and at Nanjing. The Japanese military, really in control, found benefit in having Chinese figureheads, like Wang Kemin and Wang Jingwei, maintaining appearances of Chinese led local governments.

Image: "Japanese HK Occupation Poster 1" by greggman is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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