Economic pressures facilitating military expansion up to 1914. Japan was a new consumer economy that had changed from feudal economy in a very short time period of forty years. This caused many problems and in the 1890's Japan was in a severe economic depression and Japan was importing far more than they were exporting. Japan found it difficult to break into established overseas markets where countries had been trading for much longer than Japan. And so Japan was under pressure to expand it's borders for raw materials and new overseas markets to sell to. Japan also wanted recognition from the western powers as a valuable market.

During this time period there was also social pressures for Japan to expand. The traditional Bushido, the fighting spirit of Japan enabled the military to expand, as opposed to if

The Japanese government assisted foreign policy and was influenced by it. The government was backed by the army, which was important as no government could continue without it. In return the government introduced conscription and provided monetary support. With a successful foreign policy, the government grew more confident in dealings with other countries. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance(1902) was a definite confidence booster for the government. By it, Japan and Britain agreed that if two powers attacked either then the other must help.

Japanese Militarism manifested on the Asian mainland in the Sino-Japanese War(1894-95). This war was over China's and Japan's interest in Korea, where both countries wanted to influence the government and prevent Western influence. China had claimed control over Korea for many years, but as it was in such close proximity and was rich in the raw materials of coal and iron, Japan was interested. Japan forced Korea to trade and declare itself independent of China, while China continued to financially assist conservative officials in connection with the royal family. After troubles in Korea both countries sent in troops, but war was avoided by the signing of the Li-Ito Convention(1885). But in 1894 both China and Japan sent forces into Korea on the request of the King due to a rebellion. After this Japan refused to remove troops from Korea and so war was declared on 1st of August 1894. Western countries were amazed at how easily Japan defeated China. China had a large and fairly modern navy, but it's army lacked trained men and so they lost badly. China did not have the modern warfare methods of Japan which soon had total control over Korea. China agreed to pay a large indemnity to Japan and to give all the trading privileges to Japan. Japanese victory marked the emergence of Japan as a major world power and demonstrated the weakness of the Chinese Empire. Later though

Some common words found in the essay are:
Japan Britain, Japan Japan, Nineteenth Century, Emperor Emperor's, Tokyo Osaka, China China, Japan Despite, Korea Japanese, China Japan, Korea Taiwan, foreign policy, social structure, asian mainland, manifested asian mainland, manifested asian, japan's foreign, japan's foreign policy, japan japan, education system, foreign policy influenced, control korea, japan recognition, western powers, government education religion, successful foreign policy,
Approximate Word count = 1287
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)