2016/11/24 by Xu Guoqi · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Japanese History and Culture #Chinese history and philosophy #Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis #China #History #Geography #Ancient history #Political science #Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199658190.003.0007
published in Oxford University Press eBooks, 153-184 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2016/11/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
This chapter examines the roles of the Japanese and Chinese delegates and lobbyists at the Paris Peace Conference. Although few scholars pay much attention to their role, it argues that even the Japanese were eager to help shape a new world order after the war. They expected the postwar settlement to seal their position as the dominant Asian power and recognize Japan’s developing interests in China. Japanese leaders hoped that Western Powers would see Japan as an equal now that “proud, confident, rich Europe had torn itself to pieces.” The overriding Chinese goal, of course, was to recover what Japan had taken away and was determined to keep. This chapter further explains how the Chinese and Japanese each were disappointed by the peace negotiations and the resulting Treaty of Versailles.