Summary for Orders for Officers and Men of the Expeditionary ForceThe Second Sino–Japanese War— How, and with what purpose in mind, did Japan fight? —Moteki Hiromichi’s “China Caused the Second Sino–Japanese War” explains how the SecondSino–Japanese War was a conflict caused by China, and how Japan was dragged into a war she had
not sought. http://www.sdh-fact.com/CL02_1/69_S4.pdf
During the war, Japan never made any territorial demands, nor did she make any demands oninterests in China. This is made clear from the Funatsu Peace Initiative (Aug. 1937), the TrautmannPeace Initiative (Dec. 1937), etc., wherein no such demands are made.
In Jan. 1938, seeing that no Chinese reply to the Trautmann Peace Initiative was forthcoming
though the deadline had come, Japanese prime minister Konoe Fumimaro gave up hopes for peace,declaring, “We will no longer deal with the government of Chiang Kai-shek.” Nonetheless, he mademany appeals for peace afterward. In November of that year came the second Konoe declaration,
wherein he appealed for international justice, joint anti-communism, and economic cooperation
between the three countries of Japan, Manchuria, and China. Then in December came Konoe’s third
declaration. This was a call for “neighborly friendship, anti-Communist cooperation, and economiccooperation.” There is nothing in any of these indicating aggressive intentions toward, or designs onruling, China.
Well, then — with what goals and with what manner of policies and spirit did the Japanesemilitary fight? There is a suitable document to show this. There is a booklet dated 29 April, 1940,
titled “Orders for Officers and Men of the Expeditionary Force,” issued under the name of Itagaki
Seishirô, the China Expeditionary Army’s chief of staff.
This document stresses that the object of the hostilities was not the Chinese people themselves,
but rather the administration of Chiang Kai-shek, which had linked up with Britain, America, France,
and the Soviet Union. To break down the perception that it was otherwise, this document states thatthe objective in fighting the war was to establish a cooperative relationship grounded on moral
principles with Japan, China, and Manchuria. The document clarifies that the fundamental goal was
the rebuilding of East Asia and the establishment of a New Order in East Asia. Itagaki called forrespect of Chinese traditions, manners, and customs, and said his forces had to aim for a joining of
the two peoples with respect, faith, and love. This confirms that there were no thoughts of contemptfor China. From this document, we can also infer that Japan was not aimlessly continuing the fightout of sheer momentum for the sake of just prolonging the conflict, even though there is aconsiderable tendency to criticize Japan for not knowing exactly why she was fighting.
“China Caused the Second Sino–Japanese War” is mainly an analysis of the circumstances of theoutbreak of the war, but “Orders for Officers and Men of the Expeditionary Force” is something
intended to clarify that the Japanese army did not have as its goal the subjugation of China in thefighting that went on after that. The latter document, as a supplement to the former, negates thecriticism of Japan as an aggressor against China. It is good to read them together.