Economic Analysis of China, the United States, and Japan

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During this period, although Japan received a substantial amount of war indemnities from the First Sino-Japanese War, the subsequent Russo-Japanese War nearly drove the nation to economic bankruptcy. Furthermore, after the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan did not gain any other war benefits aside from consolidating its rule in Southern Manchuria

By 1931, Japan's domestic economy was in a state of recession. In this context, Japanese militarists launched the 918 incident, attacking the Northeast Army. Zhang Xueliang, perceived as weak, adopted a policy of non-resistance, thereby providing Japan with an opportunity to escape its economic crisis

From 1911 to 1926, the period was marked by Yuan Shikai's Beiyang rule and the North-South Civil War. Although warlord rule emerged during this time, those in power were all revolutionaries, constitutionalists, or Beiyang warlords. Furthermore, the concept of industrial salvation had deeply rooted itself in the hearts of the people. During World War I, the national light industry, primarily focused on textiles and flour processing, experienced rapid development. It can be said that this period also represented a prosperous time for national capital.

That is, does this economic comparison include the three northeastern provinces? If it does include the three northeastern provinces, it is basically feasible (some data suggest that the industrial output of the northeast accounts for 1/4 of China)

Thus, although China's economic development stagnated during the Qing Dynasty, it is said that a dead camel is still larger than a horse. Some people claim that the United States became the world's economic leader in 1894, and it is generally credible that its total economic output became the largest in the world.

Whenever the Republic of China is mentioned, it is often inseparable from the economic issues of that era. During the Republic of China period, what was the total economic output of China, and what was the per capita GDP? These are topics that cannot be overlooked.

The GDP of Japan, China, and the United States in the years 1820, 1870, 1913, and 1950 (in millions of dollars, 1990) is as follows: 20, 738, and 228; 600, and 12, 548; 22, 353, and 189; 740, and 98, 374; 71, 653, and 241; 344, and 517; 383, 160, 966; and 239, 903, and 1, 455, 916; 966, and 239, 903, and 1, 455, 916

In light of all these factors, it is indeed exceedingly difficult for us non-economists to comprehend the economic conditions of the Republic of China

The rebellion initiated by the Communist Party successively occupied several provinces in the south, including the Xiangnan uprising, the burning of numerous houses along the roads, and the launching of the land reform movement against the landlords in the Soviet areas. This was followed by Chiang Kai-shek's five encirclement campaigns. It is important to note that in textbooks, the military deployment eventually reached a total of one million troops (the figures are very precise and all integers: the first time 100,000, the second time 200,000, the third time 300,000, the fourth time 500,000, and the fifth time 1,000,000). During the War of Resistance against Japan, in the Battle of Shanghai, the National Revolutionary Army initially planned to deploy 750,000 troops, but due to the long distance, only over 400,000 actually arrived. In the largest-scale battle between China and Japan during the War of Resistance, the Battle of Wuhan, the National Revolutionary Army gathered all southern troops, approximately 1,100,000 men, while Japan concentrated 300,000 troops. Thus, in order to eliminate the Soviet areas, during the fourth and fifth anti-encirclement campaigns, Chiang Kai-shek, similar to the War of Resistance against Japan, mobilized all central troops, including the Guangdong Army, Guangxi Army, Hunan Army, Sichuan Army, and Yunnan Army to confront the Communist Party. It seems that Chiang Kai-shek truly should have been overthrown; a few years ago, he had no difficulty deploying one million troops against the Communist Party, while in the decisive Battle of Shanghai, he only mobilized 400,000. In the Battle of Wuhan, he only mobilized 1,000,000. Coupled with the subsequent Long March, the destruction caused by these wars was indeed significant.

During World War I, the Japanese economy experienced rapid development, transforming from a debtor nation to a creditor nation in the post-war period

The day before yesterday, a netizen named lsahz requested Dongfang to disclose the specific GDP figure for the year 1936. To be honest, this is somewhat challenging for Dongfang.

The per capita GDP (in 1990 US dollars) of the Three Kingdoms during the aforementioned periods is as follows: 669, 660, and 1257; 737 and 530; 2445, 1387, and 552; and 5301, 1926, and 439, and 9561

Let us further discuss the economic disparity between China and Japan. Japan abolished the feudal system and established prefectures in 1872 (comparable to the establishment of commanderies and counties by Qin Shi Huang). The Satsuma Rebellion concluded in 1877, and the cabinet system was established in 1885. It appears that Japan's economic takeoff began in 1885, entering a phase of rapid development.

During the economic crisis, Japan's largest source of foreign exchange, raw silk and silk exports, plummeted from 780 million to over 200 million.

During the same period, although China experienced national reunification and the development of national industries and capital after World War I, the immense destruction caused by the War of Resistance Against Japan and the Liberation War resulted in the economy failing to recover fundamentally. Over nearly 40 years, the total economic output declined by approximately 1%. The economic gap between China and Japan also decreased from 3.3 times to 1.5 times.

The civil war among the new warlords in the country, involving Chiang Kai-shek, Feng Yuxiang, Yan Xishan, and Li Zongren, erupted year after year. A major battle in the Central Plains saw both sides mobilizing armies totaling over one million, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties.

In this regard, some data indicates that prior to the Anti-Japanese War, the total economic volume between China and Japan was 2 times greater. Regarding this concept, the East needs to clarify one issue.

In the course of these 100 years, the population of the United States increased 15 times from 1820 to 1950, primarily due to the expansion of its territory from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest. Between 1820 and 1870, the population tripled over a span of 50 years

After this, in 1950, the population increased from 40 million in 1870 to 156 million, representing a growth of 2.9 times. This was primarily due to sustained economic development, new immigrants from Europe and Asia, as well as natural population growth, which includes birth rates and increases in life expectancy

In 1820, Japan's total economic output was 1/10 that of China. By 1870, due to foreign invasions and domestic political corruption, Japan's economy did not grow. In contrast, China's economy decreased by 1/7 due to the civil war sparked by the Taiping Rebellion and foreign invasions. Nevertheless, due to the significant population disparity, China's total economic output was 8.5 times that of Japan

This represents a relatively common perspective in the academic community regarding the economic scale of China, the United States, and Japan. As an enthusiast, Dongfang supports this viewpoint

Under these circumstances, due to population factors and the fact that the Industrial Revolution had not yet begun, the total economic output of China at that time was several times that of the United States

Furthermore, although the economy has developed, it is primarily represented by capitalists from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as the development of compradors. During this period, Zhang Qian, a representative of Jiangsu and Zhejiang industries, went bankrupt, and the match king Liu Hongsheng nearly faced bankruptcy as well

During this period, Japan's population increased from 31 million in 1820 to 83 million, representing a growth of 1.7 times. This was primarily due to political stability (Japan previously implemented a feudal system, later establishing prefectures and cities, somewhat akin to the Qin Dynasty's establishment of commanderies and counties across the nation), sustained economic growth, and natural population increase

In the past 100 years, Japan's per capita GDP increased from 669 in 1820 to 1926 in 1950, nearly doubling. In contrast, due to the corrupt rule of the Qing Dynasty, domestic warfare, and the invasion of imperialist powers, China's per capita GDP declined by 33%. Meanwhile, the United States experienced continuous economic growth, with its per capita GDP increasing nearly sevenfold during this period

The author feels that research on the Republic of China has always been a taboo, especially under the current political circumstances. Particularly, some individuals, in order to validate their own legitimacy of rule, have caused many academic studies to serve political ends and the government

Our economic aggregate gradually declined from 1840, dropping from the world's largest, which accounted for 22% of the total number of books globally, to 4.5% in 1949, which is generally credible

Since the initiation of reforms and opening up in China, the economy has experienced sustained high-speed growth. However, in the eyes of some economists, the actual growth rate is far below the official figures. As some have remarked, our economic growth resembles a road: two years ago, a road was constructed; the year before last, the road was dug up to install drainage; last year, it was excavated again to repair the drainage; and this year, it has been dug up once more to lay a new road. From 1980 to the present, the economic growth has only been about 8 to 10 times.

In 1840, in terms of GDP, China was the world's largest economy, much like the United States today (the current share of the United States in the world is approximately the same value)

However, between 1865 and 1894 (the First Sino-Japanese War), the Self-Strengthening Movement emerged. Driven by foreign influences, some bureaucrats established machinery bureaus and shipyards, leading to rapid development of bureaucratic and national capital in China, which is also referred to in history as the Tongzhi Restoration

From 1926 to 1936, Chiang Kai-shek's revolutionary government nominally ruled the entire country. Although some claim this was the golden decade of Chinese national capitalism, one only needs to consider these facts for this golden decade to significantly diminish.

In 1929, the global economic crisis erupted, causing a severe impact on the entire capitalist world. A surplus of goods from Europe, America, and Japan flooded the market, somewhat akin to today's promotions (historically, the United States disposed of surplus items such as milk by pouring them into ditches). Under these circumstances, the rapid development of national industries was inevitably curtailed

However, in the subsequent decade, the Japanese economy faced significant difficulties. First, the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1922 caused immense economic losses, followed by the global economic crisis in 1929, which resulted in losses that can only be described as severe

Japan's invasion of Northeast China, Rehe, and Chahar, along with the September 18 Incident and the subsequent Great Wall Resistance, resulted in China losing control over the three northeastern provinces as well as Rehe and Chahar (the profligate Zhang Xueliang). Japan's instigation of events in Shanghai led to China losing the right to station troops there

The population changes in the Three Kingdoms during the aforementioned period were as follows (in millions): 31 and 381, 9.9, 34 and 358, 40, 51.6 and 437, 97.6, 83.6 and 546, and 152 million.

After that, following the signing of certain unequal treaties and the destruction caused by the Taiping Rebellion, it can be said that the economy was in a state of stagnation or regression during the period from 1840 to 1865

For instance, many experts and scholars, in order to prove the legitimacy of the melon regime m.hetushu.com, inevitably compare various economic data with that of 1949 in relation to the Republic of China. It is well known that from 1937 to 1945, the Sino-Japanese War broke out, a conflict that determined the survival of both nations. From 1945 to 1949, a civil war erupted between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in China. In the struggle for victory, both sides engaged in a life-and-death battle, leaving little room for concern about the economy. Furthermore, due to the devastation caused by the war, the total economic output in 1949 was significantly lower than the levels of 1936.

After the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, a significant influx of foreign capital occurred. In order to compensate for the war expenses, local bureaucrats began their final efforts, which involved utilizing foreign capital to construct railways and exploit mineral resources. It can be said that during the decade from 1900 to 1911, China's economy entered a phase of rapid development. Although this development was primarily driven by foreign capital and led to increasing foreign control over the Chinese economy, it is undeniable that national capital also experienced rapid growth. For instance, Yuan Shikai's Zhili, Zhang Zhidong's Huguang, as well as Jiangsu and Guangdong all saw significant advancements. Furthermore, the Northeast region also developed rapidly, particularly Liaoning. It is important to note that during the early Qing Dynasty, due to restrictions on Han people leaving the borders, the area beyond the pass was largely barren. However, in the later Qing period, Han migration into the Northeast from Shandong and Hebei, along with the opening of the Eastern Qing Railway (also known as the Chinese Eastern Railway) by Russia and the influx of foreign capital, led to rapid economic development in the Northeast. By the time of the Republic of China, the Northeast had become one of the wealthiest regions, following Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Huguang.

The population of China increased from 381 million in 1820 to 546 million, representing a growth of 45 percent

However, if the Chinese economy, which has been damaged by war, is restored, it should be able to reach and exceed twice that of Japan (consider that before 1913, Northeast China had just been developed, and after decades of construction, Northeast industry accounted for 1/4 of China's total)

First of all, this point is widely recognized around the world. During the First Opium War in 1840, China, as a major empire with a large population, accounted for 22% of the world's economy at a time when industrial civilization had not yet begun. Please remember this fact; if we accept this premise, then many subsequent events become much easier to understand.

Regarding the Chinese economy, it is universally acknowledged that in 1840, China's total economic output accounted for 22% of the world's total, making it the largest economy in the world

However, after that, following the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War and the invasion by the Eight-Nation Alliance, the Qing Dynasty, characterized by its preference for foreign enemies over domestic servants, halted the Self-Strengthening Movement initiated by the Han bureaucrats

From 1936 to 1949, due to the Anti-Japanese War that determined the fate of the nation, the Chinese Civil War broke out. As a result of the total war, it can be said that the national economy experienced a comprehensive regression, leading to a phase of complete bankruptcy for national capital and national enterprises

Additionally, the East will gradually release some external materials to introduce the industrial and transportation development conditions during the Republic of China period

Between 1870 and 1913, during a span of 40 years, Japan initiated the Meiji Restoration, and following the First Sino-Japanese War, began to plunder China, resulting in an economic growth of 3.3 times. In contrast, China, having concluded the Taiping Rebellion, experienced no significant war devastation, and with the subsequent Self-Strengthening Movement and the influx of foreign capital, saw a certain degree of economic recovery and modest growth over these 40 years (only a 10% increase compared to its peak period). However, the economic gap between China and Japan narrowed from 8.5 times to 3.3 times.

In addition to the comparison of GDP among the three countries, changes in population and per capita GDP can also be used to corroborate the aforementioned data

Due to the significant population disparity (in 1820, the United States had not yet expanded into the Midwest and its population was very small), China's total economic output was 18 times that of the United States. In the following century, due to the expansion of U.S. territory, an increase in population, and sustained economic growth, the total economic output of the United States surpassed that of China by the end of the 19th century. By 1950, it was 6 to 7 times that of China

Between 1913 and 1950, although both China and Japan experienced slight economic growth due to World War I, Japan subsequently launched the war of aggression against China, shifting the impact of the global economic crisis, and after five years of post-war economic recovery, Japan's economy grew more than twice over this nearly 40-year period. In contrast, due to the destruction caused by the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War, China's national economy did not recover during the wars. As a result, by 1950, the economic gap between China and Japan decreased from 3.3 times to 1.6 times.

In the past 100 years, the per capita GDP of China and Japan has changed from being nearly equal in 1820 to China's per capita GDP being 1/4 that of Japan in 1950, and expanding from 1/2 that of the United States to 1/24.

The East intends to use some data from "A Millennium of World Economy," compiled by the British economist Angus Maddison and translated by Wu Xiaoying and others, to support its own viewpoints

To speak fairly, although from 1926 to 1936 the movement for national salvation through industry truly resonated with the people, and although the country achieved nominal unity and experienced certain peace dividends, the development of national capital could not be as described by some as a golden decade. There is skepticism in the East; the economic growth rate may not necessarily be higher than that of the previous decade or so.

During the economic crisis, Japan's unemployment rate was the second highest in the capitalist world, only lower than that of Germany