WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -It was the Meiji Restoration that finally abolished the strict class system and created a more free and democratic system that allowed the Japanese people to unleash their full potential. Under this new democratic system, Japan modernized and developed rapidly.

Detailed explanation-2: -China and Japan responded to Western imperialism differently. Essentially, Japan gave in to the Western pressure to opening their ports and cities to foreign trade and relations, while China refused. This allowed Japan to very successfully modernize.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Japanese colonized Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria and islands in the Pacific. After the defeats of China and Russia, Japan began conquering and colonizing East Asia to expand its power. The victory over China in 1895 led to the annexation of Formosa (present-day Taiwan).

Detailed explanation-4: -In other words, both colonialism and the regime of free trade in Asia and the world were important conditions for Japan’s economic development. Japan took advantage of the West-dominated international order of imperialism to carry out trade and industrialisation from the late nineteenth century.