In history, there was a period when the Japanese fascists invaded Vietnam. This period is often recorded relatively briefly in textbooks. How did Japan invade Vietnam and what were the crimes of the Japanese army?
Context and Reasons
Japan invaded Vietnam in the context of World War II when they implemented an expansion strategy in Southeast Asia. This invasion is considered to have taken place from September 1940 to August 1945, at which time Japan wanted to control the entire Southeast Asia to ensure natural resource supplies for the war, especially oil, rubber, and minerals. After France was defeated by Nazi Germany in 1940, Japan realized that the French colonial government in Indochina, including our Vietnam, had become weak and easily occupied.
In September 1940, Japan signed a treaty with the French government in Indochina allowing Japanese troops to be stationed in North Vietnam, that is, the northern part of our country. The initial presence of Japanese troops was seen as cooperation to prevent the army of the Republic of China. Recognizing the weakness and impotence of the French colonial government, Japan decided to carry out a coup, thereby officially controlling the entire Indochina and establishing a puppet government.
Why did Japan want to invade Vietnam?
Because our Vietnam has resources that Japan craved, namely oil and rubber. Japan lacked important natural resources such as oil and rubber. These are essential materials for industry and military. Indochina is a resource-rich area with rubber plantations and potential oil fields, especially in our Vietnam. We also have many precious minerals such as tin, tungsten, and other metals. Japan needed these resources to support its defense industry, and our Vietnam has a very beautiful geographical location.
Vietnam has a strategic position along the Southeast Asian coastline. This helps Japan control important sea routes to protect oil transport routes from Southeast Asia to Japan. Thus, controlling Vietnam helps Japan expand its influence in Southeast Asia with natural resources, control the coastline, and create a defensive belt against Allied forces.
Puppet Government and Political Control
Before officially carrying out the coup, Japan had strengthened its military presence in Indochina, sending more troops and modern weapons to prepare for attacks. The Japanese also planned the coup in detail, including attacking French military and administrative facilities and capturing key officials. At exactly 4 PM on March 9, 1945, a Japanese representative arrived at the Indochina Governor-General's office to discuss and prepare documents regarding France supplying rice to Japan in 1945. Two hours later, the Japanese representative delivered an ultimatum that the French government must hand over full control of Indochina to Japan, and France had to respond by 9 PM the same day.
By 9:20 PM, as France had not responded, Japan launched an attack. The French did not resist at all; the Japanese quickly occupied the Indochina Governor-General's office, detaining the Governor-General and most senior officials of the French colonial government. By the afternoon of March 10, the next day, French troops surrendered to the Japanese, taking control of major urban areas such as Hanoi, Haiphong, Hue, Saigon, and many provincial towns.
The remaining French military units still holding out in Ca Mau, in the Cambodian sea, and some areas in Northern Indochina were also gradually defeated, with only a few remnants fleeing across the Vietnam-China border. With this event, the French military forces completely disintegrated, the colonial administration surrendered, were imprisoned, or became puppets for Japan, and the entire Indochina officially became a Japanese colony. Foreigners of European descent, including the French, were only allowed to reside in five locations: Hanoi, Hue, Nha Trang, Dalat, and Saigon.
In addition, when going out, they had to wear armbands with the flag of their home country. The entire Indochina was under a curfew to the extent that anyone leaving the five designated areas at the wrong time would be arrested. After the coup on March 9, 1945, Japan established a puppet government, which aimed to create an image of governance that seemed independent but was actually still under Japanese control. Who led this puppet government?
Japanese Puppet Government
To create such an image of government and reduce resistance from the Vietnamese people, Japan established a puppet government under the leadership of Emperor Bao Dai. Emperor Bao Dai was the head of this government. Bao Dai was used by Japan as a symbol of independence, appearing to be the king of an independent nation, but in reality, he had no power. The puppet government was also organized with ministries similar to a complete government, including ministries such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and other administrative agencies.
Although there were ministries and administrative agencies, all important decisions were controlled and directed by the Japanese. Officials in the puppet government only performed administrative duties and followed orders from the Japanese. Meanwhile, the Japanese army played a leading role in maintaining security and order; local military forces of the puppet government, if any, only served to support the Japanese army. Not stopping there, on April 17, 1945, the Tran Trong Kim government was also officially established under the appointment of Emperor Bao Dai, and of course, with the consent and support of Japan.
Tran Trong Kim was a reputable scholar who wrote "Vietnam History" and was invited to be the Prime Minister. The structure of the Tran Trong Kim government included many intellectuals and prominent officials to create the image of a seemingly independent and capable government. In reality, the Tran Trong Kim government could not implement many major reforms because they were still tightly controlled by Japan, and important decisions regarding politics, economy, and military still had to go through Japan, and this government only existed for a short time from April to August 1945. After Japan surrendered to the Allies in August 1945, this government quickly collapsed.
Economic Policies and Resource Exploitation
Japan carried out the exploitation of Indochina brutally. They implemented policies to collect rice and other agricultural products to serve the war needs. This led to a severe famine in 1945, causing the deaths of about 2 million Vietnamese people. Japan also intensified the exploitation of minerals such as tin, tungsten, and other precious metals to serve its defense industry. Japan also issued its own currency and imposed a closed economic system to control the market and finances in Vietnam.
In addition, Japan deployed troops throughout major cities and rural areas to ensure security and suppress resistance movements. The Vietnamese people were forced to work on military projects, work on railways, and in arms manufacturing factories, with working conditions being very harsh and lacking, causing much suffering for the laborers.
Cultural and Social Policies
Meanwhile, the Japanese implemented a strong propaganda policy to create the image of Greater East Asia with the message of uniting Asian peoples under Japanese leadership, a deceptive concept of Greater East Asia that arose from opposition to Western colonialism in Asia. The Japanese propagated that they wanted to liberate Asian countries from the control of Western empires, but in reality, it was the Japanese who were now in control. The Greater East Asia region includes Japan, Manchuria, which is now part of China.
China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and part of the Indian Ocean according to Japan's plan. Japan tried to establish puppet governments or political alliances with these countries to maintain control and exploit resources for its benefit. Japan also changed the education program to teach Japanese, introduce Japanese culture, and schools. Japan also tightly controlled media and publishing to prevent dissenting information and resistance from spreading.
The resource exploitation policies and rice collection led to an economic crisis and, most painfully, caused a severe famine in 1945 for our compatriots. The brutal and oppressive rule of Japan increased public resentment, fueling resistance movements, especially the Viet Minh under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. After Japan surrendered to the Allies in August 1945, the Viet Minh quickly took control and declared independence for Vietnam on September 2, 1945, opening a new era for our nation.