19th/20th century Asian expansionism?

[Ighayere]

Japan was more development than both China and Korea long before the Meiji period. Furthermore, China was exceptionally expansionist under the Qing.

In what way was it really more developed prior to the Meiji period?

 

[Entreri]

In what way was it really more developed prior to the Meiji period?

In the classical ways associated with development: GDP per capita, state capacity, and education, primarily. From the middle of 18th century onward, Japan had passed China in this regard.

 

[Haakbus]

In the classical ways associated with development: GDP per capita, state capacity, and education, primarily. From the middle of 18th century onward, Japan had passed China in this regard.

Can you link me an article detailing this?

 

[Futurist]

What I have in mind is the period after European powers and USA by use of force "opened" the larger parts of Asia, until late 20th. century. The "expansive" or "imperialist" powers were those mentioned, but then also at least the Japanese until 1945. Who else? Has some modern nationalist, not from Japan also adopted expansionist dreams and practices? As far as they have existed (here some movements more based upon religion than nationality may be included), how then did they differ from the European ones?

This is technically 19th century: The Vietnamese conquest of Champa only ended in 1832:

Champa - Wikipedia

 

[Futurist]

They were trying to recover territories that had historically been vassals or tributaries, and had been conceded to the French.

Is there any particular reason that they didn't aim for all of Laos and Cambodia?

 

[sparky]

Laos is a dump , full of badasses fiercely nationalist , Cambodia spend their time in feuds with the Burmese

 

[Futurist]

Laos is a dump , full of badasses fiercely nationalist , Cambodia spend their time in feuds with the Burmese

Wasn't Laos mostly illiterate in 1940, though? If so, couldn't the Laotians have been reeducated and turned into Thai people?

 

[sparky]

the task of re-educating Laotian is a mighty task , they are rather stubborn , they make me think of a tropical Scotland

 

[Entreri]

Can you link me an article detailing this?

Maddison Project Database 2018 | Releases | Maddison Historical Statistics | Historical Development | University of Groningen
https://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/materials/working_papers/2840/156aprilbroadberry.pdf

The GDP per capita estimates in the Maddison database for China and Japan pre-1850 are few, but they indicate that Japan passed China at some point during the 18th century. Bassino etal give a more detailed view, but, again, Japan seems to have passed China during the 18th century.

As fort state capacity, you can look here:
Moriguchi, Chiaki etal (2014): Asia's little Divergence. State Capacity in China and Japan before 1850.

For a more comprehensive overview:
Van Zanden, Jan L. (2009): The Long Road to the Industrial Revolution.

 

[Haakbus]

Interesting. What about Korea?