I understand the need to simplify the decolonisation of Indonesia for a 39 minute video, but there are points that, while not discussed even in Indonesian historiography, may be better told: 1. After the Japanese surrender, they didn't necessarily gave up power in Indonesia; the British actually ordered them to keep law and order until British-Indian troops can arrive. Unfortunately, the Japanese weren't exactly sure what to do, and they decided on a policy of first dissolving the Japanese-trained Indonesian paramilitary (PETA), before interning most of their own forces. They reversed the latter policy after the British pressured them, but this was half of the reason why the Indonesians could even take over administration and power in the first place. 2. The "functional" Indonesian administration generally only extended to Java, and lesser still to Sumatra. You should have mentioned that Australian troops have arrived in Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan), Celebes (Sulawesi), Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara), and the Moluccas (Maluku) by September of 1945, nipping the independence movement in these outer islands in the bud. Also, telling the fact that the British used (British-)Indian troops in Indonesia would be better, as it explained the British reluctance to involve themselves in Indonesian-Dutch affairs, as they were using colonial troops to subdue a colony in revolt. 3. As mentioned in point 1, the Japanese was tasked to maintain law and order, so it would be best to highlight the situation at the time in the four large cities of Java: Batavia/Jakarta in the north-west coast of Java, Bandung in inland west Java, Semarang in the north coast of central Java, and Surabaya in the north-east coast of Java. This is necessary since the Japanese actions there have large implications to how the independence went: 3A. In Batavia, the Japanese and the Indonesian can be said to have "shared" power, but the Japanese were generally in control - for example, the Japanese restricted a particular large mass rally in mid-September. Afterwards, when the British-Indians arrived there by the end of September, they have little difficulty taking over the city since the Indonesians weren't fully in power. 3B. Then, in Bandung, the Indonesians did take control of the city as agreed with the Japanese commander there, but after the Indonesians supposedly violated the agreement, the Japanese took over the city back without a fight on October 10th, allowing the British-Indians in soon after. 3C. Semarang was the bloodiest one of the bunch, before the Battle of Surabaya, that is. Basically, the Indonesians took over Semarang's administration, but they forcibly asked for weapons from the Japanese in Semarang (led by Major Kido Shinichiro). While the Japanese commander of Central Java sympathised with the Indonesians, Major Kido disagreed, so they asked the Japanese HQ in Batavia to weigh in. The HQ allowed the use of force to retain their weapons, so on October 15th, Major Kido and his troops assaulted Semarang, taking control of the city and defending it from Indonesian counterattacks until the British-Indians arrived on October 19th. 3D. Surabaya was a unique case. The three cities I mentioned previously had the Japanese prevail, but Surabaya was the odd one out. To simplify, the Indonesians took over administration of the city, but not its military presence. Then, a Dutch naval captain went to Surabaya to accept the Japanese garrison's surrender. The surrender was supposed to be just for show, but the Japanese mistakenly thought of it as an actual surrender (that their duties to keep law and order was complete). As such, the Japanese surrendered and didn't bother opposing the Indonesians when the latter took over their weapons stores. Unfortunately, the Japanese garrison in Surabaya was in charge of eastern Java, which meant other garrisons in smaller eastern Java cities gave up to the Indonesians with little opposition, allowing 24 thousand rifles and pistols and MGs, even artillery guns and tanks, to fall to Indonesian hands. 4. Battle of Surabaya, simplified. Referring to point 3D, the weapons the Indonesians took allowed their militia there to fight. The British-Indians arrived initially on Oct. 26th, and reached an agreement with the Indonesians soon after. Unfortunately, a leaflet drop from Batavia contained terms violating this agreement, so tens if not hundreds of thousands of Indonesians (20-30 thousand armed militia, the rest were civilians who fought) in Surabaya attacked the British-Indian brigade there, resulting in thousands of Indonesian casualties, 1200 British-Indian ones, and 200 or so of Dutch and Allied civilian casualties. A ceasefire was agreed on a few days later, but while enforcing this ceasefire, the British brigadier-general was killed in confusing circumstances. Because the British needed Surabaya (the largest port in Indonesia), and the fact that about 3-6 thousand Allied civilians were still in Indonesian hands, the British brought a division to Surabaya to clear the city, starting on Nov. 10. The British moved methodically, using tanks and planes and support from artillery and warships to reduce their casualties. AFAIK, about 100 to 300 British-Indians became casualties in this stage, with thousands to tens of thousands of casualties on the Indonesian side. Surabaya was cleared by the end of Nov. 1945. 5. I was a little surprised you didn't mention the Bersiap as a Dutch, because here in Indonesia, it wasn't mentioned in our historiography. To be fair, it is contentious, but such atrocities did happen and were perpetrated by Indonesian youths, and not just to the Dutch, but also to other Europeans, the Indos, the Ambonese and Timorese (despite them being native Indonesian as well), and Indonesian Chinese. Anyway, to conclude and provide a TL;DR, I suppose you could have mentioned about: 1. That the Japanese were supposed to maintain law and order, only doing so in the three large cities of Java: Batavia/Jakarta, Bandung, and Semarang, because an incident involving a Dutch naval captain in the large port city of Surabaya caused the Japanese to surrender prematurely, allowing the Indonesians to take tens of thousands of weapons easily. 2. That the British had to use Indian troops in Indonesia, which was problematic considering the independence movement situation in the British Raj/India. 3. That the Australians had occupied the rest of Indonesia save for Java and Sumatra, which meant the Dutch were able to easily take over administration there. 4. That the Battle of Surabaya began with the British-Indians arriving there on Oct. 26, followed up by a string of incidents between them and the Indonesians. This erupted in a small battle a few days later, which was resolved temporarily by a ceasefire, but not before the British brigadier there was killed under confusing conditions. The importance of this port city, combined with strong Indonesian oppostion and that thousands of Allied civilians were still imprisoned in the city, meant the British decided to clear the city, supported by tanks, planes, and warships, from Nov. 10 to the end of the months. 5. The Bersiap (I'm sure you have better sources for this). For references, I personally recommend these three journals by Han Bing Siong, since they are excellent in terms of analysing a variety of Dutch and Indonesian and even Japanese sources critically: • Siong, H.B. (2003). "Captain Huyer and the massive Japanese arms transfer in East Java in October 1945". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 159(2-3). • Siong, H.B. (2000). "Sukarno-Hatta versus the Pemuda in the first months after the surrender of Japan (August-November 1945)". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 156(2). • Siong, H.B. (1996). "The secret of major Kido; The battle of Semarang, 15-19 October 1945". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 152(3). As for other sources: • There are no English-language book from a truly Indonesian perspective, but Benedict Anderson's "Java in a Time of Revolution" comes close. • The Australian official history of the Second World War is good if you want to know about how the Australians came to occupy eastern Indonesia, but they only go so far. Available on the Australian War Museum, online, for free. • The British official history of the Pacific War - "The War Against Japan" specifically it's fifth volume - is not... great, but it's decent enough for a general overview of their occupation of Indonesia. Available on Google Books, for free. • The book "The British Occupation of Indonesia: 1945-1946" by Richard McMillan is less biased and more condensed than the British official history. • This journal by Parrott is, even after close to 50 years, a great dissection of the death of that British brigadier in Surabaya that I mentioned: Parrott, J.G.A. (1975). "Who Killed Brigadier Mallaby?" Indonesia, 20, 87-111. Regardless of these criticisms, in general your overview is already largely accurate, so I'd like to convey a sincere thank you for the coverage of the Indonesian independence. There isn't a lot of coverage which isn't biased, and the fact that you disclosed your Dutch background shows you strive to be unbiased. Again, much thanks for the great video!
Addendum: I have chosen to not get into any specifics on Sumatra because, full disclosure, I have done no research at all about the situation in Sumatra in 1945 (and until 1949). However, both McMillan's British Occupation and the British official history I mentioned above have sections dedicated to the Sumatra situation, so do check them out.
You tell stories that aren't often heard, unbiased to what will get the most views. Please don't stop! Your videos are always a treat regardless of the topic.
Very interesting and informative. Decolonization is an important topic that too few historians cover, probably because it is too controversial and contemporary. I appreciate you stating your potential bias during the Dutch part.
We should never have decolonized. The west had the world in the palm of out hands and we let it all go. These people don’t even appreciate that we gave them independence
As a Vietnamese, I must say the Indochina/Vietnam lack an important point. Vietnam was working with the USA during WW2 to distract the Japan and to disrupt their colonialism in Indochina, with the expectation that it would be granted independence after WW2. However the USA decided to side with France
@@anaskhoiri3653 Thailand would not like that one bit I imagine, Thailand and Vietnam have fought for centuries over Laos and Cambodia so it would just reignite the dispute. Laos also had its own established state before colonisation and nationalist movements. The Papuan identity is a very recent one since for most of history it was individual kingdoms and tribes doing their own thing
Will you discuss Thailand and how it successfully managed to Matrix-dodge every single attempt made to colonize it, in the future? I think someone more competent than myself really should at some point, it's a staggering achievement considering what happened to so many other nations.
It wasn't colonized by the British and the French so as to create a buffer state between their colonies. It wasn't colonized by Japan as they sided with Japan during WW2 to avoid being conquered by the Japanese.
@@xmarkclx to nationalize and modernize the country. the nam "Siam" itself is a foreign word used by foreigners first to identify the country. the name has changed during the interwar era where fascism took control of then siam to thailand but we, thai, have been calling the country "Thai" informally and often referred ourselves Thai for many centuries. so as to nationalize the country the leader had to change the country to Thailand, as we Thai call it "Prathet Thai" (Prathet cam from the word Pradesh of Pali-Sanskrit root) which means The land of the Thai.
@@xmarkclx Although they were never get colonised but they lost much of their territories for that undertaking. Siam was primarily a name those colonial powers used to identify this country while people in this area both called themselves Thai and Siam so in order to natinalise the country; The parliament officially declared "Thai" as the one to be used in 1939 Thai means "to be free" people in this country value harmony and freedom above all else. Thailand means Land of the freemen. They were the first asian nation to establish a diplomatic and trade relation with United States of America and is still consider one of the oldest US allies in the region today.
Your Dutch, so I don't totally fault you for an oversight. But in the Philippines there was a war against the colonization of the United States from 1899-1905 more or less. Present historians called it "America's first Vietnam". The war wasn't very mild, mind you, there were a lot of atrocities made by the Americans. However, after 1905 if I remember my history correctly things simmered down and the USA allowed the Philippines a certain amount of self-rule leading to independence. Eventually the Philippine elite went onboard with the USA and that's the time they sent delegates to the USA for independence. The move could have been smooth had the Japanese not invaded. For many Filipinos, the Japanese threw a monkey wrench into the planned Philippine Nation. Anyway, I just want to point out that there was a "War of Independence" against the United States and it wasn't all that peaceful.
I was just about to comment this. The Phillipines was not a peaceful ownership or transition of power. It was definitely more peaceful RELATIVE to many of the others specifically near the end, but The Philippines war is very often glossed over by US history teachers and educators. Mostly due to government pressure to stick to a predetermined script and testing schedule. However the Philippines and the US are pretty strong allies today, which is nice to see. Many immigrants come here from the Philippines. It's just sad to see something so bad happen.
@@PresAlexWhit correct, compared to the others, I admired America's magnanimity in the administration of what was known as the Philippine Islands. Compared to other colonial powers, the United States IMPROVED the infrastructure of the Philippines, but couldn't do much with the resources as we were "duplicating what the American farmers were planting". Many Filipinos felt that life was comfortable and orderly so there was no need to change the status quo. Even President Quezon, Commonwealth Philippine President said to this effect, "Why didn't the Americans treat us badly". President Quezon felt that the "soft colonialization" of the Philippines resulted in the complacency of many Filipinos in desiring full independence. I read somewhere that Ho Chi Minh said, "If the French treated us like the way the Americans did to the Philippines, I wouldn't ask for independence." I dare say many Filipinos today secretly wish that we became another Puerto Rico or Guam as many believe that life under American rule was a lot better than after America left.
@@HistoryScope Personally it was less that you didn't talk about the war, but that you didn't give the war enough criticism and light. Still, it's a fantastic video.
As a fellow Dutchman I am very happy with this detailed information on what went on in Indonesia. I was taught nothing about any of this in history classes. Je hebt ook meer dan gelijk over onze Koning, echt hoor, totaal geen charisma en kan niet eens een goede speech geven, echt beschamend haha.
thank you, as Indonesian. but for the part of East Timor, is basically is that we copied the Dutch colonialism with some spices of our own, which is Very bad and worse. especially during Suharto military dictatorship. thankfully we have national National reformation that ousted him and Habibie made a referendum to East Timor (but the Military and the militias decide to attacked after the referendum is not in their favour, which Ultimately bring Australian led Interfet that put down the Militias and some Indonesian military. and left during late year 1999.)
@@mohammadrickypratama6720 Hmm, interesting. It saddens me that we the Dutch have learned Indonesia the ropes of colonialism. One only has to look at Papua New-Guinea and see what Indonesia is doing there currently to realize it's exactly what the Dutch Empire once did to all of Indonesia.
@@draphotube4315 the current government is very aware of the situation in west papua, and they openly said that they(papuans) fight like how we(indonesian) did during the independence, that is--in the military sense, to fight a guerrilla warfare just to show their existence to the world and gain diplomatic support But...the pro independence papuans is very small, like 1-2% of the whole population. What indonesian government do now is to divide papua into smaller provinces so that they can pour more money to the development of each region(to win papuan people's hearts) and to better control them(just like good ol' divide and conquer). There are many human right abuses today both by indonesian military(unlawful killings, robbery, mutilation, burning corpses, ect) and by local armed groups(burning school, houses, and hospital, killing health workers, teachers, truck drivers, and construction workers). The papuan issue has become a hot topic in every parlement meetings, it's more complex than it seems because the papuans themselves have different ruling factions just like the situation in palestine but with even more factions
@@faiq026 robbery ? Mutilation? Bro..you saying as if it doing by military everyday...the cases happen that 1 time only and the military punished already...while local armed group killing civilian so often, even their own people who pro-Indonesia... Most Rebel are Highlanders...they hate coastal Papuan too because Coastal people more developed...
The awkward situation the Japanese occupation forces in Southeast Asia faced when their country surrendered cannot be underestimated. They were defeated in the war, but still had to maintain their garrisons to maintain order in the populace until Allied forces could arrive to take over the occupation. In Indonesia, the local militias had become such a threat that the Japanese and Allied forces actually cooperated a couple of times to fight against the militia, mobs and looters during the chaotic transition times.
It was transfering ownership similar to Philippines handed over to American by the Spaniards, similar case from Japanese imperialism wanting to hold what bloodshed they have made.
Sukarno declared independence after Japanese defeat defeat in 1945. A lot of stranded Japanese sided with Indonesian Republican Army to attack Dutch military outpost. For example Nakajima plane very useful in reconnaissance and bombing of Dutch and British military outpost in Surabaya.
I just spent over a month in SE Asia (Malaysia Indonesia and Singapore , and had some idea about this topic yet looked around most bigger cities and very limited information was offered, or it told the story in Singapore of the British during WWII, indeed a short yet insightful piece, wanting more. I'm from American and we have so limited knowledge of this part of the world...yet its valued and needed. Keep on offering these pieces,
with regard to the Philippines, there is this small yet major detail that happened between the change of colonizers from Spain to USA. on the last decade of the Spanish era, Spain was losing control of the archipelago with endless uprising, and when the Spanish-American war happened, they just sold the Philippines instead to the USA and staged a mock battle rather than losing to the locals. after which, the Philippine-American war happened exactly after the Spain left. I hope that adds a little detail there. thank you. Love your video by the way, learned a lot of the Ideas and situation on East Asian countries on how they develope there national identity and gained independence.
What do you expect from Americans they always want to look like a hero but in the end they are the worst, until now they trying to dictate the Philippines, when a nonallies party won in the 2016 presidential election, they always demonize Press Duterte even here in TH-cam.
What's sad though is that some americans and even filipinos believed the lie that was propagated by the US government during that time which was "they will give the Philippines independence" which contradicts everything the US did after they got the Philippines. From fighting filipino revolutionaries to the kiram bates treaty.
As ethnic Javanese Indonesian, Im obviously can't represent the opinion of West Papuan people. But to my knowledge they indirectly colonized by the dictatorship regime held by the longest serving and least talked about dictator in Asia, Suharto. The were left behind economically for a very long time compared to the the nearest islands near Java vicinity. There were squeezed dry of their natural resources by the Suharto regime with Western Companies. They face severe racial issue and often regarded as the odd one out even among thousands of ethnicity in Indonesia. But its getting better now after the National Reformation and economic boom around the country, even if the infrastructure growth was painful slow the start of Reformation. But right now its definitely among long term plans for Central government in Java to raise Papuan living standard by taking them along with the Economic growth. It still not perfect and I would like it to be more faster and even among the region. But it has to happen eventually, I always consider them a part of my country even though they were neglected and rather oppressed up until decades ago. I want to live in the world where Papuan people is a common sight in Jakarta (Indonesia capital city). I can only hope our future politicians would concentrate their efforts more often there in Papua. Regarding East Timor, I didn't knew that the oppression was so bad. I was not born yet when it was happen and almost no history books mentioned it, perhaps unsurprisingly. Will check it later in Wikipedia.
@@yodaeee what's wrong with being sympathetic? The West Papuans are being subjugated by the Rest of Indonesia .The natives are being kicked out of their own land, Their Resources exploited,and culture fading and dying , it's only right to be sympathetic
I know very little about any of these topics so I can't speak for the accuracy of this video but I personally enjoyed it! I like overviews like this as it gives me the ability to look into the subjects mentioned later on since I prior did not know about the subjects. Well done!
When I learned about Indonesian occupation of East Timor it pains me... like how the hell that we didn't see the hypocrisy in that??? we pretty much became the same as the Dutch before us. And situations in Papua (or Irian Jaya) aren't much better, I've seen some of the most racist shit in the way we look and treat them, although it does getting better now. I really hope that this country wouldn't be such an oppressive power in the future
About European journey to Indonesia: 1. The Portuguese arrived from their base in India, initially setting shop up in Malacca, but then explore a bit more to the east and build fortifications around the Spice Islands, and then establishing shops and missions in East Nusa Tenggara region, converting Kingdom of Larantuka into Catholicism. They only later settles around East Timor after being pushed out from Flores by the Dutch. 2. The Dutch followed the Portuguese, and during the Eighty Years war (and Spanish-Portugal union), take over a lot of Portuguese colony in India and East Indies, also taking over Malacca and setting shop first in Banten, then expand east to the Spice Islands, then Java and the rest of the Islands. 3. The British followed the Dutch and take over most of their possession in India and Malaya, they initially settled Bancoolen in Sumatra but traded the colony for Singapore and Malacca, and guaranteed Dutch supremacy over the Islands. They later take over the whole colony during the Napoleonic War but returned it after the defeat of Napoleon and restoration if Dutch Monarchy.
11:05 as an American, I very much admire (and envy) your honesty, and humility when discussing these kinds of historical topics. I wish more of my fellow countrymen were capable of analyzing history in this manner. Too many people prefer mythology over history, and what’s worse is they are often incapable of knowing the difference between the two. Cheers 🍻 ✌🏻🇺🇸
I would argue we need someone to do a deep dive into the genocide we committed in the Philippines and the way that MacArthur basically ended democratic processes in East Asia for decades
@@thestanfordreport agreed. It’s so odd in MacArthur’s case because he actually instituted some pretty good policies when it came to Japan. *he obviously seriously dropped the ball in a lot of ways.
There is an error here. Philippines was actually the first Asian country to declare independence from any European power. This was during the Philippine revolution against Spain and were won by the Filipinos in 1898 without much help from Americans. But by that time, Spain had already sold the Philippines to the Americans in the Treaty of Paris. And so War broke out between Filipinos and the Americans.
@History Scope, about the Philippines the Spaniards didn’t loose to America, the Spaniards were weak at that time and was about to loose to Filipinos. Spain afraid to loose to Filipinos, they sold the archipelago to the US for 20 million dollars and had a mock fight to represent their defeat by the Americans
The war between Spain and the U.S. was mostly about Cuba and Puerto Rico. The Phillipines were a side issue. The U.S. had a small, but much more modern navy than the Spain. Once war started the U.S. attacked the Spanish at Manila mostly because that’s where their fleet was. They were kind of the dog that caught the car it had been chasing. Once started war begats war, so the U.S. then fought a much bigger war against The Philippines, which in the pattern of the contemporary Boer war, settled on mass killing by Marines to end it. Over time it became obvious for quite a few reasons that recolonization of the Philippines was a horrible idea for both the U.S. and The Philippines. This video was a quick summation. Missed was that there was a hard date set for the U.S. leaving. Memory says this was put back by a year due to WWII, but that might not be correct. Currently the question is whether The Philippines is losing the slow motion war of the dashed line. Time will tell.
History Scope, I'm actually dissapointed in your portrayal of the formation of Malaysia. Firstly, the idea of the formation of Malaysia was first proposed by the Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman who then became the country's founding father and first Prime Minister, who made the declaration on the 27th of May 1961. To be exact, the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew believed it essential for Singapore to merge with Malaya, NOT with Sarawak, Sabah (what you called East Borneo in the video), and Brunei. The idea was NOT thought up by Singapore but rather Malaya, and although Singapore may have wanted a merger it does not mean the idea should be credited to and be acknowledged as a Singaporean-originated formation. Sincerely, a disgruntled Malaysian
What I know is that the formation of the Federation of Malaya and the state of Malaysia was designed by the British. And at that time the British were based in Singapore. So isn't the one in the video true?
@@hanflax4679 To make it very clear, the history of the negotiations for the formation of Malaysia is very complex and opaque due to the fact that these negotiations weren't recorded or transcribed. What is a fact is that Tunku Abdul Rahman was the first person to suggest openly of a greater Federation of the British colonies that include Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. However, due to ethnic pressures it seemed that he got more weary in terms of including Singpore in the federation. The deal and the subsequent legal document, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), proposed by the UK to the now independent Malaya, and Singapore was that a federation would be formed of the two nations and the colonies of Sabah and Sarawak, which the UK still had de facto rule over, basically packaging the merging of the 4 regions as a done deal. In technicality, yes, the UK did propose the deal but to say that they were the brainchild or that they had done it from Singapore wouldn't be right as Malaya had sought negotiations first and Singapore had already gained independence.
Not so fun fact: The Spanish doesn't want to accept defeat to the filipino rebels, so they joint forces with the Americans and staged a battle in Manila. The so-called "battle" left American forces in control of Intramuros, the center of Manila. Manila was the only part of the Philippines under the Americans at the time, which became the first stage of the Philippine-American war a year later. The Filipinos was felt betrayed by the Americans, they once looked up to them as liberators.
@@anon2427 yea 'cause killing at least 200 thousand civilians is the right thing to do, right? And what thousands? Less than a thousand Americans died in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war.
@@anon2427 How many Americans died fighting the Spanish in the Philippines, idiot? Literally one American sailor died in the Battle of Manila Bay. You didn't do any bleeding for the Filipinos.
@@lopobiaxander5604 "yea 'cause killing at least 200 thousand civilians is the right thing to do, right?" .... yeah. Anything is right if it's for the good of the nation.
You deliver excellent content to your audience. It's very interesting material. All of your effort put into creating this video is much appreciated. I'm truly grateful for your help!
The Geneva conference did not split Vietnam into 2 "countries" but rather 2 occupations zones. After 2 years, there would be a general election to choose one single ruling regime.
Being completely unbiased as humans is impossible, but I really liked your disclaimer and it shows you try to be as fair as possible. You should be proud of the video, it's great informative content.
Very good video, as an Indian I've learned very little about South-east and East asian independence and decolonisation and this video gave me much insight on where to start. I hope to see a video on South Asia soon :) much love ❤️
East Asia was never colonized. The Russians held big chunks of China for less then a decade. Nations like China, Mongolia, japan, north and south korea were never under European control and if they were at one point the rule was very short
@@user-qwertyuiopasdfghj ok? They annexed that from the Qing dynasty but other then that it doesn’t even count since the majority aka all of east Asia was uncolonized by Europeans
Indonesian here. The reason why indonesia invading and colonizing east timor have something to do with Ausie and Usa 1. Fretilin party that adopting communism in east timor declare their independence movement 2. Fretilin instantly gain so much support 3. Australia worries that east timor will become a tool for USSR to invade ausie that part of US ally 4. Ausie knows that president soeharto from Indonesia is an anti communist 5. Australian government sending a letter notifying president soeharto about communism grow in east timor 6. In the letter, australian government asking Indonesia to invade east timor 7. President soeharto send a letter to australia, stating that it is against indonesian constitution to invade east timor 8. In the letter, soeharto stated that he didn't mind if east timor become a communist state 9. Receiving that response, Australian government asking US help to ask soeharto to invade east timor 10. US government stated that invading other country is against UN law 11. Australian government notifying US government about the growth of communism in east timor 12. US agree to help Ausie 13. US sending a letter to Indonesia, asking Indonesian military to annes east timor 14. President Soeharto refuse because of the same reason as he refusing ausie's request. 15. US promising Aid to Indonesia 16. Soeharto refusing the offer,saying that east timor is too poor to develop 17. Intelligence report coming to US government 18. In the report, US government knows that Indonesia in a situation of needing new partnert to supply new military equient after USSR had no more becoming Indonesia's main military supply since 1968 19. US sending letter to asking Indonesia to invade east timor 20. Indonesian for the 3rd time refusing 21. US offering Indonesia an access to buy US ally only military equipments with huge discount 22. Soeharto's eye become green and accepting the request 23. Indonesia succesfuly invade east timor to become indonesia's 27th province, thus open access to US ally only military equipments 24. Indonesia receive no income from east timor, instead indonesia spending billions USD to develop east timor. Indonesia losing money but don't mind 25. Ausie happy since no threat from USSR anymore 26. Oil discovered in timor gap 27. Ausie wants to suck this oil but realize that Indonesia won't allow them, not even interested to exploit the oil bank 28. Ausie notifying US about the oil in timor gap and asking US to separate east timor from Indoensia 29. Ausie and US then began accusing Indonesia for violating UN law for anti annexation and starting the propaganda against Indonesia 30. Indonesian government and military got so much pressure from the International world 31. Indonesian military in east timor snapped. Santa cruz massacre happened 32. East timor strugle for independence that has been lasted for decades go so much support 23. Because of the pressure, Indonesian president of B.J. Habibie declare a referendum in east timor thus resulting east timor gain independence 24. Ause and US actions for backstabing Indonesia causing Indonesia lost trust to these 2 countries, especialy to Ausie 25. Since then, Indonesia and Australian relationship became cold. The same with USA 26. In 2002, due to santa cruz incident, USA embarging Indonesian military, causong indonesia even more strugle than the same strugle that makes Indonesia agree to US request. 27. Indonesian president go to moscow, asking military patronage 28. President Vladimir Putin agree and Indonesia - Russia relationship rekindle 29. Ausie began sucking oil from timor gap, leaving too little money for east timorese to build their country that ended up in missery
This is the reason why we Indonesian are not going to trust many block again, both east or west never again, especially western look how sly they are backstabbing Indonesia after they support even propose us to invade Timor And now western especially Australia washing their hands and antagonizing Indonesia like they have no sin, now Australia form a new military pact named AUKUS that will delivered a Nuclear weapons into Asia Pacific, we should be cautious with them
This is a really great and informative video. As a South East Asian, I learnt a bunch! Just one thing. You mentioned one of the reasons why the colonised peoples wanted to overthrow colonialism - because the rule was unjust, unfair, and exploitative. However you missed out one basic thing, which is that most people just don't want to have some other dudes suddenly take over control of their homeland.
As a Czech I agree, we lived under someone else's rule for most of the millenia we exist. But still there are periods we actually consider a good ones, like the end of Austria-Hungary. The colonizers always soften in time, allowing regional governments. But this exact era is best to be prolonged as much as possible, because that is the time you can actually get something in return from the empire. You get the time to learn how to rule yourself. It feels to me like some of the countries in Asia and most of the countries in Africa skipped this era and turned into chaos.
@@PATISLAV Africa and Asia was looked as inferior and the ONLY purpose they had was to supply Europeans with raw materials for industries , unlike mainland Europe where Czech was treated way different then how an African would be
That means the Philippines had its independence two times. One in 1898 then 1946. We have independence in 1898 from Spain. USA during her fight for independence, The Manilamen settled in Louissiana during the Acapulco - Manila trade. In short! the manilamen helped in the American revolution to have their country only to go back to the Philippines to colonized it. This video is so short to explain everything in detail.
38:29 Sorry but the switch from Spain to the USA in the Philippines is shown here too simply. In fact, the independence of the Philippines was declared by the Revolutionary Congress in 1899. In fact, the Philippine independence movement had also contributed the far more significant part to weakening the Spanish colonial power on site. btw. Cambodia also declared itself independent in 1945. All in all, quite an informative review. On the side, maybe a small addition. The French-Thai War broke out in 1940-1941. Thailand was able to secure some areas again, which they had previously had to cede to France. After the Japanese capitulation, the colonial powers UK and France resorted to outright blackmail. Thailand had to return the territories. In the event of a refusal, Thailand would have been regarded as a Japanese ally and given reparations. (Btw. there were confiscations, e.g. in connection with the Siam-Burma-Railway) France even threatened to veto Thailand's admission to the UN. In this context, it might also be interesting to note the not particularly creditable role played by the UN in connection with decolonization
After the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the 1954 Geneva Agreement did not divide Vietnam into two countries, but only into two regions. Both Vietnams will hold general elections in 1956. The American Domino doctrine was so exaggerated that they intervened in South Vietnam and tore up the Geneva accords.
TBF, before the vietnam movement became a self proclaimed communist nation Ho Chi Min managed to close ties with the United States, in the few speeches he gave you can also notice how he even use quotes from the American declaration of independence. This let the pre-VC army to be trained by the same people they'd be fighting in the consecutive war which is pretty interesting... But at some point the Americans decided to bugger off when they thought that Vietnam was being a bit too socialist for their taste....
@@thanhhoangnguyen4754 chuẩn man 👌 thời này k có HCM, thì tư tưởng cs cũng đã rất thịnh hành trong quần chúng và nhiều trí thức khác từ lâu trước đó, sẵn sàng bùng nổ bất cứ lúc nào. Bác Hồ chỉ là người nhóm mồi lửa tại VN.
@@Trgn Cơ bản chính sách của Degaull để khôi phục lại Pháp là đất nước mạnh là lý do đơn giản để mọi thuộc địa của Pháp đuổi Pháp ra. Vả lại theo nghĩa đen Pháp bỏ rơi tụi mình vào tay Nhật lúc đầu mà giờ quay lại không nói lời xin lỗi mà còn đòi thêm là dĩ nhiên không yên ổn rồi.
@@thanhhoangnguyen4754 I mean, when Japan demanded Control over Indochina half of France was occupied by Germany so there wasn’t really much they could do
Legend has it that when the Dutch tried to reassert its dominance after WW2, the local Jakartan populace stormed a government building and tore off the blue stripe of the Dutch flag. As a result, the Indonesian flag was formed.
Hotel Yamato Incident? That's on Soerabaja, the largest city on Java's eastern half. The Red and White is also always intended to have ratio of 2:3, not 4:9 like Hotel Yamato's Flag
Wow....I appreciate seeing the attempt at covering the darker period of your own country. As an American, we don't do this very well of even our own country. Being of the younger generations who realize we can't ignore our past if we wish to make a functional future and do what our parents couldn't, the recognition of our mistakes is required. I commend your effort and respect your approach more than i can find the words to say. I know we are capable of making a better path!
"Philippines was one of the more peaceful transitions to independence" Forgot to mention the 230,000 dead and US operated concentration camps during the insurrection.
I feel like you are using the verb "colonise" a bit inflationarily. Will there be a video about the "decolonisation of europe" and how the soviets "decolonised" Poland in 1990?
I'd like to add in a bit that after the Geneva accords, Vietnam was split into 2 military zones, not 2 countries (parallel 17 was not a border). The idea was to have a referendum in 1955 to unify the 2 zones under a certain form of government (north or south). Fearing the communist takeover, the US decided to intervene. The last time in Vietnamese history when the country was truly slit was during the prolonged civil war between the Trinh - Nguyen in the 17th century.
This video is the Decolonization of East Asia. But you gave importance to the decolonization of former dutch colonies as more than half of your video is about that. Giving more details on that topic and less on the other parts of East Asia. What you should have done is that you should have ceeated a series instead. As you left out the biggest chunk from the other former colonies history. For example my country the PH. As you mentioned that it is "being one of the more peaceful transition from colony to independence". Having said that, it only shows that you did not put a lot of research into that particular topic. A lot of my ancestors died for this so called independence from colonies. For casual history viewer that will watch your video. It will paint an incomplete picture of what really transpired and will make the information you provided as thier only knowledge. I am not sure if you corrected this in your other later videos as this was made a year ago and this is the first time I am seeing your channel. Please make sure that your facts paints a complete picture and dont just create content just for the sake of it.
The Portuguese didn't come in that direction. The Spanish did come from America via the Pacific Ocean to the Phillipines, Taiwan and Japan. The Portuguese came from Indian Ocean side not the Pacific Ocean.
I think my country should do more to compensate Indonesia, I'm dutch, but its kinda shameful. Kinda really, yk? Still to all your Indonesians, thanks for accepting me. I feel so accepted by their culture, have a lot of Indonesian friends & am learning the language because I really want to visit Indonesia soon. Selamat malam everyone:)
@@LucidFL maybe, their shared deep seated hatred towards the colonizing Dutch probably what makes them united under one flag. But you could also argue that a strong visionary leader would be born eventually and united them one way or the other. But it could also easily divided between various nations like northern Southeast Asia. But your opinion and mine are only hypothetical. For what I know Indonesian ancestors might as well take the whole indochina archipelago if the Dutch didn't colonize them, just speaking.
Having good trade relations these days, and becoming brothers like the way Germans and the Dutch now treat each other with how many ties they have together, besides some people still upset that the Germans stole their bicycles, is a good way of healing from the past. Indonesia is obviously going to have much closer relations with neighbours like Australia and Malaysia, but the Dutch can still participate. Keeping racism out of contemporary Dutch politics is also a good way to show that the NL is still committed to that healing as well.
@@harukrentz435 I mean, I think the Majapahit Empire came pretty close to unifying Indonesia right? Or is this a wrong observation? But it's like, not all nations can last forever. And there was a power difference compared to the European powers like the Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch. But I do appreciate you not feeling too much resentment towards the dutch, and this is why I appreciate your culture and people so much, even though I am Dutch, I am often feeling so welcomed by Indonesians. I can't express how nice that is, since Indonesia is my favorite part of the world (along with the Netherlands, since I obviously like my own country) And also when they hear I am so interested in their country, I will get all kinds of lovely stories and history and cultural stuff, I feel like the Indonesian culture is way more welcoming and warm compared to the western culture. So again thank you and your people :)
History Scope: Carefully explains he's open-minded about the role of the Netherlands, his country, in Indonesia Also History Scope: Casually dismisses the Philippine Revolution as "I said as much in the video: "but in 1899, a war broke out""
He quoted a source that said the Philippines "was wholly unprepared for independence" and left it at that, like that one-sided, manifest destiny-tinged propaganda justifies the genocide that was downplayed.
I wonder, was the Middle East decolonization separated from the asian decolonization since the beginning or was it a decision made during the production of this video?
the Philippines won its independence way earlier than this it idea of nation state started when Enlightenment educated filipinos started writing and coming back to the Philippines and the the Revolution started when one of the leading figures Jose Rizal wrote about the ills of filipino society undear spain and was later executed. That motivated most filipinos to start organize into a revolutionary government in 1896 Starting the first revolution against a colonial power in asia. Ironically enough Jose Rizal talked about being a autonomous colony and gradually gaining independence so the Spanish blew that away. The Filipino revolutionaries essentially won the war by 1898 and declaring independence in 1899 by that time Spain had nominal control over the philipines the only real control they had was the city of Manila. With the the Spanish-American war going on by the end of the Revolution The Filipinos cooperate with the Americans and finally the battle and capture of Manila was won by both the Americans and Filipinos. However unbenounced to the Filipinos. the Americans and Spanish made a secret agreement they would stage a mock battle lessening the casualties and saving Spain from not suffering a the humiliation of defeat to a none white people the americans entered the city and locking out the Filipinos not allowing them to enter by then Spain sold the Philipines the Americans started to create a government the Philippine-American war starts 333 years undear the Spanish 48 years undear spain the americans of course in the name of liberty and freedom
Decolonization is personal family history. My parents were born in the Dutch East Indies, but left Indonesia. I have cousins, where the older ones were born in the Dutch East Indies, but their younger siblings were born in Indonesia, though all were born in the same town. Well, he pronounced Surabaya properly. My father fought as an "irregular", on the Dutch side, and mentioned to me, that native villages were burned to the ground, while preventing the residence, to escape, so killed, in the blaze. My father passed 30 years ago.
Now if we could only get the descendants of Indonesian Nationalists and the Pemudas (death squads) under leadership of General Sutomo to admit to their atrocities/ crimes against humanity. Such as the amputations r*pe and m*rdering of thousands of women and children. Instead of Indonesia glorifying all their WARCRIMINALS.
Now if we could only get the descendants of Indonesian Nationalists and the Pemudas (death squads) under leadership of General Sutomo to admit to their atrocities/ crimes against humanity.
Such as the rapes, torture, amputations and murdering of thousands of civilians women and children committed by the Pemudas under leadership of General Sutomo. As early as 1945 immediately after Japanese surrendered.
A tour de force of fascinating facts that are so relevant to the world today. You really do a wonderful job remaining intellectually honest and transparent.
I really like your videos! Excellent primers!!! What I like the most is your bluntness when talking about bad characteristics particularly when you talk about Europeans. Though I disagree with some of your views on economics - globalization and some aspects of neo-liberalism you seem to like - your videos, in my opinion, are on the top level of History videos on TH-cam.
As an Indonesian, it is very interesting to see the things that are not taught in our school. Including the possibilities of that West Papua issue as a 'colonialisation'
Nah, the west papua thingy is just an argument of old grudge. "Barisan Sakit Hati". UN did ask the Papuan people, and they answered. Its as legitimate as Sarawak being asked to join Malaysia. UN siding with Indonesia about Papua. Even when UN is not siding with Indonesia for East Timor. UN already did as much as they could to be a perfect neutral and helping Papua sound their voice. Heck, even East Timorese also side with Indonesia in this. We with Timor Leste have a really good diplomacy. We one are of the country that try to make Timor Leste into the ASEAN. By diplomacy we drive Dutch out of archipelago. By diplomacy we manage to gain USA on our side. By diplomacy we managed to gain Soviet in our side. USA threaten Dutch with the Marshall Aid, and Soviet give us hardware to strike far across the oceans. They dont like a young country suddenly have multiple fleet to guard its own ocean, and pushing a European colonizer out. Go to Papua and see it yourself. There is a reason why the resistance is dwindling. Its hard to fight if you dont see an enemy. Its hard to fight if you arent oppressed. Hard to fight if your life is already good. There is no colonization there simply because they are same citizen. The people there simply dont see an enemy. Majority people does agree that they are Indonesian. Papuan were under gun point, at one time. yes. Thats because WE ALL ARE under the gun point by a dictator. You can google up pictures of people evicted under gunpoint in Jakarta by that dictator. Does Jakarta must be independent too? But the propaganda still going strong. Even the one in Aceh and Ambon, the propaganda that try to divide us there still being pumped. Even if they did divide us there, they wouldn't going stop with just those area. Dont get caught with weird voices. Keep our unity strong.
@@snails6997 LOL Indonesian imperialist hypocrisy at its finest. "The Act of Free Choice (Indonesian: Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat, PEPERA, Determination of the People's Opinion) was a controversial plebiscite held between 14 July and 2 August 1969 in which 1,025 people selected by the Indonesian military in Western New Guinea voted unanimously in favor of Indonesian control.[1][2] The event was mentioned by the United Nations in General Assembly resolution 2504 (XXIV) without giving an opinion whether it complied with the authorizing New York Agreement, and without giving an opinion whether it was an act of "self-determination" as referred to and described in United Nations General Assembly resolutions 1514 and 1541 (XV) respectively.[citation needed] The event is sometimes disparagingly referred to as the "Act of No Choice"[3] because of its controversial process." If this is your idea of a free and fair referendum, you're touched in the head.
@@ennui9745 If your argument trying to invalidate whatever UN is doing at that time, then feel free write your complaint to UN complaint boxes... or whatever. Also, "Imperialist" argument is getting old, buddy. That argument also applicable to Javanese and Sundanese, the major ethnic. Their heritage and cultures also different than the rest of Indonesia. Javanese and Sundanese also need to be independent by that "imperialist" argument. Heck, there is even no "Indonesia ethnicity". The language and identity build like a start up. This idea even proposed by ethnics in Sumatra, not even the majority ethnic. Using Malayan language frames and borrowing words from many other language. Identity made from nothing and accepted by multiple people creating one new identity. Identity that prevent the area doing bloody war and conflicts between each other. Those who wish conflicts and harm is the ones that use sentences like "Papuan (or insert any other ethnics here) looks different". Break these identity and these people will war between the islands. Then Chinese will going in swiftly with their money, fishing ships, and warship. This propaganda is the one that will break the country and put it into chaos. Like how it happened before with commies and sharia propaganda before. There is a reason why the resistance is dwindling. Both Papuan province is the top ten in national budget. I have papuan classmate at my time in university, which is a top tier tech uni in country. They have no different ID. They can buy stuff like any other ethnic in the country. The area is being build with multiple infrastructures. Not many Papuan people take up arms, why? Because their lives is getting better. They work and living in non-conflict area. They have no problem trading with fellow citizen in other islands across the seas. Its hard to rally people when they can living peacefully. The only way to make real revolution only when people are starving. They gonna fight since they are gonna die anyway. Revolution also started with charismatic local people as leader, not internet SJW in comfy couch far away from the island like you. That scenario is not the case with any Indonesian ethnic today. Go ahead, come and try it yourself. All that left is the extremist drones that brainwashed with foreign propaganda. They holed up in jungle after their failed rebellion trying to put the country in chaos. I'm talking about Commies thingy and Sharia thingy too, btw. The drones from these two propaganda still living inside a jungle somewhere. Anyway. arguing with propaganda drones like you wont resulting anything. Keep it going, tho. Don't let me get your trolling down. Its always boring debating with drones like you. I copy pasted this from a convenient notepad just in case I come across drones like you. Like three seconds top, pressing Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. We gonna talk from different page anyway. I talk as nation identity, yet you will dragged it down to heritage and ethnic. Wont be any conclusion. Wont any value to both of us. Just trollfest internet post fiesta like usual. Hence, I concede discussing with you furthermore. Good day.
@@snails6997 Nice wall of text there. Typical overproud Indonesian nationalist. Your facts are wrong and you spread lies. The Indonesian military picked 1,025 people and all of them "voted" unanimously to remain part of Indonesia. That's the very definition of a rigged referendum. There was no UN referendum in West Papua, you made that up. It was just the Indonesian army.
@@snails6997 FACT: Majapahit has owned the lands of West Papua and Malaysia since the 12th century. Before it was collapsed by Islam, and in fact the Dutch fought Islam after the Sundanese kingdom as a friend of European trade collapsed.
I highly recommend that you use "Far East"" instead of East Asia to avoid confusion because East Asia is a smaller region that does not include Southeast Asia. That's all and this video was very well made
@@jrexx2841 In the end, the boundaries of these regions aren't clearly defined. Most of what native English speakers tend to think of when they say "Middle East" would be part of the Near East for me. As long as enough context is given, there won't be any misunderstandings though.
Philippines just hit different because the nationalism movement emerged in the mid 19th century which Spain couldn't sustain and the US exploited. Of course that's the Filipino version. There's definitely American-centric and Spanish-centric version of these events but I think the reality is somewhere in the middle.
I would like to add something about the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin because what I've seen is a gross oversimplification that may confuse some viewers about the history of the two powers (Russia and Japan) and their control over the aforementioned territories. Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have a complex history marked by fluctuating control between Russia and Japan. Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have a complex history marked by fluctuating control between Russia and Japan. Initially, the southern part of Sakhalin was indeed conquered by Japan, while Russia took control of the northern part. Similarly, the Kuril Islands saw a split, with Russia controlling the northern islands and Japan the southern ones. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Treaty of Shimoda in eighteen fifty-five established joint control over Sakhalin while recognizing Japan's sovereignty over the Kuril Islands. However, the Treaty of Saint Petersburg in eighteen seventy-five changed this arrangement, giving all of Sakhalin to Russia in exchange for Japan gaining full control over the Kuril Islands. During the Russo-Japanese War (nineteen hundred four to nineteen hundred five), Japan emerged victorious and gained control of southern Sakhalin. After World War II, the Soviet Union regained southern Sakhalin and took control of the entire Kuril Islands, a situation that remains a point of contention between Russia and Japan to this day. Otherwise, thanks for the video!
Correct me if I am wrong, if I remember correctly, after WW2 in Malaya, British tried to rule the land again under the Malayan Union that takes over the sultan's power, but thwarted by the smart local people and the people that supported the royals. Then the emergency happened due to the communism parties that tries to take over the peninsula. During the insurgency, the British agreed for Malaya's peaceful independence under the promise that they do not support the communism and the British can still keep their profits from their companies that is still in the land. Later in the 80s, Mahathir's group executed an operation "Dawn Raid" to take over the British companies that is still holding lands in Malaysia through stock takeover. I am not sure if there is still other stories after that, but I think that was last story that is related with the former colonizer in Malaysia.
In 1945-46, the reason why northern Vietnam was most to resist French occupation was because of the Nationalist Chinese occupation after World War II. Not wanting the Japanese to run the show or European colonists to take back their colonies as well as not having any interest in Indochina in general, the Chinese gave more autonomy to the Viet Minh to run the show while negotiating terms that tried to make sure they didn’t interfere with the Chinese military. When France came back, they were fighting the Viet Minh out of the southern half, but once negotiating with China over handing their territorial claims in southern China, the French began shelling Haiphong
Brunei were given many times the lands of East Malaysia, which was originally under the Bruneian empire, but the Sultan during that time didn't want to, except for the island of Labuan, to disassociate themselves as a British colony, Brunei declared independence in 1984, as a protectorate, because of communism in the neighbouring countries and after the rebellion before the formation of Malaysia. And that's why Brunei has a National Day and no Independence Day
Portugal and the UN never recognised Timor’s independence from Portugal, with the purpose of making any possible “legitimate” assimilation from Indonesia legally impossible.
Nope, Portugal and most of the countries in the world did not recognized the independence of Timor-Leste in 1975 because it was unilateral (only FRETILIN wanted immediate independence, other political parties didn't). From 1975-1999, Timor-Leste was (de jure) still an overseas province of PORTUGAL, even though it was (de facto) a territory/province of INDONESIA (Provinsi Timor Timur).
Your explanation about how rusia colonize makes me realize why indonesian first president interested and close with rusia to begin with. Since the land is wide and separated by many seas with many different ethnic groups sukarno need a way to unite them all and the way rusia do that does seems necessary for the situation.
The Europeans and the Americans had a policy that stated that they would handle Germany first. That's probably why they neglected their East Asian colonies for most of World War II.
That's not exactly true. The USA and UK policy wasn't Eurooe first, it was wait for USSR to beat Germany first, then grab as much land as they can, then japan.
Your recognition of the purpose of colonial industries and infrastructure earned a like a like and subscribe. 👍🏾 Most TH-cam Historians miss this simple point.
Decolonization happened not in spite of Imperial Japan's east Asian war, but BECAUSE of it. It was Japan that waged this war, to liberate the peoples of east asia from the western imperialists and unite them under a greater east Asian co prosperity sphere. Chiang kai shek, on the other hand was a Christian convert and a staunch supporter of the western imperialists, and actually a mere tool of their interests!
The only reason why the Dutch King apologised was because the vastly superior Indonesian economy is simply too attractive for the Dutch to not want to take part in it. Not only that, but an apology is seen as raising Dutch prestige and doesn't cost anything such as losing face. This is just embarrassing.
@@cashewnuttel9054yes. Dutch pretty much saw native indonesians as “brown” monkeys that need to be exploited and whipped every single day, period!!! In fact, the natives here used to eat banana stem, not because they wanted to but because they had no choice since dutch forbid them from trading and being educated causing the natives to be incredibly short people even when comparing them to other asians during that time. Now, you can see dutch people these days even the hardcore master race sympathizers like Geert wilders (part indonesian btw) know they were villans in history. It’s one thing to conquer territories, but its another when you conquer a territory and treat its people as “dirty brown/yellow/black subhuman that need to be exploited” instead of actual equal people of your empire which is the only case for certain northern european countries (dutch, belgium, british, and french).
So the Indonesians asking our country for an apology already for a decade, now they're getting an apology from our king and it's not okay? hahaha who are you to judge this apology when the Indonesians asked for a formal apology from our government and we gave them exactly that. stop talking about subjects you dont know anything about
damn wish more could have been talked about the other countries such as Vietnam while indonesia got almost 50 percent of the video, this would have made the video longer.. still a good video
Spain had for some time controlled parts of Taiwan as well, but that was long gone by the time of the Spanish American War. There was also Guam and some other islands, but I guess it depends on what you consider as "this area" and whether that includes the Pacific. However, they did still control that at the moment and lost it along with the Philippines.
They had a lot more Islands but they eventually sold them to Germany. That's why some of the islands in the Pacific are named after Spanish monarchs like the Marianas island named after Queen Maria Ana of Spain and The Carolinas after King Carlos II and along with Guam , Micronesia and Palau, they used to be govern through the Real Audiencia de Manila as Nuevas Filipinas or New Philippines.
I love the detail you've been through explaining most of the processes that colonies goes through to gain their independence. But the Philippine one, my homeland, is a little bit misleading and pretty much too oversimplified to the point you concluded that that the transition of Philippine independence is the most Peaceful transition. No need for apology because I understand your point of view since there's literally no materials that explains the matter available in America. But I'll tell you how Philippines really got their independence. Let's go back to Spanish Ruled Philippine. Spanish people treated Filipino People unfairly like how any other europeans treat their colonies back then. A systematic exploitation and heavy tax imposed on farmers farming on their own land. While using Christianity to control the people. That's why most educated Filipino who were descendants from Filipino noble and royal family started to point out how people are unfairly treated. One of which is Dr. Jose Rizal who wrote two novel which perfectly describe the state of the Philippines during the Spanish rule. People who read the novel realized how terrible and horrible spanish rules are and besides, Cuban is already fighting for their own independence as well. And that's how the first independence and nationalism ideology sparked in the country. The first Republic of the Philippines has been fighting the Spanish and they are doing great in conquering and taking control of previously controlled province-or what you might call counties, prefecture, or state-Philippine are slowly gaining and conquering one after another until Spain was limited to only a small portion in Luzon area. Still, that never stopped the Philippines from wanting more until they finally get the independence they are trying to achieve (Not to mention Japan is secretly helping the Philippine by sending war materials, equipment, and war tacticians and military personnel who are veteran of first sino-japanese war. Anyway these time, Philippines declared independence with Spain contained in one spot, Philippine is ready to make a final blow but then, it happened. America intervened in Cuba and so Spain and America went to war. America originally go to Philippine as a liberator from Spain. America bought the Philippines from Spain-a land they no longer control-And with Philippine declaring independence prior to that agreement. The treaty of Paris was signed with no Filipino representative at all. The Filipino saw America as another occupier trying to gain a territory in the Asia. The Philippine hated the idea and so the Philippine-American war happened. It was bloody and too many soldier died on both America and Philippine. tortures for POW are cruel and often inhumane. Philippine lost the war and America finally gained control over the country as an "unincorporated territories" of America. Philippine military maybe lost the war for independence but the independence movement is still progressing diplomatically between America and Philippine. But then again, ww2 happened and Japan invaded. Japan colonized the Philippines and imposed their own Filipino puppet government who are pro-Japanese. also, theres the Filipino Communist guerilla fighters and many more who is struggling in this chaotic war to fight for control over the Philippines. America together with Philippine Commonwealth is against Japan and Philippine Second Republic. And there's third party the Filipino Communist who sides neither of the two and only wants the country independence. The Communist initially joined force with America and Philippine Commonwealth together with Filipino guerilla fighters who are against the Japanese occupation. But soon after the Japanese surrender, the communist find themselves being targeted by america next. Should the communist gained government control, they will be seen as a ferocious fighters who fought for independence of the country against any colonizer. But America is a capitalist and it's obviously they won't like a communist movement taking over a country. And lucky for them, they already formed a Philippine Commonwealth government who was elected using votes of Filipino people during the American occupation of the country that's why they can justify that the Commonwealth is the legitimate government rather than any warlords who fought on the ground killing the Japanese and western colonizers specially they are a communist. That's how Philippines gained independence from America because firstly, America doesn't really like to hold the Philippines anymore because they realize after the ww2 the difficulty and responsibility of having a colonies far away from their homeland. second is that America although cruel and racist, they aren't as cruel and corrupt as the spanish are. Besides, America and Philippine shares the same idea of independence. After all, America is once a colony of Britain but they fought for their independence too. Third is that the Philippines is an archipelago with little resources similar to Japan geography with lands separated by waters. Also the lower portion of the country with many resources like oil was controlled by Muslim Filipino who ferociously resists any kind of colonization from Spain, America, and Japan. Simply put, America doesn't see Philippines anymore as worth it to be part of their country after the ww2 unlike Indonesia and Indochina. This comment is merely oversimplified oversummarized as well which will sometimes result to misleading information and too many missing points. Although I have studied our history but all of these are merely an opinion formulated from a different sources and facts. Just take with as a pinch of a salt. I do not claim everything I said is true. But most of what I said is based on facts. So if ever there's wrong information in there, just point it out and I'll search if it indeed was wrong.
I'll add that after sukarno was toppled (arguably with western support) Suharto agreed to repay the provision in RTC, requiring Indonesia to pay Netherlands for their independence and for the cost of nationalisation. Some nationalisation was also reversed such as at the top of my head Unilever etc. This payment was finished in 2002. According to the agreement at the time this repayment was in exchange of future development aid. Whether this aid ever did come is questionable, but the body was the dutch chaired IGGI, which was abrogated by Indonedia to the more multilateral CGI. The total amount of the paid including interest is also not clear as both government did not publish the data, but including assets etc, it was around the same amount as USA marshall plan to Indonesia.
@@harukrentz435 Why don't you give the exact figure because one is in orders of magnitude greater than the other, not to mention relative to its war torn development.
I enjoyed this video, but I think it really suffers from having too little time devoted to some of these events, particularly in the cases of Indochina and the Philippines, but to a lesser extent Korea and Myanmar too. Since India is already going to be it's own separate video, I think it would have made sense to do the same with Indonesia (including perhaps Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste) as well. That way you could have expanded on Indonesia, which seems to be a topic close to your heart given your background, as well as arguably the most important topic in the region given how massive Indonesia is; and that way this video could have focused more in depth with everyone else. Regardless, great video and waiting for the next!
Thank you for your cogent, pedagogical and balanced account of decolonization in South East Asia. There were many surprises and I learned about aspects and details,as well of the contextual reality of that crucial significant time of change and suffering which resulted in independence and sovereignty together with freedom from foreign suppression.
Important detail missed in the Philippines side of the story. The Philippines already declared its freedom from Spain in 1898 (which Germany recognized) but US backtracked on their promises that led to the PH-US War of terror.
He's not going to say that because most of his views comes from the US. Also he's British, British people love America. In fact, the whole world barring Russia, China, North Korea, the Philippines, Somalia, Canada, and a few more here and there that I can't remember love America!
Japan or western powers never actually 'ruled' or colonized China like they did the south east Asian, indochina countries and India. There is no 'independence day'. China is considered never having been colonized in the traditional definition of the term together with Thailand in Asia.
imo, Japan's intention behind the war, at least partially, was to liberate then-West-colonized Asia. It is endorsed by several facts. One is that Japan built up infrastructure locally, including banks, railways, etc., and even schools, in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Korea. It was unique in that Japan did not, unlike then conventional colonizers, hesitate educating the colonized local whereas doing so should increase the risk of the local control failure. Also, Japan even trained Indonesian locals in fighting, which was later alleged to be extremely severe for Indonesian youngsters. btw, I have heard of a famous Indonesian legend of an Indonesian King, who predicted that Indonesia would be ruled by white people for a long time but would then be liberated by yellow people, which is considered Japanese, finally.
Despite the harsh and rough history we've been through together for 350 years. Now, we are brothers. We indonesians shares a lot of common things with you the kompeni as we say in here. We still eat our bread with hagelslag, we still eat schotel, we say; handuk, bioskop, kantor, tante, oom, gratis, spoor and many more just like you. And I'm sure you're also have a lot in common with us. But despite what ever happen in the past we need to thank the dutch for giving us a lot of things. Like for example, we don't have to travel miles away to amsterdam to see netherlands you can just go to the oud batavia. You gave us our law system. You gave us a lot of companies like klm interinsulair bedrijf now known as garuda indonesia, you gave us the knowledge on how to extract our resources. And the very last, you teach us the importance of unity. Because without the dutch, we indonesians won't be united as what we are now right now. 17.000+ islands with 300+ ethnic groups how on earth can you unite all of them? But because of you we are now one country, one language, one nation which is Indonesian. Dank je wel meneer...
@@llama2745 Not bunch of barbarians, but more like divided kingdoms who likes to conflict with each other. You can still kinda feel the effect to this day, but it's not a major problem nowadays.
Commonwealth like the British and Australia, thats what happened between Filipinos and American. Filipinos was already educated in europe even before the Americans arrived. The British also colonized the Philippines even before the Americans for about two years but was returned to Spain to avoid the war. That is the time when Philippines had a power vacuum. But majority of the Filipinos are loyal to Spain. That's why when the Americans arrived, fight and talks for independence was already in process. It is just we where ignored because we speak spanish back then.
As a Vietnamese, I see it ironically funny when USA help Indonesia because they don't want them become socialist but also pushing us become socialist by support France (this show by the amount of aid and during 1945 and 1946)
1:26 "We don't want to put other countries in the shade, we just want to also have our place under the sun." ... I wonder if that little bit of foreshadowing unnerved the other European powers as much as it ought to have.
Many Europeans often acknowledge the fact that colonialism was terrible, but they still think that de colonization was peaceful. As you can see here, the Europeans, after fighting ww2 in the name of freedom, were still unwilling to give up. They had to be forced out still.
Mainland China fell in the war, not the colonies. If the land that China lost in the war with Japan is called a colony, then France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland should also be called German colonies.
Thank you for this! There is scant little material available on TH-cam in English about decolonisation of powers other than the British Empire! Thank you
I understand the need to simplify the decolonisation of Indonesia for a 39 minute video, but there are points that, while not discussed even in Indonesian historiography, may be better told:
1. After the Japanese surrender, they didn't necessarily gave up power in Indonesia; the British actually ordered them to keep law and order until British-Indian troops can arrive. Unfortunately, the Japanese weren't exactly sure what to do, and they decided on a policy of first dissolving the Japanese-trained Indonesian paramilitary (PETA), before interning most of their own forces. They reversed the latter policy after the British pressured them, but this was half of the reason why the Indonesians could even take over administration and power in the first place.
2. The "functional" Indonesian administration generally only extended to Java, and lesser still to Sumatra. You should have mentioned that Australian troops have arrived in Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan), Celebes (Sulawesi), Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara), and the Moluccas (Maluku) by September of 1945, nipping the independence movement in these outer islands in the bud. Also, telling the fact that the British used (British-)Indian troops in Indonesia would be better, as it explained the British reluctance to involve themselves in Indonesian-Dutch affairs, as they were using colonial troops to subdue a colony in revolt.
3. As mentioned in point 1, the Japanese was tasked to maintain law and order, so it would be best to highlight the situation at the time in the four large cities of Java: Batavia/Jakarta in the north-west coast of Java, Bandung in inland west Java, Semarang in the north coast of central Java, and Surabaya in the north-east coast of Java. This is necessary since the Japanese actions there have large implications to how the independence went:
3A. In Batavia, the Japanese and the Indonesian can be said to have "shared" power, but the Japanese were generally in control - for example, the Japanese restricted a particular large mass rally in mid-September. Afterwards, when the British-Indians arrived there by the end of September, they have little difficulty taking over the city since the Indonesians weren't fully in power.
3B. Then, in Bandung, the Indonesians did take control of the city as agreed with the Japanese commander there, but after the Indonesians supposedly violated the agreement, the Japanese took over the city back without a fight on October 10th, allowing the British-Indians in soon after.
3C. Semarang was the bloodiest one of the bunch, before the Battle of Surabaya, that is. Basically, the Indonesians took over Semarang's administration, but they forcibly asked for weapons from the Japanese in Semarang (led by Major Kido Shinichiro). While the Japanese commander of Central Java sympathised with the Indonesians, Major Kido disagreed, so they asked the Japanese HQ in Batavia to weigh in. The HQ allowed the use of force to retain their weapons, so on October 15th, Major Kido and his troops assaulted Semarang, taking control of the city and defending it from Indonesian counterattacks until the British-Indians arrived on October 19th.
3D. Surabaya was a unique case. The three cities I mentioned previously had the Japanese prevail, but Surabaya was the odd one out. To simplify, the Indonesians took over administration of the city, but not its military presence. Then, a Dutch naval captain went to Surabaya to accept the Japanese garrison's surrender. The surrender was supposed to be just for show, but the Japanese mistakenly thought of it as an actual surrender (that their duties to keep law and order was complete). As such, the Japanese surrendered and didn't bother opposing the Indonesians when the latter took over their weapons stores. Unfortunately, the Japanese garrison in Surabaya was in charge of eastern Java, which meant other garrisons in smaller eastern Java cities gave up to the Indonesians with little opposition, allowing 24 thousand rifles and pistols and MGs, even artillery guns and tanks, to fall to Indonesian hands.
4. Battle of Surabaya, simplified. Referring to point 3D, the weapons the Indonesians took allowed their militia there to fight. The British-Indians arrived initially on Oct. 26th, and reached an agreement with the Indonesians soon after. Unfortunately, a leaflet drop from Batavia contained terms violating this agreement, so tens if not hundreds of thousands of Indonesians (20-30 thousand armed militia, the rest were civilians who fought) in Surabaya attacked the British-Indian brigade there, resulting in thousands of Indonesian casualties, 1200 British-Indian ones, and 200 or so of Dutch and Allied civilian casualties. A ceasefire was agreed on a few days later, but while enforcing this ceasefire, the British brigadier-general was killed in confusing circumstances. Because the British needed Surabaya (the largest port in Indonesia), and the fact that about 3-6 thousand Allied civilians were still in Indonesian hands, the British brought a division to Surabaya to clear the city, starting on Nov. 10. The British moved methodically, using tanks and planes and support from artillery and warships to reduce their casualties. AFAIK, about 100 to 300 British-Indians became casualties in this stage, with thousands to tens of thousands of casualties on the Indonesian side. Surabaya was cleared by the end of Nov. 1945.
5. I was a little surprised you didn't mention the Bersiap as a Dutch, because here in Indonesia, it wasn't mentioned in our historiography. To be fair, it is contentious, but such atrocities did happen and were perpetrated by Indonesian youths, and not just to the Dutch, but also to other Europeans, the Indos, the Ambonese and Timorese (despite them being native Indonesian as well), and Indonesian Chinese.
Anyway, to conclude and provide a TL;DR, I suppose you could have mentioned about:
1. That the Japanese were supposed to maintain law and order, only doing so in the three large cities of Java: Batavia/Jakarta, Bandung, and Semarang, because an incident involving a Dutch naval captain in the large port city of Surabaya caused the Japanese to surrender prematurely, allowing the Indonesians to take tens of thousands of weapons easily.
2. That the British had to use Indian troops in Indonesia, which was problematic considering the independence movement situation in the British Raj/India.
3. That the Australians had occupied the rest of Indonesia save for Java and Sumatra, which meant the Dutch were able to easily take over administration there.
4. That the Battle of Surabaya began with the British-Indians arriving there on Oct. 26, followed up by a string of incidents between them and the Indonesians. This erupted in a small battle a few days later, which was resolved temporarily by a ceasefire, but not before the British brigadier there was killed under confusing conditions. The importance of this port city, combined with strong Indonesian oppostion and that thousands of Allied civilians were still imprisoned in the city, meant the British decided to clear the city, supported by tanks, planes, and warships, from Nov. 10 to the end of the months.
5. The Bersiap (I'm sure you have better sources for this).
For references, I personally recommend these three journals by Han Bing Siong, since they are excellent in terms of analysing a variety of Dutch and Indonesian and even Japanese sources critically:
• Siong, H.B. (2003). "Captain Huyer and the massive Japanese arms transfer in East Java in October 1945". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 159(2-3).
• Siong, H.B. (2000). "Sukarno-Hatta versus the Pemuda in the first months after the surrender of Japan (August-November 1945)". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 156(2).
• Siong, H.B. (1996). "The secret of major Kido; The battle of Semarang, 15-19 October 1945". Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 152(3).
As for other sources:
• There are no English-language book from a truly Indonesian perspective, but Benedict Anderson's "Java in a Time of Revolution" comes close.
• The Australian official history of the Second World War is good if you want to know about how the Australians came to occupy eastern Indonesia, but they only go so far. Available on the Australian War Museum, online, for free.
• The British official history of the Pacific War - "The War Against Japan" specifically it's fifth volume - is not... great, but it's decent enough for a general overview of their occupation of Indonesia. Available on Google Books, for free.
• The book "The British Occupation of Indonesia: 1945-1946" by Richard McMillan is less biased and more condensed than the British official history.
• This journal by Parrott is, even after close to 50 years, a great dissection of the death of that British brigadier in Surabaya that I mentioned:
Parrott, J.G.A. (1975). "Who Killed Brigadier Mallaby?" Indonesia, 20, 87-111.
Regardless of these criticisms, in general your overview is already largely accurate, so I'd like to convey a sincere thank you for the coverage of the Indonesian independence. There isn't a lot of coverage which isn't biased, and the fact that you disclosed your Dutch background shows you strive to be unbiased. Again, much thanks for the great video!
absolute poggerinos comment right here. absolutely insightful, even more so than i know, and im indonesian ahaha
Thank you for the extra information!
I planned to study the crap out of this video, and you are REALLY helping with that. I appreciate it very much.
Damn, You gotta get pinned.
Addendum: I have chosen to not get into any specifics on Sumatra because, full disclosure, I have done no research at all about the situation in Sumatra in 1945 (and until 1949). However, both McMillan's British Occupation and the British official history I mentioned above have sections dedicated to the Sumatra situation, so do check them out.
Thank you for the 5 people who liked my video within 10 seconds of me uploading. I don't know who you are, but I love you!
Np, im sure it will be a nice video, watching it now!
Im waiting every day for a video for jou i love you too
Your videos are always informative, to its a instant like ☺️
Real heroes
Just finished watching the vid.
You tell stories that aren't often heard, unbiased to what will get the most views. Please don't stop! Your videos are always a treat regardless of the topic.
Checked today and i've been randomly unsubscribed despite being a subscriber for a long time. Thought I'd let you know
@@jadeon4657 On his behalf, thanks
LOL THIS DUDE LITERALLY LIED ABOUT AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINE WAR LMAO THE AMERICANS KILLED 5 times the number of people than the japanese😂😂😂😂
>unbiased
Very interesting and informative. Decolonization is an important topic that too few historians cover, probably because it is too controversial and contemporary. I appreciate you stating your potential bias during the Dutch part.
Very true. It’s a very black and white perspective, but it’s important to know there were multiple factors involved
We should never have decolonized. The west had the world in the palm of out hands and we let it all go. These people don’t even appreciate that we gave them independence
@@tylerclayton6081 appreciate independence that should never have been taken? Or appreciate the independence that was begrudgingly given? Lmao
It shouldnt be since the whole world got plunged into war cos of it
I would like to know where did you get the idea that China was colonized.
As a Vietnamese, I must say the Indochina/Vietnam lack an important point. Vietnam was working with the USA during WW2 to distract the Japan and to disrupt their colonialism in Indochina, with the expectation that it would be granted independence after WW2. However the USA decided to side with France
Communism came from China to Indochina.
Why vietnam not take laos like Indonesia take west Papua? You all have rights but not take it
@@anaskhoiri3653 Thailand would not like that one bit I imagine, Thailand and Vietnam have fought for centuries over Laos and Cambodia so it would just reignite the dispute.
Laos also had its own established state before colonisation and nationalist movements. The Papuan identity is a very recent one since for most of history it was individual kingdoms and tribes doing their own thing
@@anaskhoiri3653 And today Laos and Vietnam are each others' best allies.
@@anaskhoiri3653 oh why don't the US take Canada/Mexico?
Yeah we don't wanna
Will you discuss Thailand and how it successfully managed to Matrix-dodge every single attempt made to colonize it, in the future? I think someone more competent than myself really should at some point, it's a staggering achievement considering what happened to so many other nations.
I second this, and why do they even call themselves Thailand. It has been called Siam on most old maps.
It wasn't colonized by the British and the French so as to create a buffer state between their colonies.
It wasn't colonized by Japan as they sided with Japan during WW2 to avoid being conquered by the Japanese.
@@xmarkclx to nationalize and modernize the country. the nam "Siam" itself is a foreign word used by foreigners first to identify the country. the name has changed during the interwar era where fascism took control of then siam to thailand but we, thai, have been calling the country "Thai" informally and often referred ourselves Thai for many centuries. so as to nationalize the country the leader had to change the country to Thailand, as we Thai call it "Prathet Thai" (Prathet cam from the word Pradesh of Pali-Sanskrit root) which means The land of the Thai.
@@xmarkclx Although they were never get colonised but they lost much of their territories for that undertaking. Siam was primarily a name those colonial powers used to identify this country while people in this area both called themselves Thai and Siam so in order to natinalise the country; The parliament officially declared "Thai" as the one to be used in 1939 Thai means "to be free" people in this country value harmony and freedom above all else. Thailand means Land of the freemen. They were the first asian nation to establish a diplomatic and trade relation with United States of America and is still consider one of the oldest US allies in the region today.
They murdered their own students and threw their neighbors under the bus.
Your Dutch, so I don't totally fault you for an oversight. But in the Philippines there was a war against the colonization of the United States from 1899-1905 more or less. Present historians called it "America's first Vietnam". The war wasn't very mild, mind you, there were a lot of atrocities made by the Americans. However, after 1905 if I remember my history correctly things simmered down and the USA allowed the Philippines a certain amount of self-rule leading to independence. Eventually the Philippine elite went onboard with the USA and that's the time they sent delegates to the USA for independence. The move could have been smooth had the Japanese not invaded. For many Filipinos, the Japanese threw a monkey wrench into the planned Philippine Nation. Anyway, I just want to point out that there was a "War of Independence" against the United States and it wasn't all that peaceful.
I was just about to comment this. The Phillipines was not a peaceful ownership or transition of power. It was definitely more peaceful RELATIVE to many of the others specifically near the end, but The Philippines war is very often glossed over by US history teachers and educators. Mostly due to government pressure to stick to a predetermined script and testing schedule. However the Philippines and the US are pretty strong allies today, which is nice to see. Many immigrants come here from the Philippines. It's just sad to see something so bad happen.
I said as much in the video: "but in 1899, a war broke out"
@@HistoryScope ok then must have missed that.
@@PresAlexWhit correct, compared to the others, I admired America's magnanimity in the administration of what was known as the Philippine Islands. Compared to other colonial powers, the United States IMPROVED the infrastructure of the Philippines, but couldn't do much with the resources as we were "duplicating what the American farmers were planting". Many Filipinos felt that life was comfortable and orderly so there was no need to change the status quo. Even President Quezon, Commonwealth Philippine President said to this effect, "Why didn't the Americans treat us badly". President Quezon felt that the "soft colonialization" of the Philippines resulted in the complacency of many Filipinos in desiring full independence. I read somewhere that Ho Chi Minh said, "If the French treated us like the way the Americans did to the Philippines, I wouldn't ask for independence." I dare say many Filipinos today secretly wish that we became another Puerto Rico or Guam as many believe that life under American rule was a lot better than after America left.
@@HistoryScope Personally it was less that you didn't talk about the war, but that you didn't give the war enough criticism and light. Still, it's a fantastic video.
As a fellow Dutchman I am very happy with this detailed information on what went on in Indonesia. I was taught nothing about any of this in history classes. Je hebt ook meer dan gelijk over onze Koning, echt hoor, totaal geen charisma en kan niet eens een goede speech geven, echt beschamend haha.
I listened to that speech several times while making this video and kept thinking "you have one job!".
thank you, as Indonesian. but for the part of East Timor, is basically is that we copied the Dutch colonialism with some spices of our own, which is Very bad and worse. especially during Suharto military dictatorship. thankfully we have national National reformation that ousted him and Habibie made a referendum to East Timor (but the Military and the militias decide to attacked after the referendum is not in their favour, which Ultimately bring Australian led Interfet that put down the Militias and some Indonesian military. and left during late year 1999.)
@@mohammadrickypratama6720 Hmm, interesting. It saddens me that we the Dutch have learned Indonesia the ropes of colonialism. One only has to look at Papua New-Guinea and see what Indonesia is doing there currently to realize it's exactly what the Dutch Empire once did to all of Indonesia.
@@draphotube4315 the current government is very aware of the situation in west papua, and they openly said that they(papuans) fight like how we(indonesian) did during the independence, that is--in the military sense, to fight a guerrilla warfare just to show their existence to the world and gain diplomatic support
But...the pro independence papuans is very small, like 1-2% of the whole population. What indonesian government do now is to divide papua into smaller provinces so that they can pour more money to the development of each region(to win papuan people's hearts) and to better control them(just like good ol' divide and conquer). There are many human right abuses today both by indonesian military(unlawful killings, robbery, mutilation, burning corpses, ect) and by local armed groups(burning school, houses, and hospital, killing health workers, teachers, truck drivers, and construction workers).
The papuan issue has become a hot topic in every parlement meetings, it's more complex than it seems because the papuans themselves have different ruling factions just like the situation in palestine but with even more factions
@@faiq026 robbery ? Mutilation? Bro..you saying as if it doing by military everyday...the cases happen that 1 time only and the military punished already...while local armed group killing civilian so often, even their own people who pro-Indonesia...
Most Rebel are Highlanders...they hate coastal Papuan too because Coastal people more developed...
The awkward situation the Japanese occupation forces in Southeast Asia faced when their country surrendered cannot be underestimated. They were defeated in the war, but still had to maintain their garrisons to maintain order in the populace until Allied forces could arrive to take over the occupation. In Indonesia, the local militias had become such a threat that the Japanese and Allied forces actually cooperated a couple of times to fight against the militia, mobs and looters during the chaotic transition times.
what country are you from?
It was transfering ownership similar to Philippines handed over to American by the Spaniards, similar case from Japanese imperialism wanting to hold what bloodshed they have made.
Sounds like you were trying to glorify the Japanese
It’s not so surprising. Even if recently at war, both countries shared that same goal of maintaining control over the colonized.
Sukarno declared independence after Japanese defeat defeat in 1945. A lot of stranded Japanese sided with Indonesian Republican Army to attack Dutch military outpost. For example Nakajima plane very useful in reconnaissance and bombing of Dutch and British military outpost in Surabaya.
I just spent over a month in SE Asia (Malaysia Indonesia and Singapore , and had some idea about this topic yet looked around most bigger cities and very limited information was offered, or it told the story in Singapore of the British during WWII, indeed a short yet insightful piece, wanting more. I'm from American and we have so limited knowledge of this part of the world...yet its valued and needed. Keep on offering these pieces,
with regard to the Philippines, there is this small yet major detail that happened between the change of colonizers from Spain to USA. on the last decade of the Spanish era, Spain was losing control of the archipelago with endless uprising, and when the Spanish-American war happened, they just sold the Philippines instead to the USA and staged a mock battle rather than losing to the locals. after which, the Philippine-American war happened exactly after the Spain left. I hope that adds a little detail there. thank you. Love your video by the way, learned a lot of the Ideas and situation on East Asian countries on how they develope there national identity and gained independence.
What do you expect from Americans they always want to look like a hero but in the end they are the worst, until now they trying to dictate the Philippines, when a nonallies party won in the 2016 presidential election, they always demonize Press Duterte even here in TH-cam.
@@corral5418 Bro, I avoid hate comments in a discussion video. so sorry, not trying to offend you.
What's sad though is that some americans and even filipinos believed the lie that was propagated by the US government during that time which was "they will give the Philippines independence" which contradicts everything the US did after they got the Philippines. From fighting filipino revolutionaries to the kiram bates treaty.
@@bushybrowser9535 you have no history, facts
Until now phenoi is still 🇺🇸 esleyb 🙄 don't you think?
As ethnic Javanese Indonesian, Im obviously can't represent the opinion of West Papuan people. But to my knowledge they indirectly colonized by the dictatorship regime held by the longest serving and least talked about dictator in Asia, Suharto. The were left behind economically for a very long time compared to the the nearest islands near Java vicinity. There were squeezed dry of their natural resources by the Suharto regime with Western Companies. They face severe racial issue and often regarded as the odd one out even among thousands of ethnicity in Indonesia.
But its getting better now after the National Reformation and economic boom around the country, even if the infrastructure growth was painful slow the start of Reformation. But right now its definitely among long term plans for Central government in Java to raise Papuan living standard by taking them along with the Economic growth.
It still not perfect and I would like it to be more faster and even among the region. But it has to happen eventually, I always consider them a part of my country even though they were neglected and rather oppressed up until decades ago. I want to live in the world where Papuan people is a common sight in Jakarta (Indonesia capital city). I can only hope our future politicians would concentrate their efforts more often there in Papua.
Regarding East Timor, I didn't knew that the oppression was so bad. I was not born yet when it was happen and almost no history books mentioned it, perhaps unsurprisingly. Will check it later in Wikipedia.
So you are sympathetic to them? Man, just denounce your ethnicity. By reading this comment just made me ashamed.
@@yodaeee what's wrong with being sympathetic? The West Papuans are being subjugated by the Rest of Indonesia .The natives are being kicked out of their own land, Their Resources exploited,and culture fading and dying , it's only right to be sympathetic
@@yodaeee im sympathic to papuan because indonesia is not just jakarta, im from sulawesi send love to papuan people.
@@yodaeee you literally have the same world view of pro colonialist European, so yes you should be ashamed of yourself
@@reykategen1316 new capital isn't jakarta anymore, Bhinneka Tunggal ika 🇮🇩💯💯
YES! So happy to see these lesser taught (at least in the West) parts of history!
I know very little about any of these topics so I can't speak for the accuracy of this video but I personally enjoyed it! I like overviews like this as it gives me the ability to look into the subjects mentioned later on since I prior did not know about the subjects. Well done!
When I learned about Indonesian occupation of East Timor it pains me... like how the hell that we didn't see the hypocrisy in that??? we pretty much became the same as the Dutch before us. And situations in Papua (or Irian Jaya) aren't much better, I've seen some of the most racist shit in the way we look and treat them, although it does getting better now.
I really hope that this country wouldn't be such an oppressive power in the future
They deserve the treatment.
@@yodaeee taek kowe cuk...
@@yodaeee, East Timorese are not commies
It's going on the right path nowadays. Let's keep it that way
@@yodaeee So, did they deserve to get massacred? Just like how TNI committed a brutal massacre toward east timorese.
About European journey to Indonesia:
1. The Portuguese arrived from their base in India, initially setting shop up in Malacca, but then explore a bit more to the east and build fortifications around the Spice Islands, and then establishing shops and missions in East Nusa Tenggara region, converting Kingdom of Larantuka into Catholicism. They only later settles around East Timor after being pushed out from Flores by the Dutch.
2. The Dutch followed the Portuguese, and during the Eighty Years war (and Spanish-Portugal union), take over a lot of Portuguese colony in India and East Indies, also taking over Malacca and setting shop first in Banten, then expand east to the Spice Islands, then Java and the rest of the Islands.
3. The British followed the Dutch and take over most of their possession in India and Malaya, they initially settled Bancoolen in Sumatra but traded the colony for Singapore and Malacca, and guaranteed Dutch supremacy over the Islands. They later take over the whole colony during the Napoleonic War but returned it after the defeat of Napoleon and restoration if Dutch Monarchy.
11:05 as an American, I very much admire (and envy) your honesty, and humility when discussing these kinds of historical topics. I wish more of my fellow countrymen were capable of analyzing history in this manner. Too many people prefer mythology over history, and what’s worse is they are often incapable of knowing the difference between the two. Cheers 🍻 ✌🏻🇺🇸
I would argue we need someone to do a deep dive into the genocide we committed in the Philippines and the way that MacArthur basically ended democratic processes in East Asia for decades
@@thestanfordreport agreed. It’s so odd in MacArthur’s case because he actually instituted some pretty good policies when it came to Japan.
*he obviously seriously dropped the ball in a lot of ways.
There is an error here. Philippines was actually the first Asian country to declare independence from any European power. This was during the Philippine revolution against Spain and were won by the Filipinos in 1898 without much help from Americans. But by that time, Spain had already sold the Philippines to the Americans in the Treaty of Paris. And so War broke out between Filipinos and the Americans.
@@kahldiss2689wrong. 1946 is the indepence of the philippines. The 1898 independence was a sham because the americans took over
@@josemartymario3137 you have a reading comprehension problem.
Philippine DECLARATION of independence on June 12, 1898 is not a myth.
Love these videos, no one produces them better than this guy
Gotta give props to Thailand for having always been canny and wily enough to evade the colonial rush of Southeast Asia.
@History Scope, about the Philippines the Spaniards didn’t loose to America, the Spaniards were weak at that time and was about to loose to Filipinos. Spain afraid to loose to Filipinos, they sold the archipelago to the US for 20 million dollars and had a mock fight to represent their defeat by the Americans
The war between Spain and the U.S. was mostly about Cuba and Puerto Rico. The Phillipines were a side issue. The U.S. had a small, but much more modern navy than the Spain. Once war started the U.S. attacked the Spanish at Manila mostly because that’s where their fleet was. They were kind of the dog that caught the car it had been chasing. Once started war begats war, so the U.S. then fought a much bigger war against The Philippines, which in the pattern of the contemporary Boer war, settled on mass killing by Marines to end it. Over time it became obvious for quite a few reasons that recolonization of the Philippines was a horrible idea for both the U.S. and The Philippines. This video was a quick summation. Missed was that there was a hard date set for the U.S. leaving. Memory says this was put back by a year due to WWII, but that might not be correct.
Currently the question is whether The Philippines is losing the slow motion war of the dashed line. Time will tell.
History Scope, I'm actually dissapointed in your portrayal of the formation of Malaysia.
Firstly, the idea of the formation of Malaysia was first proposed by the Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman who then became the country's founding father and first Prime Minister, who made the declaration on the 27th of May 1961. To be exact, the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew believed it essential for Singapore to merge with Malaya, NOT with Sarawak, Sabah (what you called East Borneo in the video), and Brunei. The idea was NOT thought up by Singapore but rather Malaya, and although Singapore may have wanted a merger it does not mean the idea should be credited to and be acknowledged as a Singaporean-originated formation.
Sincerely, a disgruntled Malaysian
What I know is that the formation of the Federation of Malaya and the state of Malaysia was designed by the British. And at that time the British were based in Singapore. So isn't the one in the video true?
@@hanflax4679 To make it very clear, the history of the negotiations for the formation of Malaysia is very complex and opaque due to the fact that these negotiations weren't recorded or transcribed.
What is a fact is that Tunku Abdul Rahman was the first person to suggest openly of a greater Federation of the British colonies that include Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. However, due to ethnic pressures it seemed that he got more weary in terms of including Singpore in the federation.
The deal and the subsequent legal document, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), proposed by the UK to the now independent Malaya, and Singapore was that a federation would be formed of the two nations and the colonies of Sabah and Sarawak, which the UK still had de facto rule over, basically packaging the merging of the 4 regions as a done deal.
In technicality, yes, the UK did propose the deal but to say that they were the brainchild or that they had done it from Singapore wouldn't be right as Malaya had sought negotiations first and Singapore had already gained independence.
@@hanflax4679 Malayan Union was rejected.
@@hanflax4679 malaysia merdeka di kasih oleh england now merdeka ...merdeka itu melawan bukan bukan di kasih belajar membedakan
Not so fun fact:
The Spanish doesn't want to accept defeat to the filipino rebels, so they joint forces with the Americans and staged a battle in Manila. The so-called "battle" left American forces in control of Intramuros, the center of Manila.
Manila was the only part of the Philippines under the Americans at the time, which became the first stage of the Philippine-American war a year later.
The Filipinos was felt betrayed by the Americans, they once looked up to them as liberators.
Well said
@@anon2427 yea 'cause killing at least 200 thousand civilians is the right thing to do, right?
And what thousands? Less than a thousand Americans died in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war.
@@anon2427 How many Americans died fighting the Spanish in the Philippines, idiot? Literally one American sailor died in the Battle of Manila Bay. You didn't do any bleeding for the Filipinos.
@@lopobiaxander5604 "yea 'cause killing at least 200 thousand civilians is the right thing to do, right?"
.... yeah. Anything is right if it's for the good of the nation.
It's yankees hypocripsy after all
Believe in USA is fatal
Great video, however you left out the fact that Malaysia forced Singapore to become independent in 1965.
You deliver excellent content to your audience. It's very interesting material. All of your effort put into creating this video is much appreciated. I'm truly grateful for your help!
7:31 Japanese flag turning into a questionmark was one of the few things I didn't know I needed to see until I saw it. Btw great video 👍
Thank you. I felt very smart for thinking of that one :D
The Geneva conference did not split Vietnam into 2 "countries" but rather 2 occupations zones. After 2 years, there would be a general election to choose one single ruling regime.
Being completely unbiased as humans is impossible, but I really liked your disclaimer and it shows you try to be as fair as possible. You should be proud of the video, it's great informative content.
Very good video, as an Indian I've learned very little about South-east and East asian independence and decolonisation and this video gave me much insight on where to start. I hope to see a video on South Asia soon :) much love ❤️
East Asia was never colonized. The Russians held big chunks of China for less then a decade. Nations like China, Mongolia, japan, north and south korea were never under European control and if they were at one point the rule was very short
@@prince_yt3406 Russia colonized china but more Russian girls marry Chinese guys amwf than the other way around.
@@myphuonghuynh151 Russia never colonized China. The only thing they ruled in China was outer Manchuria and that was very brief
@@prince_yt3406 no Russia still has outer Manchuria today.
@@user-qwertyuiopasdfghj ok? They annexed that from the Qing dynasty but other then that it doesn’t even count since the majority aka all of east Asia was uncolonized by Europeans
Indonesian here. The reason why indonesia invading and colonizing east timor have something to do with Ausie and Usa
1. Fretilin party that adopting communism in east timor declare their independence movement
2. Fretilin instantly gain so much support
3. Australia worries that east timor will become a tool for USSR to invade ausie that part of US ally
4. Ausie knows that president soeharto from Indonesia is an anti communist
5. Australian government sending a letter notifying president soeharto about communism grow in east timor
6. In the letter, australian government asking Indonesia to invade east timor
7. President soeharto send a letter to australia, stating that it is against indonesian constitution to invade east timor
8. In the letter, soeharto stated that he didn't mind if east timor become a communist state
9. Receiving that response, Australian government asking US help to ask soeharto to invade east timor
10. US government stated that invading other country is against UN law
11. Australian government notifying US government about the growth of communism in east timor
12. US agree to help Ausie
13. US sending a letter to Indonesia, asking Indonesian military to annes east timor
14. President Soeharto refuse because of the same reason as he refusing ausie's request.
15. US promising Aid to Indonesia
16. Soeharto refusing the offer,saying that east timor is too poor to develop
17. Intelligence report coming to US government
18. In the report, US government knows that Indonesia in a situation of needing new partnert to supply new military equient after USSR had no more becoming Indonesia's main military supply since 1968
19. US sending letter to asking Indonesia to invade east timor
20. Indonesian for the 3rd time refusing
21. US offering Indonesia an access to buy US ally only military equipments with huge discount
22. Soeharto's eye become green and accepting the request
23. Indonesia succesfuly invade east timor to become indonesia's 27th province, thus open access to US ally only military equipments
24. Indonesia receive no income from east timor, instead indonesia spending billions USD to develop east timor. Indonesia losing money but don't mind
25. Ausie happy since no threat from USSR anymore
26. Oil discovered in timor gap
27. Ausie wants to suck this oil but realize that Indonesia won't allow them, not even interested to exploit the oil bank
28. Ausie notifying US about the oil in timor gap and asking US to separate east timor from Indoensia
29. Ausie and US then began accusing Indonesia for violating UN law for anti annexation and starting the propaganda against Indonesia
30. Indonesian government and military got so much pressure from the International world
31. Indonesian military in east timor snapped. Santa cruz massacre happened
32. East timor strugle for independence that has been lasted for decades go so much support
23. Because of the pressure, Indonesian president of B.J. Habibie declare a referendum in east timor thus resulting east timor gain independence
24. Ause and US actions for backstabing Indonesia causing Indonesia lost trust to these 2 countries, especialy to Ausie
25. Since then, Indonesia and Australian relationship became cold. The same with USA
26. In 2002, due to santa cruz incident, USA embarging Indonesian military, causong indonesia even more strugle than the same strugle that makes Indonesia agree to US request.
27. Indonesian president go to moscow, asking military patronage
28. President Vladimir Putin agree and Indonesia - Russia relationship rekindle
29. Ausie began sucking oil from timor gap, leaving too little money for east timorese to build their country that ended up in missery
This is the reason why we Indonesian are not going to trust many block again, both east or west never again, especially western look how sly they are backstabbing Indonesia after they support even propose us to invade Timor
And now western especially Australia washing their hands and antagonizing Indonesia like they have no sin, now Australia form a new military pact named AUKUS that will delivered a Nuclear weapons into Asia Pacific, we should be cautious with them
Bro FRETILIN wasn’t even a communist party and that somehow got to this, wow💀🙏🏽
These videos are such quality and consistency! Dont stop until you feel burnt out
This is a really great and informative video. As a South East Asian, I learnt a bunch! Just one thing. You mentioned one of the reasons why the colonised peoples wanted to overthrow colonialism - because the rule was unjust, unfair, and exploitative. However you missed out one basic thing, which is that most people just don't want to have some other dudes suddenly take over control of their homeland.
Are you Filipino?
As a Czech I agree, we lived under someone else's rule for most of the millenia we exist. But still there are periods we actually consider a good ones, like the end of Austria-Hungary. The colonizers always soften in time, allowing regional governments. But this exact era is best to be prolonged as much as possible, because that is the time you can actually get something in return from the empire. You get the time to learn how to rule yourself. It feels to me like some of the countries in Asia and most of the countries in Africa skipped this era and turned into chaos.
@@PATISLAV Africa and Asia was looked as inferior and the ONLY purpose they had was to supply Europeans with raw materials for industries , unlike mainland Europe where Czech was treated way different then how an African would be
That means the Philippines had its independence two times. One in 1898 then 1946. We have independence in 1898 from Spain. USA during her fight for independence, The Manilamen settled in Louissiana during the Acapulco - Manila trade. In short! the manilamen helped in the American revolution to have their country only to go back to the Philippines to colonized it. This video is so short to explain everything in detail.
38:29 Sorry but the switch from Spain to the USA in the Philippines is shown here too simply. In fact, the independence of the Philippines was declared by the Revolutionary Congress in 1899. In fact, the Philippine independence movement had also contributed the far more significant part to weakening the Spanish colonial power on site.
btw. Cambodia also declared itself independent in 1945.
All in all, quite an informative review.
On the side, maybe a small addition. The French-Thai War broke out in 1940-1941. Thailand was able to secure some areas again, which they had previously had to cede to France. After the Japanese capitulation, the colonial powers UK and France resorted to outright blackmail. Thailand had to return the territories. In the event of a refusal, Thailand would have been regarded as a Japanese ally and given reparations. (Btw. there were confiscations, e.g. in connection with the Siam-Burma-Railway) France even threatened to veto Thailand's admission to the UN.
In this context, it might also be interesting to note the not particularly creditable role played by the UN in connection with decolonization
After the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the 1954 Geneva Agreement did not divide Vietnam into two countries, but only into two regions. Both Vietnams will hold general elections in 1956. The American Domino doctrine was so exaggerated that they intervened in South Vietnam and tore up the Geneva accords.
TBF, before the vietnam movement became a self proclaimed communist nation Ho Chi Min managed to close ties with the United States, in the few speeches he gave you can also notice how he even use quotes from the American declaration of independence. This let the pre-VC army to be trained by the same people they'd be fighting in the consecutive war which is pretty interesting... But at some point the Americans decided to bugger off when they thought that Vietnam was being a bit too socialist for their taste....
Well that have to do with the French it alway the French. Degaull especially since well he just said France might go socialist if the USA didn't help.
@@thanhhoangnguyen4754 chuẩn man 👌 thời này k có HCM, thì tư tưởng cs cũng đã rất thịnh hành trong quần chúng và nhiều trí thức khác từ lâu trước đó, sẵn sàng bùng nổ bất cứ lúc nào. Bác Hồ chỉ là người nhóm mồi lửa tại VN.
@@Trgn Cơ bản chính sách của Degaull để khôi phục lại Pháp là đất nước mạnh là lý do đơn giản để mọi thuộc địa của Pháp đuổi Pháp ra. Vả lại theo nghĩa đen Pháp bỏ rơi tụi mình vào tay Nhật lúc đầu mà giờ quay lại không nói lời xin lỗi mà còn đòi thêm là dĩ nhiên không yên ổn rồi.
@@thanhhoangnguyen4754 I mean, when Japan demanded Control over Indochina half of France was occupied by Germany so there wasn’t really much they could do
@@pocketmarcy6990 And it not like French Forces in Indochina can match against Japanese one. Considering they outnumber them in everything.
Thankyou for beeing honest abt the indonesian part as indonesian i am very happy about you beeing honest especially if you are dutch thankyou again
Legend has it that when the Dutch tried to reassert its dominance after WW2, the local Jakartan populace stormed a government building and tore off the blue stripe of the Dutch flag. As a result, the Indonesian flag was formed.
Hotel Yamato Incident? That's on Soerabaja, the largest city on Java's eastern half.
The Red and White is also always intended to have ratio of 2:3, not 4:9 like Hotel Yamato's Flag
@@krasnamerah1926 well still a good prototype brand for propaganda
Wow....I appreciate seeing the attempt at covering the darker period of your own country. As an American, we don't do this very well of even our own country. Being of the younger generations who realize we can't ignore our past if we wish to make a functional future and do what our parents couldn't, the recognition of our mistakes is required. I commend your effort and respect your approach more than i can find the words to say. I know we are capable of making a better path!
"Philippines was one of the more peaceful transitions to independence" Forgot to mention the 230,000 dead and US operated concentration camps during the insurrection.
I'm a new subscriber. I'm in love with your content. I'm already re-watching this video. Please keep up the good work.
I feel like you are using the verb "colonise" a bit inflationarily. Will there be a video about the "decolonisation of europe" and how the soviets "decolonised" Poland in 1990?
I'd like to add in a bit that after the Geneva accords, Vietnam was split into 2 military zones, not 2 countries (parallel 17 was not a border). The idea was to have a referendum in 1955 to unify the 2 zones under a certain form of government (north or south). Fearing the communist takeover, the US decided to intervene. The last time in Vietnamese history when the country was truly slit was during the prolonged civil war between the Trinh - Nguyen in the 17th century.
This video is the Decolonization of East Asia. But you gave importance to the decolonization of former dutch colonies as more than half of your video is about that. Giving more details on that topic and less on the other parts of East Asia. What you should have done is that you should have ceeated a series instead. As you left out the biggest chunk from the other former colonies history. For example my country the PH. As you mentioned that it is "being one of the more peaceful transition from colony to independence". Having said that, it only shows that you did not put a lot of research into that particular topic. A lot of my ancestors died for this so called independence from colonies.
For casual history viewer that will watch your video. It will paint an incomplete picture of what really transpired and will make the information you provided as thier only knowledge.
I am not sure if you corrected this in your other later videos as this was made a year ago and this is the first time I am seeing your channel. Please make sure that your facts paints a complete picture and dont just create content just for the sake of it.
The Portuguese didn't come in that direction. The Spanish did come from America via the Pacific Ocean to the Phillipines, Taiwan and Japan. The Portuguese came from Indian Ocean side not the Pacific Ocean.
I think my country should do more to compensate Indonesia, I'm dutch, but its kinda shameful. Kinda really, yk? Still to all your Indonesians, thanks for accepting me. I feel so accepted by their culture, have a lot of Indonesian friends & am learning the language because I really want to visit Indonesia soon. Selamat malam everyone:)
Indonesia as a country wouldn’t exist without the Dutch
@@LucidFL maybe, their shared deep seated hatred towards the colonizing Dutch probably what makes them united under one flag. But you could also argue that a strong visionary leader would be born eventually and united them one way or the other. But it could also easily divided between various nations like northern Southeast Asia.
But your opinion and mine are only hypothetical. For what I know Indonesian ancestors might as well take the whole indochina archipelago if the Dutch didn't colonize them, just speaking.
Having good trade relations these days, and becoming brothers like the way Germans and the Dutch now treat each other with how many ties they have together, besides some people still upset that the Germans stole their bicycles, is a good way of healing from the past. Indonesia is obviously going to have much closer relations with neighbours like Australia and Malaysia, but the Dutch can still participate. Keeping racism out of contemporary Dutch politics is also a good way to show that the NL is still committed to that healing as well.
@@harukrentz435 I mean, I think the Majapahit Empire came pretty close to unifying Indonesia right? Or is this a wrong observation? But it's like, not all nations can last forever. And there was a power difference compared to the European powers like the Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch.
But I do appreciate you not feeling too much resentment towards the dutch, and this is why I appreciate your culture and people so much, even though I am Dutch, I am often feeling so welcomed by Indonesians. I can't express how nice that is, since Indonesia is my favorite part of the world (along with the Netherlands, since I obviously like my own country)
And also when they hear I am so interested in their country, I will get all kinds of lovely stories and history and cultural stuff, I feel like the Indonesian culture is way more welcoming and warm compared to the western culture. So again thank you and your people :)
I dont give a shit about it anymore. Let the past be the past.
History Scope: Carefully explains he's open-minded about the role of the Netherlands, his country, in Indonesia
Also History Scope: Casually dismisses the Philippine Revolution as "I said as much in the video: "but in 1899, a war broke out""
He quoted a source that said the Philippines "was wholly unprepared for independence" and left it at that, like that one-sided, manifest destiny-tinged propaganda justifies the genocide that was downplayed.
I wonder, was the Middle East decolonization separated from the asian decolonization since the beginning or was it a decision made during the production of this video?
At first all of Asia was going to be 1 video but we soon realized that was too much. Then we separated Asia into 3 regions.
@@HistoryScope I see, well, that seems like a good decision, after all Asia is big
@@HistoryScope so will u be making a part 2 and 3
@@admiralkaede no he will make part 1+1 and part 2+1
@@ShubhamMishrabro huuh
the Philippines won its independence way earlier than this it idea of nation state started when Enlightenment educated filipinos started writing and coming back to the Philippines and the the Revolution started when one of the leading figures Jose Rizal wrote about the ills of filipino society undear spain and was later executed. That motivated most filipinos to start organize into a revolutionary government in 1896 Starting the first revolution against a colonial power in asia. Ironically enough Jose Rizal talked about being a autonomous colony and gradually gaining independence so the Spanish blew that away.
The Filipino revolutionaries essentially won the war by 1898 and declaring independence in 1899 by that time Spain had nominal control over the philipines the only real control they had was the city of Manila. With the the Spanish-American war going on by the end of the Revolution The Filipinos cooperate with the Americans and finally the battle and capture of Manila was won by both the Americans and Filipinos. However unbenounced to the Filipinos. the Americans and Spanish made a secret agreement they would stage a mock battle lessening the casualties and saving Spain from not suffering a the humiliation of defeat to a none white people the americans entered the city and locking out the Filipinos not allowing them to enter by then Spain sold the Philipines the Americans started to create a government the Philippine-American war starts 333 years undear the Spanish 48 years undear spain the americans of course in the name of liberty and freedom
Decolonization is personal family history. My parents were born in the Dutch East Indies, but left Indonesia. I have cousins, where the older ones were born in the Dutch East Indies, but their younger siblings were born in Indonesia, though all were born in the same town.
Well, he pronounced Surabaya properly.
My father fought as an "irregular", on the Dutch side, and mentioned to me, that native villages were burned to the ground, while preventing the residence, to escape, so killed, in the blaze. My father passed 30 years ago.
Now if we could only get the descendants of Indonesian Nationalists and the Pemudas (death squads) under leadership of General Sutomo to admit to their atrocities/ crimes against humanity. Such as the amputations r*pe and m*rdering of thousands of women and children. Instead of Indonesia glorifying all their WARCRIMINALS.
Now if we could only get the descendants of Indonesian Nationalists and the Pemudas (death squads) under leadership of General Sutomo to admit to their atrocities/ crimes against humanity.
I wish the Indonesian Nationalists (death squads) would have the same courage to admit to their own warcrimes.
Instead of Indonesians glorifying their warcriminals.
Such as the rapes, torture, amputations and murdering of thousands of civilians women and children committed by the Pemudas under leadership of General Sutomo. As early as 1945 immediately after Japanese surrendered.
A tour de force of fascinating facts that are so relevant to the world today. You really do a wonderful job remaining intellectually honest and transparent.
Nice video but more than half of it was just about the Netherlands and Indonesia in deep detail and you just touched on the rest.
I really like your videos! Excellent primers!!! What I like the most is your bluntness when talking about bad characteristics particularly when you talk about Europeans. Though I disagree with some of your views on economics - globalization and some aspects of neo-liberalism you seem to like - your videos, in my opinion, are on the top level of History videos on TH-cam.
Your videos are great, dude 👍🏼
watched the whole video as usual, leaned some new stuff.
very good video, keep it up!
left a like on it too
As an Indonesian, it is very interesting to see the things that are not taught in our school. Including the possibilities of that West Papua issue as a 'colonialisation'
Nah, the west papua thingy is just an argument of old grudge. "Barisan Sakit Hati".
UN did ask the Papuan people, and they answered. Its as legitimate as Sarawak being asked to join Malaysia. UN siding with Indonesia about Papua. Even when UN is not siding with Indonesia for East Timor. UN already did as much as they could to be a perfect neutral and helping Papua sound their voice.
Heck, even East Timorese also side with Indonesia in this. We with Timor Leste have a really good diplomacy. We one are of the country that try to make Timor Leste into the ASEAN.
By diplomacy we drive Dutch out of archipelago. By diplomacy we manage to gain USA on our side. By diplomacy we managed to gain Soviet in our side. USA threaten Dutch with the Marshall Aid, and Soviet give us hardware to strike far across the oceans. They dont like a young country suddenly have multiple fleet to guard its own ocean, and pushing a European colonizer out.
Go to Papua and see it yourself. There is a reason why the resistance is dwindling. Its hard to fight if you dont see an enemy. Its hard to fight if you arent oppressed. Hard to fight if your life is already good. There is no colonization there simply because they are same citizen. The people there simply dont see an enemy. Majority people does agree that they are Indonesian.
Papuan were under gun point, at one time. yes. Thats because WE ALL ARE under the gun point by a dictator. You can google up pictures of people evicted under gunpoint in Jakarta by that dictator. Does Jakarta must be independent too?
But the propaganda still going strong. Even the one in Aceh and Ambon, the propaganda that try to divide us there still being pumped. Even if they did divide us there, they wouldn't going stop with just those area.
Dont get caught with weird voices. Keep our unity strong.
@@snails6997 LOL Indonesian imperialist hypocrisy at its finest.
"The Act of Free Choice (Indonesian: Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat, PEPERA, Determination of the People's Opinion) was a controversial plebiscite held between 14 July and 2 August 1969 in which 1,025 people selected by the Indonesian military in Western New Guinea voted unanimously in favor of Indonesian control.[1][2]
The event was mentioned by the United Nations in General Assembly resolution 2504 (XXIV) without giving an opinion whether it complied with the authorizing New York Agreement, and without giving an opinion whether it was an act of "self-determination" as referred to and described in United Nations General Assembly resolutions 1514 and 1541 (XV) respectively.[citation needed] The event is sometimes disparagingly referred to as the "Act of No Choice"[3] because of its controversial process."
If this is your idea of a free and fair referendum, you're touched in the head.
@@ennui9745
If your argument trying to invalidate whatever UN is doing at that time, then feel free write your complaint to UN complaint boxes... or whatever.
Also, "Imperialist" argument is getting old, buddy.
That argument also applicable to Javanese and Sundanese, the major ethnic. Their heritage and cultures also different than the rest of Indonesia. Javanese and Sundanese also need to be independent by that "imperialist" argument.
Heck, there is even no "Indonesia ethnicity". The language and identity build like a start up. This idea even proposed by ethnics in Sumatra, not even the majority ethnic. Using Malayan language frames and borrowing words from many other language.
Identity made from nothing and accepted by multiple people creating one new identity. Identity that prevent the area doing bloody war and conflicts between each other.
Those who wish conflicts and harm is the ones that use sentences like "Papuan (or insert any other ethnics here) looks different". Break these identity and these people will war between the islands. Then Chinese will going in swiftly with their money, fishing ships, and warship.
This propaganda is the one that will break the country and put it into chaos. Like how it happened before with commies and sharia propaganda before.
There is a reason why the resistance is dwindling. Both Papuan province is the top ten in national budget. I have papuan classmate at my time in university, which is a top tier tech uni in country. They have no different ID. They can buy stuff like any other ethnic in the country. The area is being build with multiple infrastructures.
Not many Papuan people take up arms, why? Because their lives is getting better. They work and living in non-conflict area. They have no problem trading with fellow citizen in other islands across the seas. Its hard to rally people when they can living peacefully.
The only way to make real revolution only when people are starving. They gonna fight since they are gonna die anyway. Revolution also started with charismatic local people as leader, not internet SJW in comfy couch far away from the island like you. That scenario is not the case with any Indonesian ethnic today. Go ahead, come and try it yourself.
All that left is the extremist drones that brainwashed with foreign propaganda. They holed up in jungle after their failed rebellion trying to put the country in chaos. I'm talking about Commies thingy and Sharia thingy too, btw. The drones from these two propaganda still living inside a jungle somewhere.
Anyway. arguing with propaganda drones like you wont resulting anything. Keep it going, tho. Don't let me get your trolling down.
Its always boring debating with drones like you. I copy pasted this from a convenient notepad just in case I come across drones like you. Like three seconds top, pressing Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.
We gonna talk from different page anyway. I talk as nation identity, yet you will dragged it down to heritage and ethnic. Wont be any conclusion. Wont any value to both of us. Just trollfest internet post fiesta like usual. Hence, I concede discussing with you furthermore.
Good day.
@@snails6997 Nice wall of text there. Typical overproud Indonesian nationalist. Your facts are wrong and you spread lies.
The Indonesian military picked 1,025 people and all of them "voted" unanimously to remain part of Indonesia. That's the very definition of a rigged referendum. There was no UN referendum in West Papua, you made that up. It was just the Indonesian army.
@@snails6997 FACT: Majapahit has owned the lands of West Papua and Malaysia since the 12th century. Before it was collapsed by Islam, and in fact the Dutch fought Islam after the Sundanese kingdom as a friend of European trade collapsed.
I highly recommend that you use "Far East"" instead of East Asia to avoid confusion because East Asia is a smaller region that does not include Southeast Asia. That's all and this video was very well made
I'd recommend against "Far East" since it is a term that describes Asia relative to Europe making it pretty eurocentric.
@@kevinp1659 So is Middle East which most of the world is currently using. Almost nobody uses Western Asia lol
@@jrexx2841 or more preference them probably can called as "middle earth "
@@jrexx2841 In the end, the boundaries of these regions aren't clearly defined. Most of what native English speakers tend to think of when they say "Middle East" would be part of the Near East for me. As long as enough context is given, there won't be any misunderstandings though.
I'm glad it's not used. As Kevin P says, Eurocentric. East Asia and Southeast Asia will suffice.
Philippines just hit different because the nationalism movement emerged in the mid 19th century which Spain couldn't sustain and the US exploited. Of course that's the Filipino version. There's definitely American-centric and Spanish-centric version of these events but I think the reality is somewhere in the middle.
That's not the Filipino version is the American and Spanish centric Version , it's the facts.
I would like to add something about the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin because what I've seen is a gross oversimplification that may confuse some viewers about the history of the two powers (Russia and Japan) and their control over the aforementioned territories.
Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have a complex history marked by fluctuating control between Russia and Japan.
Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have a complex history marked by fluctuating control between Russia and Japan.
Initially, the southern part of Sakhalin was indeed conquered by Japan, while Russia took control of the northern part. Similarly, the Kuril Islands saw a split, with Russia controlling the northern islands and Japan the southern ones.
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Treaty of Shimoda in eighteen fifty-five established joint control over Sakhalin while recognizing Japan's sovereignty over the Kuril Islands. However, the Treaty of Saint Petersburg in eighteen seventy-five changed this arrangement, giving all of Sakhalin to Russia in exchange for Japan gaining full control over the Kuril Islands.
During the Russo-Japanese War (nineteen hundred four to nineteen hundred five), Japan emerged victorious and gained control of southern Sakhalin. After World War II, the Soviet Union regained southern Sakhalin and took control of the entire Kuril Islands, a situation that remains a point of contention between Russia and Japan to this day.
Otherwise, thanks for the video!
Correct me if I am wrong, if I remember correctly, after WW2 in Malaya, British tried to rule the land again under the Malayan Union that takes over the sultan's power, but thwarted by the smart local people and the people that supported the royals. Then the emergency happened due to the communism parties that tries to take over the peninsula.
During the insurgency, the British agreed for Malaya's peaceful independence under the promise that they do not support the communism and the British can still keep their profits from their companies that is still in the land.
Later in the 80s, Mahathir's group executed an operation "Dawn Raid" to take over the British companies that is still holding lands in Malaysia through stock takeover.
I am not sure if there is still other stories after that, but I think that was last story that is related with the former colonizer in Malaysia.
In 1945-46, the reason why northern Vietnam was most to resist French occupation was because of the Nationalist Chinese occupation after World War II. Not wanting the Japanese to run the show or European colonists to take back their colonies as well as not having any interest in Indochina in general, the Chinese gave more autonomy to the Viet Minh to run the show while negotiating terms that tried to make sure they didn’t interfere with the Chinese military. When France came back, they were fighting the Viet Minh out of the southern half, but once negotiating with China over handing their territorial claims in southern China, the French began shelling Haiphong
Chiang hated colonists and helped Vietnamese and Korean pro independence activists a lot
Okinawa, the Nansei Islands, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin are not 'colonies' but inherent territories of Japan.
Brunei were given many times the lands of East Malaysia, which was originally under the Bruneian empire, but the Sultan during that time didn't want to, except for the island of Labuan, to disassociate themselves as a British colony, Brunei declared independence in 1984, as a protectorate, because of communism in the neighbouring countries and after the rebellion before the formation of Malaysia. And that's why Brunei has a National Day and no Independence Day
I needed this video when I was studying modern history at school
Why isn't there mention of French colonisation of Indochina (today consists of the countries of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam) in this video?
Great video History Scope!
Very educational. Should use this video in schools.
Portugal and the UN never recognised Timor’s independence from Portugal, with the purpose of making any possible “legitimate” assimilation from Indonesia legally impossible.
Nope, Portugal and most of the countries in the world did not recognized the independence of Timor-Leste in 1975 because it was unilateral (only FRETILIN wanted immediate independence, other political parties didn't). From 1975-1999, Timor-Leste was (de jure) still an overseas province of PORTUGAL, even though it was (de facto) a territory/province of INDONESIA (Provinsi Timor Timur).
Your explanation about how rusia colonize makes me realize why indonesian first president interested and close with rusia to begin with.
Since the land is wide and separated by many seas with many different ethnic groups sukarno need a way to unite them all and the way rusia do that does seems necessary for the situation.
Sadly, Russia before isn't the same as Russia today since we can definitely see the atrocities they're doing trying to colonize Ukraine.
You could put the entire Declaration of Independence of Indonesia, including the title and date on a single tweet.
The Europeans and the Americans had a policy that stated that they would handle Germany first. That's probably why they neglected their East Asian colonies for most of World War II.
Well I mean it's no shock most European powers we're fighting for survival against Germany that usually takes priority over a colony
That's not exactly true. The USA and UK policy wasn't Eurooe first, it was wait for USSR to beat Germany first, then grab as much land as they can, then japan.
As in the South America decolonization, the Colonizers had a survival war at home. In the first case, was Napoleon invading Spain.
Your recognition of the purpose of colonial industries and infrastructure earned a like a like and subscribe. 👍🏾
Most TH-cam Historians miss this simple point.
Decolonization happened not in spite of Imperial Japan's east Asian war, but BECAUSE of it. It was Japan that waged this war, to liberate the peoples of east asia from the western imperialists and unite them under a greater east Asian co prosperity sphere. Chiang kai shek, on the other hand was a Christian convert and a staunch supporter of the western imperialists, and actually a mere tool of their interests!
The only reason why the Dutch King apologised was because the vastly superior Indonesian economy is simply too attractive for the Dutch to not want to take part in it. Not only that, but an apology is seen as raising Dutch prestige and doesn't cost anything such as losing face.
This is just embarrassing.
More important is that the Dutch should recognize the date of Indonesian independence, 17 august 1945.
Eh, you can always drown that fucker.
Were the Dutch evil towards Indonesians?
@@cashewnuttel9054yes. Dutch pretty much saw native indonesians as “brown” monkeys that need to be exploited and whipped every single day, period!!! In fact, the natives here used to eat banana stem, not because they wanted to but because they had no choice since dutch forbid them from trading and being educated causing the natives to be incredibly short people even when comparing them to other asians during that time. Now, you can see dutch people these days even the hardcore master race sympathizers like Geert wilders (part indonesian btw) know they were villans in history. It’s one thing to conquer territories, but its another when you conquer a territory and treat its people as “dirty brown/yellow/black subhuman that need to be exploited” instead of actual equal people of your empire which is the only case for certain northern european countries (dutch, belgium, british, and french).
So the Indonesians asking our country for an apology already for a decade, now they're getting an apology from our king and it's not okay? hahaha who are you to judge this apology when the Indonesians asked for a formal apology from our government and we gave them exactly that. stop talking about subjects you dont know anything about
damn wish more could have been talked about the other countries such as Vietnam while indonesia got almost 50 percent of the video, this would have made the video longer.. still a good video
2:23 The Philippines was their only colony in that part of the world.
Spain had for some time controlled parts of Taiwan as well, but that was long gone by the time of the Spanish American War.
There was also Guam and some other islands, but I guess it depends on what you consider as "this area" and whether that includes the Pacific. However, they did still control that at the moment and lost it along with the Philippines.
They had a lot more Islands but they eventually sold them to Germany. That's why some of the islands in the Pacific are named after Spanish monarchs like the Marianas island named after Queen Maria Ana of Spain and The Carolinas after King Carlos II and along with Guam , Micronesia and Palau, they used to be govern through the Real Audiencia de Manila as Nuevas Filipinas or New Philippines.
This was really interesting, are you planning on covering Roman history?
Maybe, there are vague ideas but nothing concrete.
@@HistoryScope I would watch an entire video of yours about Roman concrete
@@HistoryScope please shut up. East Asia= China japan Korea Taiwan Mongolia. No more.
Great Videos!,I learn alot from your videos
I love the detail you've been through explaining most of the processes that colonies goes through to gain their independence. But the Philippine one, my homeland, is a little bit misleading and pretty much too oversimplified to the point you concluded that that the transition of Philippine independence is the most Peaceful transition. No need for apology because I understand your point of view since there's literally no materials that explains the matter available in America. But I'll tell you how Philippines really got their independence. Let's go back to Spanish Ruled Philippine. Spanish people treated Filipino People unfairly like how any other europeans treat their colonies back then. A systematic exploitation and heavy tax imposed on farmers farming on their own land. While using Christianity to control the people. That's why most educated Filipino who were descendants from Filipino noble and royal family started to point out how people are unfairly treated. One of which is Dr. Jose Rizal who wrote two novel which perfectly describe the state of the Philippines during the Spanish rule. People who read the novel realized how terrible and horrible spanish rules are and besides, Cuban is already fighting for their own independence as well. And that's how the first independence and nationalism ideology sparked in the country. The first Republic of the Philippines has been fighting the Spanish and they are doing great in conquering and taking control of previously controlled province-or what you might call counties, prefecture, or state-Philippine are slowly gaining and conquering one after another until Spain was limited to only a small portion in Luzon area. Still, that never stopped the Philippines from wanting more until they finally get the independence they are trying to achieve (Not to mention Japan is secretly helping the Philippine by sending war materials, equipment, and war tacticians and military personnel who are veteran of first sino-japanese war. Anyway these time, Philippines declared independence with Spain contained in one spot, Philippine is ready to make a final blow but then, it happened. America intervened in Cuba and so Spain and America went to war. America originally go to Philippine as a liberator from Spain. America bought the Philippines from Spain-a land they no longer control-And with Philippine declaring independence prior to that agreement. The treaty of Paris was signed with no Filipino representative at all. The Filipino saw America as another occupier trying to gain a territory in the Asia. The Philippine hated the idea and so the Philippine-American war happened. It was bloody and too many soldier died on both America and Philippine. tortures for POW are cruel and often inhumane. Philippine lost the war and America finally gained control over the country as an "unincorporated territories" of America. Philippine military maybe lost the war for independence but the independence movement is still progressing diplomatically between America and Philippine. But then again, ww2 happened and Japan invaded. Japan colonized the Philippines and imposed their own Filipino puppet government who are pro-Japanese. also, theres the Filipino Communist guerilla fighters and many more who is struggling in this chaotic war to fight for control over the Philippines. America together with Philippine Commonwealth is against Japan and Philippine Second Republic. And there's third party the Filipino Communist who sides neither of the two and only wants the country independence. The Communist initially joined force with America and Philippine Commonwealth together with Filipino guerilla fighters who are against the Japanese occupation. But soon after the Japanese surrender, the communist find themselves being targeted by america next. Should the communist gained government control, they will be seen as a ferocious fighters who fought for independence of the country against any colonizer. But America is a capitalist and it's obviously they won't like a communist movement taking over a country. And lucky for them, they already formed a Philippine Commonwealth government who was elected using votes of Filipino people during the American occupation of the country that's why they can justify that the Commonwealth is the legitimate government rather than any warlords who fought on the ground killing the Japanese and western colonizers specially they are a communist. That's how Philippines gained independence from America because firstly, America doesn't really like to hold the Philippines anymore because they realize after the ww2 the difficulty and responsibility of having a colonies far away from their homeland. second is that America although cruel and racist, they aren't as cruel and corrupt as the spanish are. Besides, America and Philippine shares the same idea of independence. After all, America is once a colony of Britain but they fought for their independence too. Third is that the Philippines is an archipelago with little resources similar to Japan geography with lands separated by waters. Also the lower portion of the country with many resources like oil was controlled by Muslim Filipino who ferociously resists any kind of colonization from Spain, America, and Japan. Simply put, America doesn't see Philippines anymore as worth it to be part of their country after the ww2 unlike Indonesia and Indochina.
This comment is merely oversimplified oversummarized as well which will sometimes result to misleading information and too many missing points. Although I have studied our history but all of these are merely an opinion formulated from a different sources and facts. Just take with as a pinch of a salt. I do not claim everything I said is true. But most of what I said is based on facts. So if ever there's wrong information in there, just point it out and I'll search if it indeed was wrong.
I'll add that after sukarno was toppled (arguably with western support) Suharto agreed to repay the provision in RTC, requiring Indonesia to pay Netherlands for their independence and for the cost of nationalisation. Some nationalisation was also reversed such as at the top of my head Unilever etc. This payment was finished in 2002. According to the agreement at the time this repayment was in exchange of future development aid. Whether this aid ever did come is questionable, but the body was the dutch chaired IGGI, which was abrogated by Indonedia to the more multilateral CGI.
The total amount of the paid including interest is also not clear as both government did not publish the data, but including assets etc, it was around the same amount as USA marshall plan to Indonesia.
@@harukrentz435 Why don't you give the exact figure because one is in orders of magnitude greater than the other, not to mention relative to its war torn development.
I enjoyed this video, but I think it really suffers from having too little time devoted to some of these events, particularly in the cases of Indochina and the Philippines, but to a lesser extent Korea and Myanmar too.
Since India is already going to be it's own separate video, I think it would have made sense to do the same with Indonesia (including perhaps Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste) as well. That way you could have expanded on Indonesia, which seems to be a topic close to your heart given your background, as well as arguably the most important topic in the region given how massive Indonesia is; and that way this video could have focused more in depth with everyone else.
Regardless, great video and waiting for the next!
Agreed.
I guess there was an intent to make Indochina a separate video dedicated to itself, considering the utter chaos that happened after Dien Bien Phu.
Thank you for your cogent, pedagogical and balanced account of decolonization in South East Asia.
There were many surprises and I learned about aspects and details,as well of the contextual reality of that crucial significant time of change and suffering which resulted in independence and sovereignty together with freedom from foreign suppression.
Love this content! Thanks so much for making it!
Important detail missed in the Philippines side of the story. The Philippines already declared its freedom from Spain in 1898 (which Germany recognized) but US backtracked on their promises that led to the PH-US War of terror.
He's not going to say that because most of his views comes from the US.
Also he's British, British people love America. In fact, the whole world barring Russia, China, North Korea, the Philippines, Somalia, Canada, and a few more here and there that I can't remember love America!
Japan or western powers never actually 'ruled' or colonized China like they did the south east Asian, indochina countries and India. There is no 'independence day'. China is considered never having been colonized in the traditional definition of the term together with Thailand in Asia.
Excellent overview of the history of South East Asia. 👍👍👍👍
imo, Japan's intention behind the war, at least partially, was to liberate then-West-colonized Asia. It is endorsed by several facts. One is that Japan built up infrastructure locally, including banks, railways, etc., and even schools, in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Korea. It was unique in that Japan did not, unlike then conventional colonizers, hesitate educating the colonized local whereas doing so should increase the risk of the local control failure. Also, Japan even trained Indonesian locals in fighting, which was later alleged to be extremely severe for Indonesian youngsters. btw, I have heard of a famous Indonesian legend of an Indonesian King, who predicted that Indonesia would be ruled by white people for a long time but would then be liberated by yellow people, which is considered Japanese, finally.
日本の教科書にも、日本はアジアをヨーロッパの植民地支配から開放するという大義名分を掲げて戦ったと書かれている。
しかし、それは本当だったのか疑わしく思うこともある。東南アジアの人々を植民地支配したかったのかもしれない、と。
でも事実として日本人は東南アジアで何人もの死者を出し、戦った。彼らの死がアジアの植民地支配からの脱却に貢献出来たのたろうか？それとも無駄だったのか。当時の彼らにきいてみたいと思う。
fun fact: the declaration of indonesian independence has a date that reads "17 August 05" where 05 refers to the japanese imperial year 2605
Despite the harsh and rough history we've been through together for 350 years. Now, we are brothers. We indonesians shares a lot of common things with you the kompeni as we say in here. We still eat our bread with hagelslag, we still eat schotel, we say; handuk, bioskop, kantor, tante, oom, gratis, spoor and many more just like you. And I'm sure you're also have a lot in common with us. But despite what ever happen in the past we need to thank the dutch for giving us a lot of things. Like for example, we don't have to travel miles away to amsterdam to see netherlands you can just go to the oud batavia. You gave us our law system. You gave us a lot of companies like klm interinsulair bedrijf now known as garuda indonesia, you gave us the knowledge on how to extract our resources. And the very last, you teach us the importance of unity. Because without the dutch, we indonesians won't be united as what we are now right now. 17.000+ islands with 300+ ethnic groups how on earth can you unite all of them? But because of you we are now one country, one language, one nation which is Indonesian. Dank je wel meneer...
What a ton sh@@
slave mentality never gone after 350 years
SOLID!
the dude think before dutch came we like a bunch of barbarian
@@llama2745 Not bunch of barbarians, but more like divided kingdoms who likes to conflict with each other. You can still kinda feel the effect to this day, but it's not a major problem nowadays.
@@n_core I know, this guy is just idiotic for thinking like that. The dutch came slaving your ancestor and he is thanking for that? wtf
Commonwealth like the British and Australia, thats what happened between Filipinos and American. Filipinos was already educated in europe even before the Americans arrived. The British also colonized the Philippines even before the Americans for about two years but was returned to Spain to avoid the war. That is the time when Philippines had a power vacuum. But majority of the Filipinos are loyal to Spain. That's why when the Americans arrived, fight and talks for independence was already in process. It is just we where ignored because we speak spanish back then.
Damn… that is disgusting peace of Dutch history…
Can we have more little icons on the maps? I think there a nice touch, and its visualizes your words for me.
As a Vietnamese, I see it ironically funny when USA help Indonesia because they don't want them become socialist but also pushing us become socialist by support France (this show by the amount of aid and during 1945 and 1946)
10.48-22 about Dutch and Indonesia relationship. Good perspective.
Everyone's talking about inaccuracies, but I'm just thinking about how cursed Mongolia and Tannu Tuva look combined.
1:26 "We don't want to put other countries in the shade, we just want to also have our place under the sun." ... I wonder if that little bit of foreshadowing unnerved the other European powers as much as it ought to have.
I agree your videos are extremely underrated don't stop!! this channel has much potential to be much more!
Many Europeans often acknowledge the fact that colonialism was terrible, but they still think that de colonization was peaceful. As you can see here, the Europeans, after fighting ww2 in the name of freedom, were still unwilling to give up. They had to be forced out still.
Excellent video...!!! 👍
Mainland China fell in the war, not the colonies. If the land that China lost in the war with Japan is called a colony, then France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland should also be called German colonies.
Thank you for this! There is scant little material available on TH-cam in English about decolonisation of powers other than the British Empire! Thank you