How were Vietnamese nationalists inspired by Japan and China to set up a democratic republic? Explain with examples.

Vietnamese nationalists were inspired by Japan and China:

1. ‘Go east movement’ became popular in Vietnam. 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan in 1907-08 to get modern education. They wanted to re-establish Nguyen dynasty after overthrowing French and the puppet emperor.

2. Japan was a model because it had resisted Western colonization and even won over Russia in 1907 because of its modernization and military capabilities and modernization.

3. Vietnamese students established the Restoration Society in Tokyo but the Japanese Ministry of Interior disallowed it. They were deported and forced to flee to China and Thailand.

4. In China, a republic was set up under the leadership of Sun Yat-sen in 1911 after overthrowing the monarchy.

5. Vietnamese students set up the Association for the restoration of Vietnam inspired by the events in China. The objective of setting up a constitutional monarchy shifted to that of a democratic republic.

Note: Japan and China’s movement to modernization and republic inspired Vietnam for the same. Anti-French sentiments now went along with the desire to establish a republic.