The Pacific Submarine Cable and Its Impact on Japan in the 19th Century ()
ABSTRACT
The submarine cable served as one of the most important tools of the western powers in their quest for empire-building and commercial profits in the 19th century. Thus the construction of a submarine cable across the Pacific Ocean became a priority for the western powers, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, in pursuit of their commercial and political interests into the Asian market. The construction of the Pacific Submarine Cable (PSC) equally impacted the Asian side, particularly Japan. This article examines the economic and political impact of the construction of the PSC on Japan, which was transitioning from its centuries—old Shōgunate rule into the Meiji or modern era. It argues that while the new technology was able to help modernize the Japanese military as well as develop its national economy through the active participation of the newly-emerged business community, the government was however, unable to formulate its own independent telecommunications policy due to the control of the technology by foreign powers and corporations, especially the Great Northern Telegraph Company. It is emphasized here that the information used for this article is largely based on the official documents from the Japanese government archives.
Share and Cite:
Hasegawa, T. (2016) The Pacific Submarine Cable and Its Impact on Japan in the 19th Century.
Open Access Library Journal,
3, 1-11. doi:
10.4236/oalib.1103001.
Cited by
No relevant information.