1. Unit 3.2 – War in the
Asia Pacific Region
The Rising Sun casts a shadow…

2. Lesson Agenda
 By the end of the lesson, you would be able to:
 Analyze how Japan‟s foreign policy contributed to the war
 Explain why Japanese aggression in China led to war
 Explain the actions of the League of Nations
 Analyze the contribution of the USA and the Soviet Union in the
war

3. How did Japan‟s Foreign Policy
contribute to the war?
 Empire:
 Japan wanted an empire that matched its new status as a major industrial
power in the region.
 Japanese leaders believed that having an empire would give them the respect
of Western nations – Japan was not inferior to them.
 ‘Asia for Asians’ Slogan
 Most of the countries in Asia had been colonized – Japan felt that Asia should
be freed from Western control
 Helped to justify war to liberate these Asians – but it was never Japan‟s
intention to allow these countries to be free after independence from the West.
– Japan to become their new colonial master.

4. How did Japan‟s Foreign Policy
contribute to the war?
 Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
 The Japanese called the Asia Pacific region, “Greater East Asia”
– this area was very rich in natural resources that resource
scarce Japan needed for its industries – The region would also
make a good market for Japanese goods.
 The Japanese deliberately used the word „Co-Prosperity‟ to get
the colonized Asians to believe that all countries would benefit
economically through this arrangement…of course it was not
true. This policy also justified war of liberation from Western
control.

5. How did Japan‟s Foreign Policy
contribute to the war?
 Population Woes
 Japan‟s population grew from 30 million in 1870 to 70 million by 1937.
 rapid increase in population meant shortages in food and space for the people – There
were not enough jobs and housing for the people.
 The army reasoned that gaining colonies would solve all these social problems.
 The Great Depression
 The Great Depression badly affected Japan‟s economy. Its industries needed cheap
supplies of natural resources and markets to sell their goods.
 Japan had few natural resources – could not sell its goods to other countries.
 US & western countries practiced protectionism (i.e. raising trade barriers through high
import taxes).
 Japan could not sell their goods with sufficient profits. Justified the commencement of war
to secure markets and raw materials from the Asian nations under western colonial rule.

6. Buzz Break 1 – What does this source tell
you about Japanese reasons for going to
war?

7. How did Japan’s Aggression in
China Contribute to War?
 Manchuria
 Growing influence in Manchuria and Mainland China
 Japan won control of Port Arthur in South Manchuria after Russo-Jap War 1905.
 Also acquired Southern Manchurian Railway.
 Manchuria provided cheap manpower, raw materials: coal, timber, iron and gold.
 Japs controlled Manchuria‟s banks…
 more than 100,000 Jap settlers in Manchuria by 1925
 Mukden Incident 1931 – Passenger train carrying Japs exploded – Japs blamed
Chinese for attacking the train – Japs seized control of Mukden, capital city.
 Army had full support from Jap Zaibatsus (rich industrialists) – saw war with China a
means to gain raw materials and markets.
 Renamed Manchuria – Manchukuo and installed Pu Yi (Last Emperor of China) – was
a puppet ruler – real power in the hands of the Japs.

8. How did Japan’s Aggression in
China Contribute to War?
 China
 Easy victories in Manchuria – emboldened Jap military.
 Jap military believed that they could defeat China easily and it was best
to strike when China‟s economy was weak
 Marco Polo Bridge Incident
 Jul 1937 – Jap soldier went missing during a regular patrol – Jap army
demanded that China allow it to search for him within the Chinese section.
China refused. Both sides exchanged fire which led to all out invasion of China
 War in China was long and costly:
 Jap resources used up – needed more raw materials to carry on the war effort
 Had to consider invading British Malaya for rubber, tin and Dutch East Indies
for Oil

9. What was the contribution of the
League of Nations to the war?
 After Jap invasion of Manchuria, China appealed to the League of
Nations
 League responded slowly – Invasion was in Sep 1931 – League Commission
was set up and only reported to the members in Oct 1932 – Commission
agreed that Japan had committed an act of aggression.
 League issued verbal condemnation – no other action was taken against
Japan – Great Depression weakened economies of Britain and France. –
unwilling to send troops to help China or to impose sanctions
 In response to the League‟s censure – Japan left the League – convinced Jap
military leaders – Western powers too weak to stop Jap expansion plans in
Asia – gave further encouragement to Japan to plan invasion of Western
colonies in Asia.

10. Buzz Break 2 – How reliable is this source in
explaining the actions of the League of
Nations?

11. What was the contribution of the United
States to the war in the Pacific?
 Strained from the start:
 With the opening up of Japan to trade and foreign influence in mid 19th
century- the relationship between the two countries was strained at times.
 Suspicions:
 USA suspicious of Japan‟s alliance with Britain and did not want an Asian
competitor to their interests in the region.
 Anti-Jap US Immigration:
 Japan was offended when USA set a quota for immigration in 1924
 Pro-China Lobby in US:
 USA condemned the success of Kwantung Army in Manchuria and increased
their aid to China.
 Relations between the two deteriorated with the escalation of Sino-Japanese
war in 1937

12. What was the contribution of the United
States to the war in the Pacific?
 June 1940:
 Japanese forces the closure of the Burma Road, an important
supply route for the Chinese.
 America’s response:
 Banned the export of scrap iron to Japan which had a strong
impact on Japan as it needed import of raw materials to cater for
their war effort.

13. What was the contribution of the
USSR to the war in the Pacific
 Tense Relations:
 Japan‟s relationship with Russia was tense from the period 1907-17
 After the revolution, USSR was created - Japan was threatened territorially and
ideologically and so military planning was focused in this direction.
 Soviets Gave Aid to China:
 During Sino-Japanese war, Soviets were main suppliers of aid to China so there
was fighting between Japanese and Soviet troops on the Manchurian border in
1939.
 With increasing hostility between Germany and USSR Russians focused on Hitler.
 Japan signed neutrality pact with USSR in April 1941. With launch of
Operation Barbarossa the Russian threat to Japan ended.

14. Attack on Pearl Harbor
– Dec 7th 1941

15. Trigger factors for the War in the
Asia-Pacific
1. Changes in American Foreign Policy
 Japan had not expected any foreign intervention esp. from US in their war
against China…why? = US was following a policy of isolationism – also
signed a neutrality pact in 1937.
 However American popular opinion sided with China. Pres. Roosevelt
convinced of the need to stop aggressor nations. He used Japan‟s
aggression in China as justification to send military aid to China.
 US also sanctioned a trade embargo (blockade of trade) on Japan –
severely affected Japan‟s war with China.
 Forced Japan to look towards the resource-rich colonies of Malaya and
East Indies – wanted to acquire them to feed their war effort.
 Therefore, even though the US was not a formal enemy…its actions put
her on the side of Japan‟s enemies

16. Trigger Factors: War in Pacific
2. War in Europe
 At the same time of American trade embargoes against Japan –
British and French forces in Asia were very weak and they
became pre-occupied by the war in Europe.
 Their colonies in SEA were very vulnerable to attack and
therefore vulnerable also to Japanese aggression to take over its
resources to fund the war effort against China.
 With French Vietnam and the British colonies of Hong Kong,
Malaya and Singapore as easy targets – Japanese were
confident of winning a war in the Asia Pacific to achieve its
territorial ambitions.

17. Trigger Factors: War in Asia Pacific
3. Attack on Pearl Harbour
 The attack on Pearl Harbour was the trigger for Japanese decision to
wage war
 America‟s embargo against Japan affected Japan adversely –
depended heavily on American oil. Japan faced a choice: back down
or retaliate.
 Japanese politicians felt – could not back down – Jap army and navy
chiefs convinced the Emperor that war with US could not be avoided –
resources were running low – Jap military hoped for a quick victory.
 Thus…came up with the element of surprise – attack the US 7th Fleet
at Peal Harbour. Catch the US unawares and destroy most of its fleet
and aircraft – this would slow down their ability to wage a retaliatory
strike – also unable to defend SEA.

18. Attack on Pearl Harbour
 On Dec 7th 1941 – Japanese aircraft struck Pearl Harbor – a US
naval base – It sank five out of eight battleships at anchor and
bombed its airflelds – more than 2400 Americans were killed –
Pres. Roosevelt declared war on Japan the next day.
 With the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor – Japan also began
military operations against the Colonies in Malaya and Dutch East
Indies
 US was also drawn into the war with Japan‟s Allies : Germany
and Italy.