OUTBREAK OF WWII IN ASIA-PACIFIC
Who? Japan, USA, Britain
Main reason for war in Asia-Pacific: Japan’s aggressive foreign policy
Cause: Growing Ambition
- Wanted to be considered as an equal to the Western countries
- Japanese relations with external powers played a major role in influencing Japanese
opinions and attitudes towards war.
KEY – Internal crisis in Japan
Japan faced overpopulation. As the population grew, the demand for houses, goods and
products increased.
RESULT: It fed Japan’s growing expansionist ambitions as occupation of more territories
meant access to more resources as well as space to relocate their citizens.
Example: Japanese relocated to Manchuria
1929: The Great Depression
- Shortage of land for farming – lost faith in their Government
- The western powers imposed a policy of protectionism which was restrictive trading
practices. This made it even more difficult for Japan to obtain raw materials.
- RESULT: Developed an expansionist foreign policy of taking control of territories
WAY BEFORE
Example: The Russo-Japanese War [1904]
Russia attempted to establish a permanent military and naval base in Manchuria which was
seen as a security threat to Japan and its interests and influence in Korea.
RESULT – MILITARY Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan gained control of Liaodong Peninsula
Example: Anglo-Japanese Alliance [1902 and 1905]
Mutual recognition of British and Japanese interests in Asia
KEY EXAMPLE – First Sino-Japanese War [1894]
AIM: Japan wanted to take advantage of the weaknesses of the Qing Government in order
to take control of Chinese Territory and trade.
RESULT – MILITARY Treaty of Shimonoseki [1895], China was forced to give up control of
Korea and island of Taiwan to Japan
- ECONOMIC Manchuria: defended Korea and provide a source of wheat and minerals.
And land for the growing population.
1910: Japan annexed Korea
Introduced policies unpopular among Koreans
- Forced labour
- Military service
- Confiscated land from Koreans for Japanese farmers
- Defended Japanese isles and provide a source of cotton and wool.
All of the above fueled Japanese ambitions to expand further into China, thus Japan
imposed Twenty-One Demands [1915] on China. The success of Japanese economic
development through the acquisition of Korea and Manchuria encouraged further
conquests.
- Demanded China’s recognition of Japanese ambitions
Wanted to be considered as an equal to the Western countries
KEY – Worsening relations with the USA
 USA Racial segregation and discrimination against the Japanese contributed towards
tense relations between the USA and Japan.
- Exclude the Chinese, Korean and Japanese immigrants from competing for jobs
- 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act
- 1905: Japanese and Korean Exclusion League in 1905
 1919 Paris Peace Conference was a follow-up from USA’s discrimination towards the
Japanese immigrants.
- Prince Konoe proposed a racial equality clause to be included in the LON. But it failed
to gain unanimous approval, ones who rejected it were Britain and Australia and
thus, it was rejected.
- Result: This caused much unhappiness amongst some Japanese, who felt that they
were no given due respect by the Western Powers. In turn, it developed Japanese’
beliefs to require all powers to have equal access to the markets and natural
resources of the colonial areas for the sake of self-preservation.
 1921: Washington Naval Conference
- Reduction in naval forces of the major powers
- Japan had to reduce their naval strength more than the USA and Britain, and
therefore felt that the agreement was unfair and biased.
As a result of rising militaries, Japan would lead to military force.
Cause: Rising Militarism
The rise of Japanese militarism played a large role in Japan’s expansionist ambitions and
aggressive attitude towards relations with other countries. All due to the failure of the
democratic government (the great depression and overpopulation), thus people gave
support to military and nationalist leaders (extremist parties).
Martial Law
- 1932: League of Blood Incident
- 1932: May 15 Incident
- 1936: Feb 26 Incident
Japanese involvement in conflicts with major world powers and its successes from above,
brought about an increase in confidence in the military.
1. Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
AIM: A plan to extend the Japanese Empire into SEA for economic gains and to further
support Japan’s expansionist efforts.
2. Weaknesses of LON
Example: 18 Sept 1931, Mukden Incident
A bomb exploded near a railway and they blamed it on the Chinese nationalists.
RESULT: Manchuria, economically and strategically important to Japan.
Provided an opportunity for a military takeover of Manchuria. The Japanese army
established a satellite state called Manchukuo
Example: Lytton Report
Before LON could do anything to condemn Japan as an aggressor, Japan walked out of the
assembly and withdrew from the LON. They were thus unable to enforce its decision upon
Japan.
3. 1937: Second Sino-Japanese War
Due to the Marco Polo Bridge incident, resulting in a full-scale invasion.
Both increased their military strength in the area and heightened tensions between them
resulting to an invasion.
China appealed to LON for help but they were not willing to get involved.
- Focused on the developments in Europe by Hitler
4. 1937: Nanking Massacre
- Widespread acts of brutality which turned USA against Japan
5. FINAL STRAW!!!!
Attack on Pearl Habour, 7 December 1941
- What made Japan turn to SEA for resources?
o American sanctions and trade embargo (from Japan’s invasion in Vietnam in
1940)
 Banned the export of steel, scrap iron and fuel which were essential
to support Japan’s war effort in China
o The great depression in 1929
- What gave Japan the confidence to establish the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere in SEA?
o Outbreak of WWII
 meant that their defenses were critically weakened and depleted
 preoccupied and therefore, SEA was left defenseless
o USA adopting an isolationist policy which was reaffirmed in the 1937
Neutrality Act
 As a result, the Japanese believed that a preventive strike on Pearl Habour was
necessary to achieve the successful takeover of SEA.
 American Pacific Fleet
 Had the necessary sea and air power to control the Asia-Pacific region and
could defend SEA
 Sank five of the eight battleships, bombed its aircraft fields, 2000
Americans were killed
USA declared war on Japan the next day.
Second reason: Japan’s search for economic security as a result of economic problems
Japanese faced.
- The Great Depression 1931
o Western Powers and their protectionism policies
- Refer to above
Third reason: Weakness of the LON
- Example: Mukden Incident.
o Had made them bolder and more ambitious.
Fourth reason: Japan’s attack on Pearl Habour, as a result of worsening relations with the
USA
- President Roosevelt placed a trade embargo on Japan which made them very upset
- Tensions:
o 1921: Washington conference
o American interests in the asia-pacific
o Japan signed a pact with Germany and Soviet
Japan’s defeat in WWII
Japan’s initial rapid success was said to be lucky:
o The Western Powers were distracted by the war in Europe, and had wanted to
defeat Germany first
o USA’s powerful Pacific Fleet which was needed to reinforce its military in Philippines
had been severely damaged
The western powers were generally ill-equipped and unprepared for a battle. It would take
some time before it could recover its naval strength, build up its military forces and shift its
economy and industries towards supporting American military forces in their war effort.
In spite of its early dominance, Japan was eventually defeated.
USA
USA’s industrial capacity was larger than
Japan’s
- Had a willing workforce
Their determination, roused to action by
Pearl Habour attack, as well as Roosevelt’s
persistence to see the war through the end.
- Effectively used their military
strength
- Continued aerial bombings
o Demonstrated US military
might
Crippled Japanese’s supplies of raw
materials and production, causing them to
have lesser food, few resources to support
their war effort
o Sink merchant vessels
o Bomb factories
o Attacks with American
submarines
Encouraged women to contribute to war
effort
 Propaganda campaigns
JAPAN
Did not have such a large industrial capacity
MILITARY AND NAVAL
Did not totally destroy USA’s capacity to
retaliate in the Asia-Pacific:
 April 1942: Doolittle Raid on Tokyo
 3-8 May 1942: Battle of the Coral
Sea
 3-6 June 1942: Battle of Midway
(Major Turning Point)
 J lost 4 of their aircraft and
nearly three quarters of their
experienced pilots
 Severely affected their naval
and air defense capabilities
throughout the remainder of
the war
 Demonstrated america’s
superiority
By the aerial bombings and attacks by
submarines, Japan struggled with shortage
of resources.
The flight of its workers and the destruction
of its factories brought J economy to the
brink of collapse.
Emphasised the role of women as mothers
and child-bearers and stressed that they
should stay home

Women Ordnance Workers WOW
Ineffective defense of overextended
Japanese Empire



Due to its limited funds, resources
and manpower
Fought war on many fronts
Resentment was building in its
territories due to mistreatment,
faced opposition
Key military defeats:
Aug 1942: Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands
 Island-hopping
June 1944: The Marianas Islands
Oct 1944: The Philippines
Feb 1945: Iwo Jima
April 1945: Okinawa
USA’s determination and desire to end the war quickly,
resulted to the use of atomic bombs on Japan.
Fueled by:
 Japanese hostility towards Allied POWs and forced labour
 Strengthened the determination of the allied powers to end the war to liberate the
POWs and the Japanese-occupied territories.
 EG: Thai-Burma Railway
 Kamikaze, suicide bombers
 Allied leaders were worried of the casualties these attacks would bring so they
wanted to bring about a quick end to the war to minimize the losses.
1st resort: Demand for unconditional surrender
2nd and last resort: Atomic bomb
- 1942: The Manhattan Project
- Aim: impress SU and defeat J without SU’s help
o Wanted to prove US superiority over SU
th
- 6 Aug 1945: Little Boy
- 9 Aug: Fat Man
15th Aug 1945: Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s unconditional surrender.
MAIN REASON: AMERICA’S STRENGTH
1. Economic
2. Military and Naval strength
3. Use of propaganda in galvanizing support
SECOND REASON: JAPAN’S INEFFECTIVENESS OF OVEREXTENDED JAP EMPIRE
1. Limited resources and manpower
2. Problems managing SEA
3. Kamikaze backfired
THIRD REASON: ATOMIC BOMB
Not the important reason because:
- Widespread shortage of food and supplies
- Human cost was incredibly high
- Their allies were already defeated