Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Secondary 3
Chapter 7:
War in the Asia-Pacific
Region
2
In a Nutshell
By 1930s, Japan was actively pursuing an expansionist policy.
The reasons it gave were lack of land for its growing population
and a lack of resources.
In 1931, Japanese troops moved into Manchuria.
In 1937, Japan moved further into China starting what was known
as the Sino-Japanese War.
To finance its war efforts in China, Japan turned to Southeast
Asia for resources.
That however brought Japan into conflict with the USA. The US
Pacific fleet was stationed at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
To prevent the USA from hindering Japan’s campaign in
Southeast Asia, Japan bombed Pearl Harbour on 2 December
1941. This sparked off the war in the Asia-Pacific.
Poor relations
Japan’s military
between Japan
aggression
and the West
To control resources
The Great Depression affected Japan’s economy badly.
Its industries needed cheap suppliers of natural
resources and markets to sell their goods.
Furthermore, Japan could not sell its goods to other
countries because of protectionism.
Japan’s leaders looked to Manchuria as a solution for
the country’s economic problems.
To control resources
What Manchuria could provide:
• cheap manpower
• raw materials like coal, timber, iron,
soya beans, grain and gold
• an overseas market for Japanese goods
To control resources
Back
1905
Port Arthur
South Manchurian
Railway
1919
Liaodong Peninsula
Back
3. 1931
Japan invaded China, starting
The First Sino-Japanese War.
It took over Manchuria.
4. 1933
The Chinese Northern Province of
Jehol was invaded and the Hopei
region was demilitarised.
6. 1938 5. 1937
7. 1941 Most of Northeast and Marco Polo Bridge Incident.
Japan attacked US naval Eastern China under Second Sino-Japanese War
base at Pearl Harbour. Japanese control. started.
Sep 1931: Japan invaded Manchuria The Great Depression weakened the
economies of the leading members
and so they were unwilling to send
troops to China.
Dec 1931: League appointed the
Lytton Commission to investigate
Britain and France were more
concerned with rebuilding their
economies.
Jan-Oct 1932: Investigation continued
Result?
1932
Oct 1932: Report of investigation • Japan ignored recommendations of report
given to League • Withdrew from League after it was criticised
• League did nothing and Manchuria was
occupied
Back
Back
Changkufeng
Soviet and Japanese clashes along Nomonhan
the Russo-Japanese border
Crisis and Conflict: War in the Asia-Pacific Region
Copyright 2006
28
Back
Back
Back
Summary
Rising tension Militarism
led to
contributed
promoted an to
Worsening Contributed
international relations to
International situation
• USSR pact with Japan Tojo became PM
• War in Europe
Causes of WWII in
the Asia-Pacific