Search for Free 150,000+ Essays

Find more results for this search now!
CLICK the BUTTON to the RIGHT!

Need a Brand New Custom Essay Now?  click here

Japan 1937 - 1941 The forces that led to Japan's Southern expansion and war in December 1941

Uploaded by tamii on Dec 25, 2011

SYNOPSIS
This essay argues that the decision by Japan to expand into China beyond Manchuria led to a situation of increasingly critical resource vulnerability for Japan. In order to overcome this vulnerability, which was seen to threaten Japan's national security, the Japanese decided to expand into Southeast Asia. This would allow for the seizure of the East Indies oil which would help make Japan independent of Western imports, which Japan saw as essential for national defense. It would also overcome the impact of Western embargoes, which were threatening to emasculate the empire's military power. Southern expansion would also allow Japan to create its Greater East Asia
Co-Prosperity Sphere, which the Japanese believed would make them materially and economically self-sufficient and militarily equal to the West. Finally, the Japanese leadership's sense of vulnerability overrode its ability for objective judgment, until only war was seen as the solution for Japan's problems, and where a mystical belief in 'spirit' could overcome the awesome power of the United States.
In December 1941 Japan launched a military assault against the Western colonial
possessions of Southeast Asia and began what became known as the Pacific War. This
essay analyses the reasons for this course of action, and how the Japanese saw their
interests being served by expanding the war beyond China. It argues that the war in
China was the prime motivating force for Japan's decision to expand South, as this war
exposed the real limits of Japan's resource vulnerability, particularly to the Western
powers. Oil was another reason for war. Japan's dependence on imported oil made it
militarily vulnerable to the West, so much so that the Japanese feared for their national
security. With the introduction of embargoes the Japanese felt compelled to take matters
into their own hands, and seize the oil of the East Indies before their own supplies ran out.
The decision to create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was also a reaction
to Japan's resource vulnerability. By taking over direct control of the East Asian region
the Japanese hoped to become self-sufficient in resources, as well as build a powerful
empire under Japanese domination. Resource vulnerability also affected Japanese
judgment and strategic thinking, which increasingly became based on a limited
conception of Japan's situation, until only one solution, military force, was seen as
acceptable for solving Japan's problems. This was supported with an irrational belief in
the ability of the Japanese spirit to overcome American...

Sign In Now to Read Entire Essay

Not a Member?   Create Your FREE Account »

Comments / Reviews

read full essay >>

Already a Member?   Login Now >

This essay and THOUSANDS of
other essays are FREE at eCheat.

Uploaded by:   tamii

Date:   12/25/2011

Category:   History

Length:   24 pages (5,498 words)

Views:   3446

Report this Essay Save Essay
Professionally written essays on this topic:

Japan 1937 - 1941 The forces that led to Japan's Southern expansion and war in December 1941

View more professionally written essays on this topic »