Japan’s Need For Natural Resources
- Invasion of Manchuria begins this process in 1937
- Sphere of influence across the Pacific (Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere)
- Coal, iron and rubber in Dutch east Indies
- Indo-China, Taiwan, Mainland China, Philippines and Solomon Islands all captured
- Americans boycott oil to japan in 1941
Interesting Fact
Japan had virtually no petroleum and imported most of its needs from the United States, making it even more vulnerable than Germany.
Quote
"Most of the men are stricken with dysentery...Starvation is taking many lives and it is weakening our already extended lines. We are doomed."
-Major-General Kensaku Oda (Referring to the state of Japanese troops on Guadalcanal)
-Major-General Kensaku Oda (Referring to the state of Japanese troops on Guadalcanal)
Subjunctive Question
If Japan was not in need for natural resources would they have had more luck agaisnt the Americans?
Summary
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria began Japan's need for natural resources. Japan was part of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere. Japan found coal, iron and rubber in the Dutch East Indies. They also captured Indo-Chine, Taiwan, Mainland China, Philippines and Solomon Islands in hope to find resources. Americans cut off oil to Japan in 1941.