- Marco Polo Bridge Incident
- Empire of Japan - Manchukuo and the Second Sino-Japanese War
- Empire of Japan - The First Sino-Japanese War
- China - Japanese aggression
- Empire of Japan - The rise of the Axis and the breakdown of relations with the U.S.
- Japan - Events in China
- history of China - Japanese aggression
- Empire of Japan - Annexation of Korea and expansion in East Asia
- Japan - The Sino-Japanese War
What were the primary motives for Japan initiating the Second Sino-Japanese War?
The Second Sino-Japanese War, which began in 1937, was primarily driven by Japan's expansionist ambitions in Asia. Following its occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo, Japan sought to consolidate its power and economic influence in northern China. The Great Depression had exacerbated economic hardship and social unrest in Japan, leading many military officers to believe that territorial expansion was necessary to secure resources and address population pressures. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, served as the immediate catalyst, escalating into full-scale warfare as China resisted further Japanese encroachment. Japan aimed to create a "new order" in East Asia, effectively an "East Asia for Japan," which involved dominating the region and exploiting its resources.123456