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What goals did Japan claim for its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere?

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Map showing the territorial expansion of the Japanese Empire from 1870 to 1942 across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The map uses color codes to indicate the original Japanese territory in 1870, subsequent acquisitions, and the farthest extent of Japanese occupation and conquest by 1942, including parts of China, Korea, Manchuria, Southeast Asia, and numerous Pacific islands. An inset map displays the broader reach of Japanese control at its peak. — Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, 1870–1942.

The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (GEACPS) was Japan’s ideological framework for establishing a unified, self-sufficient bloc in the Asia-Pacific region under its own control. Through the slogan "Asia for Asians," Japan claimed the following goals for the sphere:

Regional Stability: Member nations were to cooperate to ensure the stability of the region.1
Sovereignty and Tradition: The bloc ostensibly aimed to respect the sovereignty, independence, and cultural traditions of each participating country.1
Economic Prosperity: Participants were to cooperate to foster economic development and mutual prosperity.1
Global Relations: The sphere aimed to establish friendly relations with other nations worldwide.1
Ending Western Influence: Japan sought to exclude European imperialism and communist influence, positioning itself as a liberator of the Asia-Pacific from Western colonialists.1

In practice, these stated goals served as a facade for Japanese hegemony. Japan exploited the region for its war effort, imposed its own culture and language, and maintained control through puppet regimes, ultimately engaging in extractive colonialism rather than the promised cooperation.1