EAST ASIA INVASION:

Before Japan started the Pacific War, there was some tension between Japan and the United States. The United States wanted Japan to stop the invasion in China, but Japan denied the United States. This lead to the United States, the Dutch, and the British to stop selling necessities to Japan such as oil, iron, rubber, etc. Japan then had a new goal. They wanted to expand their empire to all of Southeast Asia and gain their own resources from American and European's land in Southeast Asia.

They figured they could gain control of most of Southeast Asia because Germany's expansion was distracting countries from keeping an eye on their land in Southeast Asia. On December 7, 1941 was when the Pacific War started. Japan invaded Thailand, and Malaya, and attacked Pearl Harbor. Japan figured they could weaken the United States with the attack on Pearl Harbor so they can invade the Philippines easier. Malaya was important to Japan because Malaya had lots of raw materials. Then Japan attacked Burma in December 1941 so supplies would stop going to China through the Burma road. Then Japan invade the Dutch East Indies in that same month which was ruled by Holland. The Battle of Java Sea came in where Japan fought off warships from Britain, Australia, America, and Holland. Later in January 1942, Japan gained control of Borneo which controlled British and Dutch oil fields. On February 14, 1942, Japan got a hold on Singapore. They had more modern weapons (such as modern planes called "Zero" fighters) which gave them a big advantage over Britain. Japan really wanted Singapore because Singapore had a strong fortress and a busy port.

The only country that wasn't conquered by Japan was Thailand because they decided to sign a treaty with Japan and be Japan's ally.

"The War Begins." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 05 Sept. 2013.