THE TURNING POINTS IN THE PACIFIC — THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY AND THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN

Japan's Pacific War against the United States was a massive gamble from the outset. When her seemingly endless struggle for the dominance of China had turned into an attritional slugging match. Japan had found it difficult to secure the raw materials she needed in order to continue, particularly rubber and oil. Lacking domestic supply, it might have been reasonable for Japan to plan on the basis of imports from other countries in Asia, but such supplies were largely controlled by Western democracies opposed to her expansion.

Britain ruled Malaya, where most of the rubber might be sourced; while a Free Dutch administration still controlled Indonesia, despite Holland having been overrun by Japan's German allies in 1940. Indonesia had oil and rubber, but exports to Japan had been suspended by the colonial government. The alternative choice for oil was the USA herself, but she too opposed Japan's brutal imperial expansion, banning oil exports in 1941.

As a result. Japan therefore reasoned that it should seize a "Southern Resource Area" to address this problem. Once Malaya. Indonesia and other Allied holdings in Eastern Asia were secured. Japan would be able to prosecute and complete the war in China. Once that was done. Japan would be able to exploit Chinese economic potential fully, which was the main strategic goal...