Invasion of China:
Nanking Massacre- Mass murder and mass raping on the chinese by the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese war, Nanking (actually spelled Nanjing) was a republic of China.
Manchuria- In 1931 an incident in the Chinese province of Manchuria led to the Japanese invasion which was completed by early 1932. The puppet state of Manchukuo was declared. By then Japanese forces had taken control of the Shanghai area in further fighting.
They invaded Manchuria because of its resources, markets, and they could use it as a base to attack China later.
Peking- 1937 - July - Further incidents in China this time near Peking, led to Japan extending its hold over northeastern China. Major warships completed included Japanese carrier "Soryu".
1938 - By the end of 1938, Japan had completed its hold over northeastern China and the major port areas.
With its possession of the Chinese ports, Japan wanted to close the remaining entry points into China.
http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsJapConquests.htm
Russo-Japanese War:
Russia wanted a warm water port so they attacked Asia.
Five Year Neutrality Pact between Japan and Russia benefited both powers. Russia could free troops for Europe and Japan concentrate on her expansion southwards.
Japan won surprisingly.
The war was fought on the Liaodong Peninsula and Mukden and around the seas of Japan and Korea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War
Invasion of French Indochina:
In September 1940, the Japanese occupied Vichy, French Indochina in order to prevent the Republic of China from importing arms and fuel through the French Indochina.
The Vichy government was the pro Nazi government in France.
To prepare for an invasion of the Dutch East Indies, some 140,000 Japanese troops invaded southern Indochina on 28 July 1941. Japanese forces remained in Indochina until the end of WW2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_French_Indochina
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