1940 → Japan -. launched programme called Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
- aimed primarily at people in various Asian territories → that Japan controlled.
Emphasis → was on goal of ridding Asia → of US and other western power influence
- message was that: people of Asia → should unite behind Japan → which would lead campaign to drive foreigners out of Asia + Japan would protect people of Asia and rule them fairly.
Reality → Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere → was more of programme for Japan → to use massive resources of its empire in Asia → to prepare for war.
In this respect → Japan was initially successful.
- E.g.: production of coal in Manchuria → rose from 12.8 to 60 million tons.
- production of iron from 68k to 870k tons.
- production of aluminium from 17k to 407k tons
- production of cotton from 247k to 597k tons
- production of liquid fuel from 0 to 1million tons