Why did the US try to prevent the Japanese invasion of Australia?

Answer 1

The US didn't want Australia to be invaded because they were using it as a base of operations in the Pacific naval campaign against the Japanese. The loss of Australia as a based would have severly hindered the American efforts to push the Japanese out of the South Pacific.

Answer 2

Short version: The US wanted to protect its unequal treaty with China. The US wanted to stop the Japanese invasion of China because if Japan gained control of China, then China's markets would be extremely favorable to Japan and the US would have to treat Chinese markets like a western market without any advantages. If Japan took over China, then all the unequal treaties the west had with China would become null and void. The US did not intervene for any selfless helping reasons. They intervened because of their own interests.

Once World War 2 began, Germany and the USSR stopped aiding the Chinese. Instead, the US, Britain, China, and the Dutch created an embargo of raw materials to Japan. This embargo was to force Japan to the point of aggression (shutting down industry and economy) towards US, which was supposedly "neutral" at this point. The US did this to solve many US domestic problems, such as the great depression, pressure from US allies to help in the war against NAZI Germany, and an anti-war public opinion. Once Japan attacked the US, Japan became the enemy, and the US did everything they could to fight Japan, including helping the Chinese directly.

Long Version:

At that point in history, China had a series of Unequal Treaties imposed first by the British Empire, and other Western Powers including the US. Basically they were treaties that were very unfavorable to China and China was being exploited by the west. Most of the Asian countries including Japan were at one point under unequal treaties during this time period.

In 1894, hostilities between Japan and China began because of Korea (First Sino-Japanese War). Korea had been historically a vassal state to China. After Japan had modernized into an industrial state, having Korea under the influence of a foreign government was a threat to its national security. China's government was basically controlled by the west. Having Korea under western influence was unacceptable to Japan. Japan fought China to free Korea from China. Japan won and Korea became independent. The world recognized Japan as a modern country and the unequal treaty between Japan and the west was removed. Russia then set an eye on Korea and tried to take over Korea. Korea was not a modern country and was unable to defend it self. Japan fought the Russians off and won (Russo-Japanese war).

During World War 1, Japan attacked German holdings all over the pacific, including holdings in China.

Both China and Russia, in disbelief of their losses, led to a government change. Russia became the USSR, and China's Qing Dynasty ended became the Republic of China (which eventually becomes Taiwan).

However in China, central authority was very weak and china became controlled by warlords until the civil war between the Nationalist Party(governing party of the republic of china) and the communist party (the party in control of mainland china now.) began. This civil war began in 1928 and in 1931 Japan invaded China. (The civil war continued after world war 2 until the nationalist party escaped to Taiwan which was no longer under Japanese control).

1931 was the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese war. Japanese Imperialism continued and Japan carved out a territory called Manchuria. Japan wanted Manchuria for its resources, and also to create a buffer state between China, the Soviet Union, and what was once Korea (Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, meaning Korea became an official part of Japan. Korea's unequal treaties with the west were all declared null and void once Korea became part of Japan). China was very weak because of its constant infighting, and the unequal treaties with the west were still in effect.

NAZI Germany and USSR helped China fight the Japanese. During World War 1, Japan basically took over all German holdings in the Pacific. Russia also did not have love toward Japan (Japan was basically the reason behind the Romanov's loss of power).

Once World War 2 began, Germany and the USSR stopped aiding the Chinese. Instead, the US, Britain, China, and the Dutch created an embargo of raw materials to Japan. This embargo was to force Japan to the point of aggression (shutting down industry and economy) towards US, which was supposedly "neutral" at this point. The US did this to solve many US domestic problems, such as the great depression, pressure from US allies to help in the war against NAZI Germany, and an anti-war public opinion. Once Japan attacked the US, Japan became the enemy, and the US did everything they could to fight Japan, including helping the Chinese directly.

Answer 3

Short version: The US wanted to protect its unequal treaty with China. The US wanted to stop the Japanese invasion of China because if Japan gained control of China, then China's markets would be extremely favorable to Japan and the US would have to treat Chinese markets like a western market without any advantages. If Japan took over China, then all the unequal treaties the west had with China would become null and void. The US did not intervene for any selfless helping reasons. They intervened because of their own interests.

Once World War 2 began, Germany and the USSR stopped aiding the Chinese. Instead, the US, Britain, China, and the Dutch created an embargo of raw materials to Japan. This embargo was to force Japan to the point of aggression (shutting down industry and economy) towards US, which was supposedly "neutral" at this point. The US did this to solve many US domestic problems, such as the great depression, pressure from US allies to help in the war against NAZI Germany, and an anti-war public opinion. Once Japan attacked the US, Japan became the enemy, and the US did everything they could to fight Japan, including helping the Chinese directly.

Long Version:

At that point in history, China had a series of Unequal Treaties imposed first by the British Empire, and other Western Powers including the US. Basically they were treaties that were very unfavorable to China and China was being exploited by the west. Most of the Asian countries including Japan were at one point under unequal treaties during this time period.

In 1894, hostilities between Japan and China began because of Korea (First Sino-Japanese War). Korea had been historically a vassal state to China. After Japan had modernized into an industrial state, having Korea under the influence of a foreign government was a threat to its national security. China's government was basically controlled by the west. Having Korea under western influence was unacceptable to Japan. Japan fought China to free Korea from China. Japan won and Korea became independent. The world recognized Japan as a modern country and the unequal treaty between Japan and the west was removed. Russia then set an eye on Korea and tried to take over Korea. Korea was not a modern country and was unable to defend it self. Japan fought the Russians off and won (Russo-Japanese war).

During World War 1, Japan attacked German holdings all over the pacific, including holdings in China.

Both China and Russia, in disbelief of their losses, led to a government change. Russia became the USSR, and China's Qing Dynasty ended became the Republic of China (which eventually becomes Taiwan).

However in China, central authority was very weak and china became controlled by warlords until the civil war between the Nationalist Party(governing party of the republic of china) and the communist party (the party in control of mainland china now.) began. This civil war began in 1928 and in 1931 Japan invaded China. (The civil war continued after world war 2 until the nationalist party escaped to Taiwan which was no longer under Japanese control).

1931 was the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese war. Japanese imperialism continued and Japan carved out a territory called Manchuria. Japan wanted Manchuria for its resources, and also to create a buffer state between China, the Soviet Union, and what was once Korea (Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, meaning Korea became an official part of Japan. Korea's unequal treaties with the west were all declared null and void once Korea became part of Japan). China was very weak because of its constant infighting, and the unequal treaties with the west were still in effect.

NAZI Germany and USSR helped China fight the Japanese. During World War 1, Japan basically took over all German holdings in the Pacific. Russia also did not have love toward Japan (Japan was basically the reason behind the Romanov's loss of power).

Once World War 2 began, Germany and the USSR stopped aiding the Chinese. Instead, the US, Britain, China, and the Dutch created an embargo of raw materials to Japan. This embargo was to force Japan to the point of aggression (shutting down industry and economy) towards US, which was supposedly "neutral" at this point. The US did this to solve many US domestic problems, such as the great depression, pressure from US allies to help in the war against NAZI Germany, and an anti-war public opinion. Once Japan attacked the US, Japan became the enemy, and the US did everything they could to fight Japan, including helping the Chinese directly.

Answer 4

They might have; they did bomb Darwin, and they were headed that way; but they were stopped at the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Answer The Japanese were stopped on land in New Guinea and no longer had the resources nor the ability to invade Australia afterwards.