. . . to exploit mineral resources such as oil .
Please see the attached link regarding Southeast Asia during World War 2.
During WWII, Japan occupied Southeast Asia. Vietnam is part of Southeast Asia.
Asia for the asians
Indochina
Southeast Asia (Vietnam), Asia (Korea), Pacific (WW2), CBI (China, Burma, India Theater WW2).
During World War II, Japanese controlled much of Southeast Asia from European nations. When the Japanese ruled the area, it showed them that Europeans were far from invincible. When the war ended, the Japanese left Southeast Asia. Europeans then wanted the land back. But many of the people of Southeast Asia did not want to live under the Europeans any longer. Southeast Asia eventually won independence and new nations were formed.
Trade embargoes.
To dominate the Pacific region and possess all of its resources. The Japanese believe they are superior to all other nations, and at that time, they were trying to create an empire across all of east Asia.
In the southeast parts of Asia with Australia
France
The Philippines in Southeast Asia is an archipelago consisting of over 7,000 islands. Japan in East Asia is another example of an archipelago, comprising of four main islands and thousands of smaller ones.