Japan was hungry for more land and desperately needed more natural resources, mainly oil. On December 7th, 1940 the Japanese invaded the Philippines, under the charge of General Masahaw Homma. This was proceeded by systematic air bombing of airfields and major military institutions. This was just the first of many takeovers for the Japanese. Their first attacks were on Subie, Manila, and the greater part of Luzon. They did not stop there however, they proceeded into Mindanao and other southern islands.

Malaya and Hong Kong were also struck on December 7th both doomed from the start. These countries had weak military forces and easily fell to Japan. Also on this date Japan landed troops in French Indochina, these troops were under the command of Yamamoto. This was also an effortless campaign for the Japanese. Japan occupied this land and used it as a strategic point for a stepping stone for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Only a year later American troops took over French Indochina.