Final answer:
Japanese military leaders in the 1930s aimed to capture more territory in Manchuria to secure resources for Japan's growing industrial needs, strengthen Japan's position in East Asia, and establish an empire similar to European nations, despite international criticism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Japanese Expansion into Manchuria
During the 1930s, Japanese military leaders were motivated to capture more territory in Manchuria to secure resources for Japan's industrial needs and to establish Japanese supremacy in East Asia. The military justified their expansionist actions by suggesting that they were liberating Asia from European colonialism while establishing Japan as a dominant power. The occupation of Manchuria provided Japan with raw materials and a market for its goods amidst economic depression. Events like the Manchurian Incident provided a pretext for military occupation, and international protests had little effect on deterring Japanese aggression. These military conquests were seen as a means to ensure Japan's future amidst both political and economic turmoil, thus solidifying military control over Japanese foreign policy.
As Japan industrialized similarly to European powers, it sought to create an empire, exploiting the weaker states in the region. This goal of empire-building coincided with the Japanese belief in their duty to liberate Asian territories from Western influence, which fueled their expansion into Manchuria and other parts of Asia. Despite claims of safeguarding Asian sovereignty, the territories Japan invaded were not all enthused to be under Japanese control, indicating that ulterior motives for expansion included economic gains and establishing a regional hegemony.