Final answer:
Japan's foreign policy in the 1930s, aimed at securing essential resources and managing the economic fallout of the Great Depression, led to its regional aggression and the concept of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The link between Japan's foreign policy in the 1930s and the Great Depression is rooted in economic conditions and geopolitical strategies. Like other parts of the world, Japan faced severe economic challenges due to the Great Depression. Given the significant drop in prices for its major exports and its dependence on trade with the US, Japan found itself in a precarious situation.
To mitigate the economic crisis, Japan's militaristic government sought to secure resources such as rubber and oil, and control reliable food supplies for its growing population. This need fueled Japan's aggressive expansionist foreign policy, leading to its invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and ultimately, its role in World War II. This policy was epitomized in the concept of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was Japan's vision of an Asia dominated by the Japanese Empire rather than the Western powers.
Learn more about Japan's Foreign Policy