Importance to Japanese Expansion: The continued political instability and violence in China gave Japan the perfect opportunity to further invade China. Jiang was completed focused on wiping out the communists, which let the Japanese army invade and expand while also creating further disunity in China because the CCP and the general public demanded he turn forces towards the Japanese which was ignored. Also, his own generals didn’t agree with his priorities. 

The Second United Front was created in China as a response to the Chinese Civil War. This was a unity between the GMD and the CCP to fight the Japanese, and Jiang was declared commander in chief, and the Soviet Union provided them with weapons. 

Importance to Japanese Expansion: It is speculated that the bomb was planted by Japanese officers in the army as pretext for subsequent military action against China. The Japanese officials in Manchuria felt a growing pressure to assert control of the area and to increase their closeness with China. 

International Response: It began a period of incidents and clashes between the Japanese and the Chinese (1931-37). The U.S. Secretary of State, Stimson, issued the Stimson Doctrine saying that the U.S. would not recognize any agreements between Japan and China that limited free commercial trade in the region.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: Since Italy joined this Pact, it made Japan align with facist powers in Europe. It allows Germany to focus on Japan''s successes, and it eased Japan's communist fears.

International Response: Stalin’s fears of Japanese invasion resurfaced with this Agreement signed. This led to the Soviet Union signing a new treaty with Nationalist China in August 1937, with the inclusion of sending military supplies to the GMD armies. 

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This is important to Japanese expansion because it heightened the need for militarization in the country. During the Marco Polo incident, Japan proved to themselves that war with China (in order to obtain land) was necessary and justified.

International Response: The declarations led to more clashes in China despite the cease fire. Tensions between Japan and China- Japan occupied Beijing and it became a center for northern Chinese invasion. Lack of strong military response to Japan from China diminished any resistance.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: The incident became the trigger for the Second Sino Japanese War. The Japanese blamed the Chinese for the attack, justifying further attacks on Chinese bases. Although negotiations between the governments were attempted, Japanese militarists wanted war. The military hardliners won out and China was publicly blamed and Japan announced the sending of more troops. Officers and militarists in the Japanese Army were determined to provoke a clash to justify a full out war. 

International Response: Protests arose in China. Beijing has a significant cultural, economic, and strategic importance to the Chinese. Therefore, Japan’s attack proved to be a turning point in their international relations. 

Importance to Japanese Expansion: In Japanese education, nationalism and racial superiority was prevalent and expected. Represents how Japan used their beliefs of racial superiority to justify their expansionist foreign policy and invasion of China. Also, after capturing Nanjing, Japan's forces were able to take effective control of most of Northern China by 1937. It forced nationalist leader, Jiang to retreat and Japan increasingly escalated the amount of soldiers; by 1938, there were over 1 million Japanese troops in China

International Response: The international response to this was not immediate, but an immense wave of guilt seems to be an issue in Japan. There are still grudges held by China.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This was important to Japanese expansion because this conflict was a setback for their imperialistic goals because the Soviet Union took land from Japan. This did lead for a 'supercharged' Japan meaning they increased the manufacturing of wartime products significantly as an attempt to become a threat to US and USSR in the future.

International Response: The international response to this event focused mainly on the USSR. The UN was disappointed with the USSR because they attacked Japan when they were ill-prepared and had no chance against the USSR.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: It was where Japan was aiming to establish a well-organized sphere of unity under Japan. They used the same control they had in building their empire of 1895 and 1940 to build this sphere of unity.

International Response: This was Japan's attempt to create a 'New Order' in East Asia and went hand in hand with the expansionist/ protectionist idea of "Asia for the Asiatics', which was meant to portray a vision of Japan looking out for Asia as a leader. However, it meant more- Japan wanted to kick out the European holds and ties to the Pacific and claim it as their own. Therefore, this would clash with US and European interests. They would most likely oppose this and increase their military in order to oppose the aggressive Japanese in that region.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: One month after Konoe became PM, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred and the conflict escalated between China and Japan. He gave the orders for a full out invasion/war against China. 

International Response: Initially, he was viewed politically as moderate, so the likelihood of a strong international response from the other powers is low. However, later in his career, he signed the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Germany who Britain and the US were already having trouble with. At that point, the US and GB would see him as a threat and focus more attention onto his government as well as the alliance with Germany and Italy.

Importance to Japanese Expansion:  Japan lost access to three-fourths of its overseas trade and 88 percent of its imported oil.

International Response: in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt seized all Japanese assets in the United States in retaliation for the Japanese occupation of French-Indochina. Britain and the Dutch East Indies followed suit.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: Japan was now backed by powerful allies therefore was free to expand. It confirmed the three countries' desire to expand and create a new international order in their regions. It was also intended as a warning to the US regarding military involvement in the on-going conflicts in Asia and Europe. It also outlined that Germany/Italy would respect Asia being at Japan's hand and Japan recognizing Europe would be Italy's and Germany's. This ensured that Japan would have one less enemy on the playing field for Asia as well as allies to assist against a potential US threat. Therefore, they would be more confident making imperial moves into Asia and the Pacific.

International Response: It is significant internationally because it was seen as being used after Japan's attack on Peal Harbor. The US declared war on Japan and soon after Germany and Italy which involved the US into WW2. Japanese troops to focus on the war with China as well as prepare for war in the Pacific. This was an important step to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and them pursuing their goal of a wider Pacific war to take over.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This was important to Japanese expansion because it was an act done by Japan to prevent the US from interfering in Southeast Asia military actions.  This allowed Japan to expand their troops into China, such as occupying the southeast. This also created problems for Japan’s armed forces in China, easing the pressure on Jiang’s forces. 

International Response: Americans were shocked and outraged. U.S. President FDR delivered his "Day of Infamy" speech and immediately the U.S declared war on Japan (Dec 8). In response to U.S declaring war on Japan, Italy and Germany declared war on the United States. It led to the US’ involvement in WWII. The U.S. began to send supplies to China and airfield were build to disrupt Japanese trade and imports.

Importance to Japanese Expansion: This formally ended the Soviet- Japanese Border War (1938-39) as well as began to resolve the differences in the factions of the Japanese military and government. This freed up Japanese troops to focus on the war with China as well as prepare for war in the Pacific. This was an important step to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and them pursuing their goal of a wider Pacific war to take over.

International Response: The Soviet Union withdrew their troops from East Asia, especially when Japan attacking Pearl Harbor led to war between Germany and the US and the USSR needed help to protect them against a German invasion. Japan's pursuit of a takeover in the Pacific where GB, France, the Netherlands ad US interests would be at risk, would lead to these powers to join the ranks along with being a USSR ad increase military production for the war.