In hindsight, the fight between Japan and China was over who would control Asia.
Knowing what we know now, I would have much rather had the Japanese in charge than Communist China. China is doing their own version of the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”.
It’s a good example of the pitfalls of consequentialism. Nations (and people) think they need to choose between morality and consequences. But if they choose the latter they usually end up with neither.