[Wisconsin155]

" I only ask because apart from our intervention on China's behalf, the Japanese wouldn't have given a damn about us"

The Philippine islands would of been taken regardless of our actions. They were likely next. We were also very close to China at the time. Goes back to the boxer rebellion

But I think the sanctions where the result of Jap agresssion against the US navy in China. Pearl Harbor was not the first strike. The Japs sunk one or two ships, the names escape me, and America did nothing. Thus emboldening the Japs. Kinda of like the Pacific version of the reoccupation of the Rhineland. IMO

[Burr5]

" But I think the sanctions where the result of Jap aggression against U.S. ships in China."

Sorry, but the U.S. economic sanctions were about the "bigger picture". Namely, China. Japan bombed our navy in order to gain the time to consolidate their rule over the western pacific rim and then establish a credible defensive perimeter that we wouldn't want to mess with. Then they could negotiate terms. They were fools. But in my book, we picked two stupid fights in the 40s. And if you don't believe it, remember that we managed to get ourselves into TWO giant global wars that had nothing to do with each other within one week under FDR.