Faced with gridlock in China and a Crippling American oil embargo, the Japanese attacked the Western powers on 7 December 1941 with the expectation of fighting a war for limited objectives.

..., the Japanese had few ideas on hoe to bring the war with China to an end.

Terror and genocide proved to be counter productive substitutes for the lack of strategic planning.

The Japanese General Staff did not wish to fight a protracted war in China because their primary concern was still the Soviet Union and the destruction of communism.

..., all foreign military support provided to China by third powers was like wise intended to keep the Japanese bogged down in an endless cycle of attrition.