Answer: gold, copper, and iron ore.
In 1931 Japan invaded the Chinese in search of raw materials for its growing industry. By 1937 a large section of China was controlled by Japan and war crimes against the Chinese had become fairly common. Many believe that this ended up contributing to the isolation of Japan. This incident is said to have not been authorized by the Japanese government but many say the Japanese troops decided themselves.
You mean the Cold War? Containing communism wasn't a priomary goal of World War 2.
