Aspire - direct one's hopes or ambitions towards achieving something. impend - (of an event regarded as threatening or significant) be about to happen. inspire - fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. try - make an attempt or effort to do something.
In this context, I believe aspire would make the most sense.
One of the main arguments for Japanese imperial expansion that was made by the Japanese was that they had practically no resources on their small island nation.
