Empire of Japan

====World War I====
{{Main|Japan during World War I|Japanese entry into World War I|Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I}}
{{see also|South Seas Mandate}}

Japan entered [[World War I]] on the side of the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] in 1914, seizing the opportunity of Germany's distraction with the European War to expand its sphere of influence in China and the Pacific. Japan declared war on Germany on August 23, 1914. Japanese and allied British Empire forces soon moved to occupy Tsingtao fortress, the German East Asia Squadron base, German-leased territories in China's [[Shandong|Shandong Province]] as well as the [[Marianas]], [[Caroline Islands|Caroline]], and [[Marshall Islands]] in the Pacific, which were part of [[German New Guinea]]. The swift invasion in the German territory of the [[Kiautschou Bay concession]] and the [[Siege of Tsingtao]] proved successful. The German colonial troops surrendered on November 7, 1914, and Japan gained the German holdings. In 1920, the [[League of Nations]] established the South Seas Mandate under Japanese administration to replace German New Guinea.

With its Western allies, notably the United Kingdom, heavily involved in the war in Europe, Japan [[Japan during World War I#Events of 1917|dispatched a Naval fleet]] to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to aid Allied shipping. Japan sought further to consolidate its position in China by presenting the [[Twenty-One Demands]] to China in January 1915. In the face of slow negotiations with the Chinese government, widespread [[anti-Japanese sentiment in China]], and international condemnation, Japan withdrew the final group of demands, and treaties were signed in May 1915. The [[Anglo-Japanese Alliance]] was renewed and expanded in scope twice, in 1905 and 1911, before its demise in 1921. It was officially terminated in 1923.