Indonesian Oil And W.W.II
1930
U.S. corporations, like Goodyear were moving in.
The U.S. was finally threatening to cut off Japanese
oil shipments because of their rape of China.
This led to a Japanese desire to rule Indonesia's oil.
1940
After Japan siezed Indo-China the U.S. threatened war
if the Japanese invaded the Dutch colony.
America began to reinforce the Philippines because of the alleged
supperiority of the Boeing B-17 bombers and other weapons,
in order to threaten the flank of Japan's forces in Indo-China.
At this time America's "War Plan Orange" was based on the belief
that our Pacific Fleet would steam across the Pacific and save
the Philippine garrison after the Japanese invade it to
protect their flank during the expected attack into Indonesia.
Japan's Yamamato knew the Amercan plan
(every one in the world knew of the basic U.S. strategy)
so he planned a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor to stop
the U.S. fleet from saving the Phillipines.
Thousands of U.S. soldiers would
die or become POWs under the Japanese.
Thousands more would die to recapture the Philippines
and protect U.S. 'interests'.
America never did invade the area during W.W.II.
Lombok Staight was vital for America's
submarine opartions aginst Japanese shipping.
U.S. B-29s struck the oil fields at Palembang on Sumatra.