The story of WWII in the Pacific is complicated.  Sadly, the Japanese decided to use military force to create an empire when they could have instead gained the same thing via economic means.  The world would be different today
had they chosen peaceful means to grow their economy and influence.  
The ChiComs seem to be making the same mistake in bullying their neighbors and seeking to dominate Asia and challenging the US homogeny in the Pacific.  History repeats itself.