Deciding that the political confusion in China was a prime opportunity for Japan to expand its power, War Minister Yūsaku UEHARA proposed to the third administration of Prime Minister Kinmochi SAIONJI to create two new infantry divisions on the Korean Peninsula.
この中国情勢の混乱を勢力圏拡大の好機と判断した陸軍大臣の上原勇作は、当時の第三次西園寺公望内閣に対し朝鮮半島に2個師団を新設するよう提言した。