JAPANESE CONQUEST

REASONS FOR EASY JAPANESE CONQUEST

>> British Defence and Strategy

British was engaged not only with the Malayan campaign but also with other theatres of war.   This naturally put a heavy strain and drain on her manpower and resources.  As for Malaya was low on the spared of Malaya.   Although the British troops outnumbered the Japanese, they were ill-equipped for the war.   There was also a lack of adequate air support as illustrated by the sinking of the "Prince of whales" and the "Repulse" off Kuantan ,which had left Singapore in the hope of intercepting the invading Japanese forces ,but without air cover, proved easy target for the Japanese bombers.   In the case of Singapore ,the British had expected a sea-warded invasion and was not prepared for the Japanese conquest through the northern shore of Singapore.

(Source: lecture notes)