The Japanese tried to build a Pacific empire by:
1. By attacking Pearl Harbor in a surprise raid: One of the primary ways the Japanese attempted to establish their Pacific empire was through a surprise military strike on the United States' naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. This attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.
2. By taking over US, British, and French territories: Additionally, Japan aimed to expand its influence in the Pacific by seizing territories controlled by the United States, Britain, and France. This expansionist policy led to the occupation of regions like the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, and French Indochina during World War II.