<P> The Twenty - One Demands (Japanese: 対 華 21 ヶ条 要求, Taika Nijūikkajō Yōkyū, simplified Chinese: 二 十 一 条; traditional Chinese: 二 十 一 條; pinyin: Èrshíyī tiáo) were a set of demands made during the First World War by the Empire of Japan under Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu sent to the government of the Republic of China on January 8, 1915 . The demands would greatly extend Japanese control of Manchuria and of the Chinese economy, and were opposed by Britain and the United States . In the final settlement Japan gained a little but lost a great deal of prestige and trust in Britain and the US . </P> <P> The Chinese people responded with a spontaneous nationwide boycott of Japanese goods; Japan's exports to China fell 40% . Britain was affronted and no longer trusted Japan as a partner . With the First World War underway, Japan's position was strong and Britain's was weak . Nevertheless, Britain (and the United States) forced Japan to drop the fifth set of demands that would have given Japan a large measure of control over the entire Chinese economy and ended the Open Door Policy . Japan obtained its first four sets of goals in a treaty with China on May 25, 1915 . </P>

What was japans goal in the 21 demands