With the interests of which states did Japan face, spread its influence in China?

China was of interest to many states, primarily those European states that wished to colonize China. Thus, Japan for a long time failed to gain a foothold in Fujian province, which was taken under control by the forces of the German Empire. As a result, they received it only after the First World War. Also, the Japanese Empire in this region was opposed by the forces of the British Empire, to some extent the French Empire. That is, it was a tidbit for many, and Japan did not always win in this region, although these were its neighbors.