This mobilization was strongly opposed by General Kanji Ishihara on the grounds that an unnecessary escalation in the conflict with China was endangering Japan's position in Manchukuo vis-à-vis the Soviet Union.
General Kanji Ishihara var en kraftig modstander af denne mobilisering da en unødig optrapning af konflikten med Kina var en trussel mod Japans stilling i Manchukuo overfor Sovjetunionen.