Question

What made japan see the united states as a threat to its authority in asia?

Answer 1

Pearl harbor was the home to the U.S. Pacific. It was the only one powerful enough to interfere with Japan in  South East Asia and the Pacific. They needed to damage and destroy it to where t they would be able to safely take all of their objectives before the U.S. had recovered.

Answer 2

America's presence in Guam and the Philippines and its support of China