Background: Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies in early 1942 and that included the island of Timor, which was split in two between the Dutch half and Portugese half. On December 17th, Allied forces occupied Portugese Timor, which the president at the time declared was an invasion on neutralterritory and breach of Portugal's sovereingnty. In February 1942, the Japanese seized Portugese Timor and occupied it, along with the rest of Timor, as a single unit for the rest of the war.

My question is, what was Portugal's reaction to their half of the island being occupied? It seems, from what I can tell, that they were extremely offended at the Allies occupying it, however I can't find their reaction to Japan seizing it. The vibe I'm getting from this is that they didn't care anymore now that it wasn't in their hands, sort of just "ok since you stole it from us it's your problem now". After the war, they promplty returned to control the colony and attempted to reassert their control over it much like the Dutch or French did with their colonies in the region.

The invasion was technically also grounds for war, why did Portugal never declare war on Japan for their invasion? Was it apathy? Or was it a fear of Spain's very Axis-friendly dictator?

I realise this topic is extremely obscure, but I've become kind of obsessed with it as of late. Especially as I'm a history student in uni and so I need material to write a thesis on, so if you could come with sources too that would be great!

Thanks!