What was similar between Dutch scorched earth policy and Japanese exploitation?

Correct answer: In both, war damaged forests

The comparison concerns two periods in which war and political conflict affected the forests of Java. Under the Dutch, forests and resources could be damaged or burned as part of a scorched-earth strategy during conflict. During the Japanese occupation, forests were also heavily exploited to support wartime needs, and this placed additional pressure on timber and local resources. In both cases, war interrupted ordinary forest use and harmed the forest environment.

Option A is correct because wartime action and exploitation caused forest damage in both situations. Option B is the opposite of the historical pattern. Option C is unsupported because these policies did not generally increase local control over forests. Option D is also wrong, since teak remained an important valuable timber. The common point is not identical policy, but the destructive effect of war on forests and forest-dependent people.